Posted on 07/06/2007 4:23:33 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Attack likely to exploit existing network of cross-border human, drug traffickers.
A nuclear terrorist attack on the U.S. is better than an even bet in the next 10 years, says a former assistant secretary of defense and author of a book on the subject.
"Based on current trends, a nuclear terrorist attack on the United States is more likely than not in the decade ahead," says Graham Allison, director of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and author of "Nuclear Terrorism: The Ultimate Preventable Catastrophe."
Allison, who has testified before Congress on the subject, says the illicit economy for narcotics and illegal alien trafficking "has built up a vast infrastructure that terrorists could exploit" in delivering a nuclear weapon to its target in the U.S.
Al-Qaida, which has threatened to launch an "American Hiroshima" attack on the U.S., remains Allison's No. 1 suspect to pull off such a mission.
"Former CIA Director George J. Tenet wrote in his memoirs that al-Qaida's leadership has remained 'singularly focused on acquiring WMD' – weapons of mass destruction – and willing to 'pay whatever it would cost to get their hands on fissile material,'" Allison wrote in an opinion piece appearing in the Baltimore Sun prior to Independence Day.
Allison says there are several viable options open to terrorists determined to secure nuclear weapons.
"They could acquire an existing bomb from one of the nuclear weapons states or construct an elementary nuclear device from highly enriched uranium made by a state," he wrote. "Theft of a warhead or material would not be easy, but attempted thefts in Russia and elsewhere are not uncommon."
Allison says terrorists are capable of building their own nuclear weapons if they can simply secure the fissile material.
"Once a terrorist group acquires about 100 pounds of highly enriched uranium, it could conceivably use publicly available documents and items commercially obtainable in any technologically advanced country to construct a bomb such as the one dropped on Hiroshima," he states.
The threat is imminent, says Allison.
"If terrorists bought or stole a nuclear weapon in good working condition, they could explode it today," he explains. "If the weapon had a lock, detonation would be delayed for several days. If terrorists acquired 100 pounds of highly enriched uranium, they could have a working elementary nuclear bomb in less than a year."
WND first broke the story of Osama bin Laden's plans for a nuclear terrorist attack on multiple cities in the U.S.
President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and the 9/11 commission have all concluded a nuclear terrorist attack is not only the nation's No. 1 nightmare but also something of an inevitability at some time in the future.
Earlier this year, WND reported how the most extensive study of the effects of nuclear detonations in four major U.S. cities paints a grim picture of millions of deaths, overwhelmed hospitals and loss of command-and-control capability by government.
But the three-year study by researchers at the Center for Mass Destruction Defense at the University of Georgia says a concerted effort to teach civilians what to do in the event of a nuclear attack is the best – perhaps only – thing that could save an untold number of lives that will otherwise be needlessly lost.
"If a nuclear detonation were to occur in a downtown area, the picture would be bleak there," said Cham Dallas, director of the program and professor in the college of pharmacy. "But in urban areas farther from the detonation, there actually is quite a bit that we can do. In certain areas, it may be possible to turn the death rate from 90 percent in some burn populations to probably 20 or 30 percent – and those are very big differences – simply by being prepared well in advance."
More died on 9-11 in NYC and the Pentagon than died on 7 December 1941 in Hawaii. And the former group were mostly civilians, the later group mostly military personnel.
We woke up, for a little while, but we're snoozing again now.
The would be enough for the MSM to preach us into panic for the next century.
Ever see those trucks that happen to get caught packed with human cargo?
Or how about the hundreds of tons of dope smuggled in on trucks every year from Mexico?
Ship their bomb or bomb making material into Mexico, via cargo ship, boat, whatever. Put it on a truck, and drive it across like the thousands of other trucks smuggling in stuff.
So simple.
The Muzzies are of two minds about the sort of hedonism practiced in SF.
As Muslims they disapprove. As Arabs, Persians, etc. they say. "A woman is a duty, a boy a joy".
Those cities are high in population and symbolism, but if they wanted to really terrorize they would hit; Atlanta, OKC, or Charlotte. Such targets would strike at the 'heartland' where most think they would be safe.
Thanks.
As you probably suspected, these were simply representations of the concept that — thanks to Jorge’s open border to the south, this is in our future and I doubt that Mike Jerkoff and his costly cadre of underlings — who can’t locate 12 to 20 million illegals — can do much to prevent it.
Now where DID I leave those lead BVDs?
You one savvy “cat.”
Yes, but they’d still do it. Remember, they think the stuff Hollywood puts out is offensive to allah, destructive to their children, and anethema to Islam.
The muzzies want to destroy symols of America easily recognized by the rest of the world. NYC & DC are the top. Hollywood & Vegas are probably next. I doubt if the average muzzie sitting in squallor in a hut on the edge of a desert has even heard of Atlanta or Charlotte.
Other than just walking across either border, of course.
Its why I don't pay much attention to the Terror Alerts and whatnot. If the bozos who run us won't even secure the borders, there's no real sense in losing any sleep over it. We're just screwed, plain and simple.
Agree, but Bozo was a good guy compared to our current set of ruling elite.
If you'll notice this thread, we've been reduced to hoping the next attack, nuke or otherwise will happen in someone else's city, with everyone suggesting it's not going to happen in their area for whatever reasons.
This has become pathetic.
We’re 6 years passed 9/11, and our Government’s biggest response was to increase domestic surveillance of U.S. citizens. Go figure.
Why are you LOL? Is reality a little funny?
There’s a big old world out there beyond freerepublic, 24, and the local bowling alley.
You can have strategic plans, but they had better be supportable by the American people and Congress.
Are you insane?
I know. I have lived 25 years of my adult life overseas in nine different countries and visited 60 more. I have served as a naval officer [Vietnam] and a diplomat. Where have you been sport?
“Bush has said that we will not allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons. Is that just an empty threat? The Iranians seem to think so”
That would be a big mistake for the Iranians to think so, credibility or not. Bush has shown that he follows thru on his word, public opinion be damned!
No doubt, which is why the USG must consider what kind of response we will have as a nation including the means and where it will be directed.
middle easterners don't blend in as well in our country(though I fear for the Sikhs who might get mistaken for Mideast Muslims).
We also have black muslims. How do propose the government protect American muslims from such attacks? Like we did the Japanese after Pearl Harbor?
Bush doesn't have that kind of power to initiate a war with Iran without consulting Congress or the American people. We went into Iraq after getting a UN resolution and a joint resolution from Congress approving the action.
Bush has not always kept his word, e.g., CFR, not granting amnesty to illegals, etc.
Why, it's our strategic helium reserves (just in case we need to fire up the dirigibles again). More slop in the government trough.
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