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."

[better_dead_then_red]

I tend to agree...this kind of radiological bomb sounds a lot worse (and yes it would be extremely bad for any bomb to explode) then it would actually be to clean up after. Unless it were a tractor trailer sized weapon, the effects would be limited to a couple square miles at absolute best of probably low level nuclear waste conamination. Ugly, but cleanable.

But what a terror weapon! In the right place, a city would stop and everyone would run for the exits, killing more in the panic on the way out then would be killed by the bomb.

And that has to be the point...terror. The ignorance and misinformation about radiation would make the terror effect afterwards much more potent then the blast itself.

[Dog Gone]

I think posting that three times is probably plenty.

[maestro]

Your#122) Correct, but more at the Colorado & Green rivers above it.
('Dirty' river basins [watershed] would 'dirty' So. California's water)

'Heartland' more at Chicago (Board of trade, etc.)

Or, any and all automobile/gas/fuel refineries areas.

Not to exclude Atlanta and Houston!!
IMHO

[HiTech RedNeck]

The dispersal area probably would not be very large, so it would best be used in a high value area such as a city. You might get a couple of square miles of serious contamination, but probably not much more.

OK, how much nuclear stuff was in Chernobyl???

[Terriergal]

Well I just hope they dont try anything with a train. A train weighing in at oh 100,000 tons would be awfully hard to stop.

yeah but it has a very limited target area.

[better_dead_then_red]

A lot more then a couple terrorists could reasonably pack around.

[HiTech RedNeck]

The question is what gives rise to radioiodine when it decays. If there is a plenteous supply of its parent material, that spells trouble too.

[Terriergal]

This raises a question - why *potassium* iodide as opposed to iodized table salt? Don't they add iodine as a supplement, and wouldn't that keep your thyroid well-supplied?

[Lady_Marmalade]

If suddenly the Muslims start leaving town, it would be a good idea to follow them out.

Excellent advice

[gusopol3]

do you know this for sure, or did you just sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night?

[FReethesheeples]

Good point at # 196.

[Sueann]

"Get on the west side of any incident asap"

I'm as far west as I can get without getting wet. I wonder if L.A. is what they meant by "south". We are experiencing a mild storm. I don't think now would be a good time for a bomb. Earlier today would have been good - very, very windy!!

Funny thing - we have a nuke plant just up the street from San Diego - extra helicopters up and down the beach today. Hmmmmm?? I heard they have ordered nuke plants a "no-fly" zone.

I'm so glad I know Jesus! I don't have to be afraid. Read Psalm 91 - it will soothe you!!

[better_dead_then_red]

I'm no expert, but as I understand it, in a nuclear accident you need your thyroid packed with iodine to prevent any radioactive uptake. Salt doesn't do that.

[headsonpikes]

"PIKI PIKI PIKI"

Men have been flogged for less. ;^)

[classygreeneyedblonde]

veterans day is .......11-11-01 hmmmmmmmmm 11?

[oyez]

Since when did did it matter to the Alqueda if the fry other muslims if it is an event in a holy war?

[piasa]

So what's the downside of this bomb?

Black crusty pantsuits can act as radiation shields in an emergency?

[Frank_2001]

The reaction must be swift and horrific...if God forbid a dirty bomb does go off, we will need to get those H-bombs out and turn the Ka'ba into the Glass'ba!

[jpsb]

Exactly correct, which is why the real "dirty bomb" is a fission/fission bomb. Not the non-sense being discussed in this thread.