Unthinkable? (terrorists nuking cities)

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | November 21st, 2004 | Charles Burrress

[Mount Athos]

Imagine a relatively small nuclear bomb of 10 kilotons exploding in San Francisco's Union Square. "Everything to the Museum of Modern Art would vaporize," writes Harvard security analyst Graham Allison in his chilling new book, "Nuclear Terrorism." "Everything from the Transamerica building to Nob Hill would be sites of massive destruction; everything within the perimeter of Coit Tower and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge would go up in flames." No survivors would be found amid nearly 100 square blocks, and buildings in about 400 square blocks would be totally destroyed or left looking like the Oklahoma City federal building after it was crushed by a truck bomb. To alert Americans to the intimate extent of the peril, Allison's book is linked to an Internet "Blast Map" showing the radius of destruction for such a nuclear device anywhere in the United States. It can be viewed by ZIP code at www.nuclearterror.org. Allison and other experts agree that the most likely form of nuclear terrorism is a "dirty bomb," where radioactive material is scattered by a conventional explosive or perhaps an attack on a nuclear reactor. But some analysts are worried more by the less likely but far more catastrophic detonation of a terrorist nuclear bomb. "The gravest danger, however, and the one requiring the most urgent attention, is the possibility that terrorists could obtain highly enriched uranium or plutonium for use in an improvised nuclear device," according to Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, and former Sen. Sam Nunn, now head of the nonprofit Nuclear Threat Initiative.

[church16]

Luckily, with nukes, there is a shelf life on the explosives and the isotope. Don't think we've made either one yet on the soviet "snoopy".

[Nick Danger]

This is what I get for living 6 blocks from the White House.

[Blue_Ridge_Mtn_Geek]

Osamy boy promised that he wouldn't attack any of the states that voted for John Kerry.

---

Yes, and even though Muslims may freely lie to their adversaries (it's "In The Book"), his minions may well honor this promise, until it's convenient to break it with some followup excuse for why it's OK.

Meanwhile, the juiciest targets (highest small area large population density concentrations) are ALL in blue states: NYC, Boston, Baltimore-Washington(DC), Chicago, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego.

However there are plenty of other available targets: Houston and Dallas-FtWorth would be high on the list, and Phoenix, Atlanta, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Nashville, Memphis, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Denver, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas. All are heavily populated target areas (counting the entire metro areas).

Recall that, before the spectacular attacks of 9/11, the previous largest attack was on the federal building at Oklahoma City. And that was just one, well-placed fuel-fertlizer bomb. It may even have been an early Islamofascist action, according to some analysts who have looked beyond the "official" case to evidence that was not followed up.

Anyway, Osama has plenty of large targets to choose from in the red states. Given the significant infiltration of "non-Latinos who can't speak English or Spanish" across our southern borders, and the ease of moving dangerous materials along with all of the other traffic that passes freely across the border, targets in the southwest and south might be most attractive, given that they are most accessible.

[.45MAN]

You've not heard of back pack nuclear weapons.

[.45MAN]

I would pick New York, this would shut down the entire country and a large portion of the financial world.

We would be at a standstill..

[AnimalLover]

Bump

[California Patriot]

I yield to no one in my conservatism, or my contempt for the hard left.

But some of these posts are just raw hatred, people. You are tarring the rest of us with your vicious bigotry. San Franciscans don't deserve to die at the hands of terrorists.

You are sounding too much like too much of the left. Put a sock in it!!!!!!!

[endthematrix]

RE: I would tend to think that al Queda must have some of them by now.

I would tend to think if they had them they'd have already used them.

[endthematrix]

I think the debate is rational one as to probable targets. Even the big dog thinkers in DC (and CA) come up with crazier scenarios.

[endthematrix]

Hmmm, I'm a blue stater. I'll take my chances w/ OBL!

[NJ Neocon]

I never liked WMD - very euphamistic.

Call them what they are - what the military calls them - NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) weapons. Much more accurate. If we start CALLING them what they actually are as opposed to softening the language (like we do ohhh so often in this country) maybe more people will take notice.

[oldenuff2no]

I look at large areas of population, large damns, and areas that handle large amounts of transportation and I know where I am not going to live.
If this ever happens the liberals will see very quickly and first hand why the second amendment was included into the constitution. The red states will be self governed and self protected while the panic overcomes the cities like a tidal wave.
There will be a mass exodus from the blue cities to the red rural farmland. What are the blue counties going to do when the grocery stores run out of food? What are the liberals going to do when there is not water to drink or to flush your toilets? What are the cities going to do when the gas stations run out of gas? Where are all the people who are clogging the freeways going to go? Who is going to feed them when they get there? We are one nation, and we will stick together, we will survive, but just because we have prepared for a bad winter and have months of food and water on hand, generators with fuel, and cords of wood for heat, does not mean you are entitled to any of it. There are going to be millions of people displaced either by the detonation or by sheer panic running out of the cities. I feel for these people, but they need to take the time and money to prepare for a long winter just like we do. My first priority is taking care of me and mine, no matter what that takes. We all need some kind of plan to provide ourselves with protection, food, water, shelter, clothing for both warm and cold wet climate, heat, first aid, and fuel for transportation and generators to last at least 30 days. The investment now is less that you think. Money after something has happened is going to be all but useless. Load a small utility trailer with your gear and keep it ready to go. Always keep your gas tank full. Keep at least another complete fill up in gas cans. Keep the gas treated so it does not go bad. Rotate you food to keep it fresh, and rotate you kids clothes so the continue to fit. The folks in the red counties will let you have a place to stay as long as you can take care of yourselves. You will have to worry about the folks from the blue counties who do not plan and prepare to take care of themselves. They are going to be hungry and feel entitled to what you have.

[Jimmy Valentine]

"Think mile-deep minefields and razor-wire..."

Think rampant vigilantism and every mosque in America destroyed.

Regards,

[BenLurkin]

'fraid so.

[Spottys Spurs]

"If the terrorists do destroy one or several of our cities, what kind of measures to you think the American people will demand then?"

Speculation along these lines is fruitless. How long after such an event would there be lined up the media, the liberals and others saying: "We can't just strike out without absolute proof of where it originated from." And, of course, the problem with that is it just waters down the process of a response.

Closing the door after the cow has fled never solves anything. That's exactly why the President's initiatives to take the fight to the enemy, wherever he is and against those who support terrorism with money, supplies and safe quarters makes so much sense.

And don't count on the international community to be there for us. They all have short memories and live in a fantasy world where all be be fine if we just accept multi-cultralism.

Former President Clinton destroyed much of our intelligence assets on the ground. The only way to know about where and when these horrible events may occur is by having infiltrated these organizations and those who support them.

I, for one, believe we must lessen our dependence on oil, foreign or otherwise. Unfortunately, our Nation has too much of a vested interest in oil. I have no answers, only more questions. However, don't think for a minute that our Government hasn't thought out this sort of senario.

[Joe Hadenuf]

I love that scenario.... I am so liking that scenario... brings a tear to my eye just thinking about it

Yes!! Millions of dead Americans is a beautiful thought Geron! I can tell your from Texas. You guys are cutting edge!

And too bad they didn't finish off New York too! Lots of dead Americans is cool huh Geron! Hey, Maybe they can target every man woman and child in Boston too!

Lots of cool scenarios out there, Geron!

[rang1995]

no worry it's a BLUE city in a BLUE state
OBL

[Dont_Tread_On_Me_888]

Imagine a relatively small nuclear bomb of 10 kilotons

I hear you.

10 kilotons is not "small". Hiroshima was 15 kilotons and Nagasaki was 21 kilotons.

I would imagine that even the smallest nuke would be in the 20 plus kiloton range. The Russian backpack nukes were, I believe, in the 20 kiloton range.

Compared to a 1 or 20 megaton H-Bomb, yes, relative to them it would be "small". A 20 kiloton bomb would kill in the six figures of any urban city of size.

[MaryJaneNC]

No, Paris...then...SF