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I think I had mistakes in picking a phrase. I should have said "blow up." I also fear that there are numerous ways for this to go wrong and become even a bigger disaster. I am sure those two nations are aware of this. Would they be resigned to sit around and do nothing even if Japanese continue to botch the operation? After all, if it gets worse, it would have alarming impact on both nations? Are they just crossing fingers and hoping for the best?

Do you know what their current thoughts are on this?

Sorry about that. Yes [blow over] means pass by without incident or notice. [Blow up] means major incident and major notice.

Right now with the yahoos running the US, Japan may be our best hope. Apparently Steven Chu was recommending that explosives be used to blow holes in the reactor early on so they could get more water into them. Trying to find that link right now. Will post it if I find it.

Actually it was reported in the Washington Post.

Messages show conflict within NRC after Japan’s earthquake and tsunami

The NRC e-mails reveal disagreement about how to advise the Japanese. The NRC staff chafed at some unorthodox advice coming from an ad hoc group of scientists assembled by Energy Secretary Steven Chu. Famed physicist Richard Garwin, one of Chu’s group, proposed setting off a controlled “shaped” explosion to break through the concrete shield around the primary steel containment structure to allow cooling water to be applied from the outside. One NRC scientist called the idea “madness.”

Another idea from the Chu group was to attempt a “junk shot” — a variation on what some engineers proposed to stop the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico — to plug leaks of radioactive water from Fukushima’s nuclear reactors into the sea. When using a mixture of sawdust, newspapers and other junk failed, Japan’s Tepco ultimately used a compound known as liquid glass.

Apparently the last people we need helping on this situation right now are those tasked with the responsibility. Where is Red Adair when you need him ?