Posted on 10/26/2001 7:40:05 AM PDT by Lurker
Israel Finds Radiological Backpack Bomb
RICHARD SALE, UPI Terrorism
Correspondent, United Press International,
October 14, 2001 -- Israeli security last month arrested a man linked to suspected terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden armed with a radiological backpack bomb, as he attempted to enter Israel from the Palestinian Territories via a border checkpoint at Ramallah, according to U.S. government officials.
The arrest took place during the last week of September, according to one knowledgeable official who spoke on condition of anonymity. He declined to give the exact date of arrest. Two other sources interviewed by UPI confirmed the incident, but also declined to give further details.
"People know how to walk a dog back," one said, meaning that relating too exact an account could lead to the identification of the source of the information.
Regarding the arrest, a U.S. government official said: "There was only one individual involved. He was from Pakistan."
Another source said U.S. officials believed that the suspect had probably gotten to the territories via Lebanon.
Information on the arrest went immediately to U.S. President Bush and a close circle of advisors, another U.S. official said. He described the appearance and character of the top-secret report circulated among the Cabinet members and signed by each official present.
Former Pentagon terrorism expert, Peter Probst, described a radiological bomb as a device with a small explosive core that is encased in radioactive material. "It would not kill a great many people, but it would contaminate a considerable area with radiation," he said.
A U.S. government expert said that the weapon captured by Israel was a backpack device that CIA officials learned about through Russian intelligence agents in place in 1995.
He emphasized it was not a so-called nuclear suitcase bomb.
The CIA had intelligence reports from senior Arab intelligence officials alleging that in October 1998 bin Laden had obtained one or two nuclear suitcase weapons from a Central Asian republic in return for $30 million in cash and two tons of heroin worth $70 million - a deal brokered by the Chechen mafia.
Russian Gen. Aleksandr Ivanovich Lebed, a former national security advisor to then-President Yeltsin acknowledged publicly in 1997 that several nuclear suitcase bombs had disappeared from Russia's arsenal.
But former CIA counter-terrorism official Vince Cannistraro has no patience with such accounts: "All talk of bin Laden having a nuclear suitcase bomb is crap," he said.
Cannistraro could not be reached for comment about the backpack device.
Nuclear suitcase bombs were designed for Soviet Speznatz or special operations troops to assault and destroy NATO command and control bunkers in Europe in the event of a NATO-Soviet war. The devices could not be detonated without matching codes held in strictest security by Moscow, a former CIA official said.
Backpack bombs have no such codes, but they were also designed for Spetznetz forces and have such an intricate and complex system of activation that the ability of a terrorist to detonate one "would be incredibly limited," according to one U.S. government official.
"There is such a complicated sequence you have to perform that some terrorist isn't going to be able to get it to work. You have to be very highly trained," an intelligence official agreed, describing the chances that the device could have been activated as "practically miniscule."
Probst is nevertheless convinced that radiological bombs are still a danger for New York City. "Bin Laden is fascinated by Wall Street. My fear is that he will attempt to smuggle in some "dirty" bomb that wouldn't kill many people but would dangerously contaminate the area," he said.
Copyright 2001 by United Press International.
A U.S. government expert said that the weapon captured by Israel was a backpack device that CIA officials learned about through Russian intelligence agents in place in 1995.Thanks for the information.He emphasized it was not a so-called nuclear suitcase bomb.
Backpack bombs have no such codes, but they were also designed for Spetznetz forces and have such an intricate and complex system of activation that the ability of a terrorist to detonate one "would be incredibly limited," according to one U.S. government official.
Simple. It might offend them, so we won't do it.
Any other questions?
But here's the paradox:
Our Congressional cowards are more afraid to offend the sympathizers of our enemies than they are of the very terrorists who attacked them with a biological weapon of mass destruction.
Hold that thought a moment....
...
...
Wild, huh?
Garden variety cowardice I'm accustomed to, but this is truly breathtaking in its lack of perspective.
If they're gonna be cowards, at least they should fear the biggest threat.
This is the first I've heard of any major nuclear power having a radiological bomb. Everything I've seen published to date has said that such "dirty bombs" were the exclusive province of third world countries, terrorist organizations, and "lone wolf" terrorists. In other words, the threat of radiological bombs was soley from those who did not have the ability to create a fission weapon.
Now, I am weighing the years of news that said the above on the one hand, against this one report of a Russian-built radiological bomb on the other hand, and it's coming up short.
So, if I look at the current report, I can see a small number of possibilities:
1. The story is as-related; it's true; the Russians created radiological bombs, and no one knew about them, and now, at least one has gotten into the hands of a terrorist.
2. The story has been changed to protect someone, most likely a source -- the bomb is as-described, but it is not from the Russians.
3. The story has been changed, for the purpose of messing with the enemy. IOW, it's agitprop. Either nothing of the sort happened, or the person was caught with something other than what he was described has having.
4. The story has been changed, in order to protect the tender sensibilities of the West, and in order to "maintain the balance of [insert factor here]" -- the person was captured with a Russian backpack fusion bomb, of the type that has been alluded to in the media for several years.
IMO, #1 is the least likely, and #4 is the most likely. #2 & #3 are tossups, but of less probability than #4, and greater probability than #1.
Two cents, do with them as you like.
"If they're gonna be cowards, at least they should fear the biggest threat."
Nothing is infinite except for stupidity.
[see #65]
We discussed this. We are witnessing a ramp up. Hit the media. Create hysteria. Then hit infrastructure on a national level. Then hit health care. Then hit the population. Small, local, and dispersed.
Change tactics. Expect a pathogen change from here. And a MO completely different. Anthrax is so last week.
http://www.unitedstates.com/news/article/623135
and http://laser.to/border
What will follow is an introduction of a localized release of a recombinant strain of a pathogen that will tax local authorities.
Think about it. They've got us shut down at the federal level. Now is the time to focus on small targets that will cause major damage. While the rest of the country scrambles for Cipro a quiet release of smallpox or Marburg will create a complete shutdown of local health care.
Then the authorities will react by the CDC model of surrounding the affected area and vaccinate within. Containment will create panic and outbreaks will be reported by the minute.
Meanwhile the CDC and USAMRIID will be chasing their tails playing catch up. How many swabs can they make in one day?
At what point do we respond to Bagdad with nukes?
Maybe we won't respond with nukes. Look in to the "Jefferson Project." Or "Clear Vision."
We may respond in kind.
It's conceivable that we may have sold bugs to our enemies over the internet.
More importantly we may have traded with our enemies during peacetime with the very strains that are being unleashed upon us.
Take the time to look in to the JEFFERSON PROJECT and CLEAR VISION. Pine Bluff and Dugway may have played a role in current events. And if they didn't they may yet.
When I say plutonium, I actually mean any kind of radioactive waste.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.