Chertoff warns of nuclear terror

Issuing yet the latest warning of the threat of nuclear terrorism in the U.S., Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said there are far worse security problems facing the country than bombings of mass-transit systems.

In comments during a visit to Lawrence Livermore Laboratory in California this week, Chertoff said the foremost concern for the nation's security now is the threat of a larger chemical, biological or nuclear attack.

Chertoff joins the growing list of public officials – including President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Chertoff's predecessor at Homeland Security, Tom Ridge – who have strongly hinted that nuclear terrorism has moved center stage as the No. 1 security threat facing the U.S.

Last month WND and its sister publication, Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin, reported increasing evidence suggests al-Qaida not only has nuclear weapons in its arsenal, but has smuggled them into the U.S. along with thousands of sleeper operatives.

Referring to the London bombings, Chertoff said: "We can't let what happened two or three weeks ago beguile our concerns about what could happen in the future."

Technology that the Livermore lab and other public and private groups are developing could help make the country safer, Chertoff said. The secretary was shown what the lab has done to provide more portable ways to detect nuclear, biological and chemical devices that terrorists could use.

"We want to show the secretary how we are working very aggressively to help win the war against terrorism," said laboratory director Michael Anastasio.

The work by the Livermore lab shows the enormous capabilities the country is bringing to bear against terrorism, Chertoff said.

I am fairly up to speed on the DHS position on the likelihood of various nuclear devices being encountered. The devices considered likely are those that are easily constructed by a small group of people, garage stuff, nearly. "Dirty bombs" are a very light industry sort of thing.

Since "dirty bombs" are the increasingly official prediction of a huge bureaucracy then perhaps "dirty bombs" are the least likely event. Looks to me that "dirty bombs" are no longer probable.

Many operations could make an equivalent to the US MK7 60 kt bomb of the early fifties. This machine could be delivered by a light freight aircraft, like a DC-3.

From my "Effects of Nuclear Weapons" 1977, U.S.Army, pamphlet 50-3, 653 pages, (the latest data released to the public), looking at the effects of 60 kilotons, I see that the old MK7 air burst would deliver a ten psi overpressure at just over a mile radius from the burst. Even ten seconds after the explosion pressure waves would average one pound per square inch. An exposed human will achieve a velocity at one mile of about 70 feet per second, about 48 miles per hour. The wind will blow this man off his feet and then over the ground at nearly fifty miles per hour, scraping along the concrete, hitting parked cars, etc. Cars are air born in such conditions. The wind is also red hot. The area is almost completely rubble.

At 2.4 mile radius over 50% of those killed would be killed by radiological effects. At a three mile radius exposed skin will receive second degree burns. At a six mile radius the expectable total death and serious injury rate is about one in three of those within the twelve mile diameter circle.

I don't think that their is much interest in "dirty bombs" amongst the "al Queda" types. I think what I am describing is what they are working toward. They have to strike the USA in some meaningful way now instead of a totally symbolic target (like the World Trade Center). Anything less will result in merely more hostile Islamic governments, which obviously "al Queda" wishes to prevent.

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