[blackdog]

EMP arguments over nuclear weapons being exploded in the United States by an enemy is "Magic Christian" script stuff.

If nuclear pulses generated by nuclear weapons cause me to go without electicity or an ATM for a month, I'd see that as a plus............For I'd think experts would consider the more obvious problem?

[Bigh4u2]

Did you even read the article?

It didn't say exploded 'within' the United States, it said exploded 'over' the U.S. at high altitude.

Something the Russians and Chinese could easily accomplish.

And the power loss wouldn't be a month, but possibly a year.

BTW. You needn't worry about using your ATM, because you wouldn't be able to get go it. Unless you WALK!

[zek157]

No, this is the real deal on EMP. A high altitude burst would cripple us. This isn't Y2K all over again.

[NJ_gent]

"For I'd think experts would consider the more obvious problem?"

The vaporized people and buildings would, quite honestly, be the least of our worries at that time. A large nuclear attack in any one major US city would overload every hospital in the region. The loss of power would take out most social services. 9-1-1 systems to hospital systems to telecommunication systems etc would all be on emergency, short-term backups. The military's capacity to detect and respond to threats would also be diminished. Wide-scale blackouts would cause massive riots to ensue in short order. Refrigeration would be out, news would be difficult to receive; along with emergency instructions. Citizens would begin looting businesses and homes in search of basic necessities. Logistical operations responsible for getting the right things to the right places (stocking drug stores and supermarkets for instance) would quickly begin to break down. Large-scale regional blackouts lasting more than a few days would start stressing our national infrastructure. Heating/air conditioning, running water, and all the other basic things we take for granted would become unavailable for possibly days or weeks at a time. Folks who depend on medication would have some issues. Schools aren't going to be open, so how do parents go to work? Can they go to work? Is it possible to do their job without electrical power? For many in this day and age, that's a no.

We need to begin looking at ways of isolating failures in the power grid to the greatest extent possible. Large-scale, long-term blackouts are simply very, very bad.

[PistolPaknMama]

What is ""Magic Christian" script stuff." ?