Ashcroft's Warning: Dirty Bomb

[DrCarl]

Am I the only one who heard Sean Hannity, at about 5:40PM EST, stop while on the air and say: "So that's what Ashcroft's warning is. It's a dirty bomb."

[Revolting cat!]

that still gives all the folks East of the Mississippi River more than enough time to celebrate Halloween tomorrow night before the radioactivity reaches us.

Are you sure? (You know, there could be legal liability for being wrong! If I get dead following your advice, I'll sue!) What I'm concerned about is in your calculation are you accounting for the time time difference and the recent change from daylight savings to standard time?

Oh yes, and if you follow the logic of the poster above, that's not even funny, but only because he/she lives on the West Coast.

[FUSSBALL]

I have always thought Hoover Dam would be a target?

[P8riot]

Look no further than the Anthrax letters for the clue concerning the next attack. Sure the date on the letters said 09-11-01, which could easily be misconstrued as just a reference to the date of the first terrorist attacks, but could also have a double meaning. Dates in a European format are written "DD-MM-YY", not "MM-DD-YY" as in the US. It could have a double meaning. Possibly that the next big attack will be on Nov 9, coincidentally Ramadan begins shortly thereafter.

[pgkdan]

That day should have been September 12th.

Amen.

[Cinnamon Girl]

N-SYNC warning: "dirty pop."

[classygreeneyedblonde]

Veteran's day is hmmmmmmmmmmm 11-11-01

[Fester Chugabrew]

"Disneyland....Which heartland are you thinking of?"

The children, of course, along with with an eastbound weather pattern.

[I am not my own]

I'm just glad none of ya'll are terrorists. I think you understand more about American targets than bin Laden has figured out yet.

[DrCarl]

>What type of effect would this type of bomb have in a subway system?

I don't know but I'm driving in tomorrow.

[kcvl]

A Dirty Bomb

The most accessible nuclear device for any terrorist would be a radiological dispersion bomb. This so-called 'dirty bomb' would consist of waste by-products from nuclear reactors wrapped in conventional explosives, which upon detonation would spew deadly radioactive particles into the environment. This is an expedient weapon, in that radioactive waste material is relatively easy to obtain. Radioactive waste is widely found throughout the world, and in general is not as well guarded as actual nuclear weapons.

In the United States, radioactive waste is located at more than 70 commercial nuclear power sites, in 31 states. Enormous quantities also exist overseas — in Europe and Japan in particular. Tons of wastes are transported long distances, including between continents (Japan to Europe and back).

In Russia, security for nuclear waste is especially poor, and the potential for diversion and actual use by Islamic radicals has been shown to be very real indeed. In 1996, Islamic rebels from the break-away province of Chechnya planted, but did not detonate, such a device in Moscow's Izmailovo park to demonstrate Russia's vulnerability. This dirty bomb consisted of a deadly brew of dynamite and one of the highly radioactive by-products of nuclear fission — Cesium 137.

Extreme versions of such gamma-ray emitting bombs, such as a dynamite-laden casket of spent fuel from a nuclear power plant, would not kill quite as many people as died on Sept. 11. A worst-case calculation for an explosion in downtown Manhattan during noontime: more than 2,000 deaths and many thousands more suffering from radiation poisoning. Treatment of those exposed would be greatly hampered by inadequate medical facilities and training. The United States has only a single hospital emergency room dedicated to treating patients exposed to radiation hazards, at Oak Ridge, Tenn.

A credible threat to explode such a bomb in a U.S. city could have a powerful impact on the conduct of U.S. foreign and military policy, and could possibly have a paralyzing effect. Not only would the potential loss of life be considerable, but also the prospect of mass evacuation of dense urban centers would loom large in the minds of policy-makers.

[11B3]

Another, possibly more likely event would be the detonation of an "electronic bomb". This is where a conventional explosive is encased in a charged high voltage coil. The resulting EMP burst destroys all circuits within miles - even if the circuit is not in use. It literally fries all electronics, and the package is small and not radioactive. A weapon like this would be devastating to our information systems, communications, hospitals, etc. I'll find the article about it and post it.

[blam]

"What type of effect would this type of bomb have in a subway system?"

It would help to contain it and the subsequent fallout. They would not want to do that. The intent would be to dispense it over as wide of area as possible.

[Zipporah]

There was a post here with an article from I believe the UK.. about a dirty bomb with the ability to spread nuclear material over a wide area.. does anyone know the link to that FR post?

[ableChair]

I got mine real cheap and fast from anbex.com; they're distro is fda approved for civil defense. hope that helps...

[FUSSBALL]

would never get over the rockies!

[Tuxedo]

Typically, a "dirty-bomb" is a low-yield nuclear bomb that releases cobalt-60 and iodine-131 as byproducts. These have a long half-life (60 years or so) and would render the area inhospitable to life for several generations. You could design one to result in both massive devastation and longterm toxicity. The bomb would be normally set off as a conventional device using TNT, PETN, or even a lot of C4. A small version of an A-bomb can be equipped to release cobalt-60 and iodine-131 as well. Since it releases radiation, it can be termed a nuclear device, even though it may or not be a fission or fusion bomb. This is a scary situation. Let's hope the reports are untrue. I would expect that is such a device is detonated here in the USA, that it would leave us no choice but to retaliate with SLBMs at Afghanistan. I do not know if we still even have ICBMs.

[Terrorista Nada]

So tell me, is Usana bin Laden going to nuke the red areas or the blue areas on that big U.S.A. Today map?

[FUSSBALL]

thanks!

[Hildy]

Do you think San Diego?

[Lucas1]

Panic people...Panic

The terrorist love this game of "lets start some dirty rumors"

Someone posted something about some radioactive material coming up from Mexico and next thing you know...it is fact.

I have to laugh at all of these posts. Where is the picture of the Sky Is Falling? This thread needs it NOW!

It is not going to happen. This is just more terror being spread by - who else - ourselves.

Bin Laden must be laughing his ass off at how terrified this nation is.

Keep posting these wild rumors people...it only helps their cause