Replies

For the sake of argument, let's say ashola bin laden does have a nuclear device. And let's say that somehow he has managed to smuggle it into a major US city. And let's say it went off.

Okay, so here we sit. We're driving along listening to our radio station of choice, and have our program interrupted by a voice telling us that a nuclear device has been detonated in a major US city. What happens in the minutes and hours that follows?

My opinion:

Best case scenario:

Everybody says several explicatives upon hearing this, and continue on as rational human beings, and stay calm. Possibly we alter whatever plans we had and pull our cars off the road to listen, or prehaps we drive to a friend or family member's house for company.

Worst case scenario:

A complete breakdown in civil order. The rule of the day becomes 'every man for himself' as riots break out, especially around food stores and gun stores. Only the very lucky ones are able to sucesfully drive out of the city without getting involved in an automobiele accident, or having their car stolen.

I can't say for sure that either of these extremes would be what would really happen. If it were just one bomb, I'd say the calmer scenario would play out. If reports came out that a second city also got hit, I could see the panic quickly setting in.

What does everybody here realistically think would happen?

Analysts say bin Laden also might be able to build a "dirty bomb" that wouldn't cause a nuclear explosion but could spread enough radioactivity to kill thousands in an urban environment.

Much talk about the dirty bomb.
Such a bomb would have to be transported in an enormously heavy lead suitcase,
I don't think it easily could be taken across the Mexican border.

As far as suitcase nukes are concerned, they require constant maintenance.
Wouldn't be so easy to transport one of those thousands of miles either.