[Movemout]

I posted the LVRJ article yesterday. If you would like to read the ensuing discussion it is at------->Are electromagnetic pulses terrorists' next weapon of choice?

[YepYep]

Yike! I don't like this EMP thing...something else to worry about?? Well, what can be done to harden the computer systems in all American systems (especially those of Free Republic)???

[George W. Bush]

Interesting. I don't think we're facing this as an immediate threat though our enemies would undoubtedly like to do this to us. Just imagine the effect if one were used over a major financial center like Chicago. Even if there was little bomb damage, the destruction of electrical and electronic infrastructure is almost unimaginable. I think of how a city like Chicago would be affected. No electronic medical gadgets in hospitals to save lives. The cars and vehicles would all have to be repaired. As would the traffic system. The phone systems. The power system. No TV. No radio. No way to immediately distrubute food. Stores unequipped to sell food without using computerized cash registers. No way to dispatch fire and police units even if their vehicles worked. The list is endless. We never stop to think how dependent we are on these things.

[Dialup Llama]

EMP is the basis of story line of a great sci fi tv show, Dark Angel. While the experts were speculating abt cyberterrorism, exotic technologies and the like, the real terrorists operated untouched using low tech. These terrorism and security experts should be fired. Todays FBI is definitely not the FBI of Scully and Mulder.

[WyldKard]

Ummm..I don't think you even need a nuclear bomb to generate an EM pulse anymore.

Does anyone remember a story that 20/20 ran a few years back? It detailed the development of EMP Weaponry that some nations, including of all places The Netherlands, had pretty much perfected. They showed footage of cars and computer screens bursting into flames after being "shot" with a crude-looking "EMP Cannon."

Apparently, the story went on to discuss how the things weren't THAT difficult or expensive to put together, just cumbersome, and how America had almost no developmental experience with these weapons.

I never heard a thing about them afterwards. I hate to say it, but we may need to worry about trains or planes being "Shot" with EM pulses. Not as sweeping or widespread as the wave generated by a nuke, but still very distressing...

[gwmoore]

Two words, one answer: Vacuum Tubes!

Those of us who enjoy restoring old amateur radio and military equipment have known the resistance to EMP effects for years. One of the more funny stories about this was the defection of the Soviet pilot to Japan some years back, with a MIG (I forget which model it was). It was found to have a LOT of vacuum tube equipment, and at the time, we had a great time talking about the "backwardness" of the Soviet designers.

Once someone who had been there, done that, mentioned that vacuum tubes are EMP immune, the smiles and happiness faded quickly.

Keep em Glowing ;-)

Greg

[Rodney King]

With the nation guarding against atomic, biological, chemical and hijacked airliner attacks, exerts see little protection from a weapon that could cripple computers and key electronic systems. The danger is from an electromagnetic pulse - a powerful, split-second wave of energy from a nuclear bomb.

What idiot editor let this in? If we are guarding against an atomic attack, then that would include a nuclear bomb.

[MizSterious]

This will not be a popular statement here or elsewhere, but it should be said. There is only one effective weapon against these terrorists: complete, total fear of consequences if they dare to act. That means, unfortunately, doing things that most Americans could not stomach. That tactic finally shut down the Japanese in WWII, and it might be the only tactic that will gain the respect of certain Arab nations. (Note that I said "respect" and not "admiration." That was on purpose, but I doubt the CNN news floozies would understand that distinction.)

[DugwayDuke]

So it seems the best protection is to line your computer with tin foil? That has been suggested before.

[LTCJ]

This article is misleading WRT a nation-wide terrorist doomsday scenario. Before we go through any more tinfoil consider the issue of delivery.

While a threat might be slightly credible to a theatre of operations overseas due to the availability of SCUDs, etc., that option would not be available in the US. Such an attack with a single device in the US would have to rely on aircraft delivery. By definition that would limit the affected area to around 250 miles radius at most under almost perfect conditions.

While 100% effectiveness might cause hugh economic headaches, it is hardly an End Of The Republic and Christendom scenario. And the airliners-falling-from-the-skys-all-over-the-continent angle is true junk science.

Add up all the "ifs" and I'll save my tinfoil for the Thanksgiving turkey. If you want to worry about EMP, worry about a general strategic nuclear exchange (in which case EMP really ain't your biggest concern anyway ;-)

[Restorer]

If the terrorists have a nuke, they won't use it at high-altitude for EMP. They'll use it at ground level, probably in DC, to cause maximum loss of life and damage to American prestige. The effects of EMP make lousy pictures and will have little PR effect on bin Laden's audience in Moslem countries.

[Yankee]

The Chief Weapons officer on the Starship Enterprise reports five Phasers are missing.

Arabic looking suspects apparently beamed aboard, wearing phony Vulcan ears, and wearing stolen uniforms.

The head of the Intergallactic Nations cautioned that we must not profile all pointy-eared individuals. He said that the Agency is preparing all appropriate resolutions to express their dissapointment with these individuals.

[spaceman spiff]

The HEMP threat from a weapon of the size a terrorist could build and deploy is hugely overrated.

Trust me.

[SpinyNorman]

Would putting your computer in a Faraday cage be of any effect?

I think that the chances of getting a bomb to explode at high altitude is considerably more difficult and detectable than the typical Ryder truck. Besides, there is more terror to be generated from a downtown explosion than a bunch of non functioning computers, particularly if all important data is backed up on CD daily.

You have to thank Bill Gates and his amazing crashing Windows "operating" system for that (will the black screen of terrorism now supercede the blue screen of death?)!

[boris]

Just a side note: John Pike is an ignoramus and a quack.

I believe he has no degree from any institution higher than High School.

He used to be the mouthpiece for the "Federation" of "American" "Scientists" but it looks like he found a new gig. Look for his bio on the FAS site--try to find his educational credentials.

I once e-mailed him noting the absence of such credentials and requesting his background; I received nothing.

Pike once stated in an interview that the Apollo I disaster was "an explosion." As usual, he was wrong. There was no explosion on Apollo I--only a fire caused by a spark and a 100% oxygen environment.

--Boris

[It'salmosttolate]

Zhirinovsky Threatens US with (Tesla?) Wonder Weapons

[GOPaul]

Popular Mechanix had a feature story on this weapon on their website last month. It may still be there. They said this weapon could be built for as little as $400 dollars. Check it out.

[eniapmot]

...Congress was warned that a relatively small, 10-kiloton nuclear bomb, which would produce energy equal to exploding 10,000 tons of TNT...

And they believed him. (But only because he was an "expert witness")