[McGavin999]

Well, that pretty much assures that the attempt will be on the coast line. Those are the only population centers large enough to have the kind of effect the terrorist would want. Looks like New York, Miami, Philly or else San Francisco, LA or Seattle.

My bet has been on the west coast since they seem to have gotten over the "terror" and have pretty much discounted any problem. The terrorists want people to be terrorized, California has pretty much "moved on".

[AngrySpud]

Watch what comes next ... the appeasement-commies, led by the likes of the 'toon, will loudly scream that we must spend Billions on aid to "destitute" Muslim countries. After all, we know that poverty leads to evil acts (sarcasm off).

[Joee]

Then there is the long term results, which will probably destroy much of our economy and the worlds. The retribution we level at our enemies, will add to the terror of it all. I don't think anyone can picture the ruination that such an event will have on the world. 9/ll was just the beginning. Pray that this will never come about!

[Fighting Irish]

I still think the idea of terrorists having such a device is pretty much cow manure.

Makes great headlines though....

[Cyber Liberty]

CORRECTIONS:

The bomb dropped on Hiroshima was 20 Kilotons

Nope. "Little Boy" was about 14 Kilotons.

The bomb dropped on Nagasaki was less than 10 Kilotons

"Fat Man" was the same size as the New Mexico blast, which was about 20 Kilotons.

[ctonious]

I imagine such an event would give new meaning to America's obsession with "Survivor".

[sam_paine]

10 KILOTONS...Airburst - 1,980 ft

I think these numbers are misleading. How are they gonna get this thing to 2000ft? If these are detonated at ground level, the direct impact is severely limited compared to an airblast.

So they're going to have to fly it in a kamikaze general aviation airplane, and a 10kTon "suitcase" nuke is bound to be larger than pocket-size...more like back-of-a-pickup size. I think it's going to be really a lot harder to pull this off than hijacking a plane and flying it into a building....

...if it was easier for AlQaeda to do than the 9/11 hijackings, then why not do the nuke-case first???

Dirty Nuke is much more likely, and like the Anthrax scare, much more scary than actually destructive.

[dawn53]

Let's see how my math is:

100,000 casualties

Now what are the victims of the WTC getting from the federal government? I think I heard at least $1,000,000 each

so the federal payout for this next scenario would be $1,000,000 times 100,000 that's just a cool $100,000,000,000.

Also noted in my latest Humana health insurance policy (in very very small print) Treatment of injuries received as a result of war, declared or undeclared, will not be covered. Called the folks at Humana and asked if that meant terrorism and they said, Yep.( By the way, I checked this info out with the insurance commissioner's office and they told me all upcoming policies will contain this waiver.)

[Centurion2000]

bump

[gcruse]

America’s luck will probably run out again, sooner or
later.

No kidding. Using 'probably' here
along with the open-ended 'sooner
or later' reads like some high-school
kid's homework report.  Lameness
has achieved the main stream.
SNL is America.


 

[hole_n_one]

Nukefix.org

[lds23]

They are proven to be bloodthirsty, of their will to use these weapons I have no doubt. I say we take 'em out before they we let them realize their dream.

[WRhine]

And despite this grave threat OUR government still leaves the borders open to illegal immigration, does not enforce our immigration laws and incredibly continues to allow immigration from nations that sponsor terrorism. Where on earth is our government's concern about the safety and security of its citizens?

[VMI70]

I would suggest that President Bush announce to the world that any detonation of a nuclear device, including the so called "dirty bomb", on any part of the US or its' possessions will be met with immediate and devastating conventional or nuclear retaliation on all countries with over X% muslim population (or some other formula that will serve to assure the Islamic states that if anyone expodes a nuclear device here, almost all of them will die).
Included in his announcement should be that the same retaliation will be visited upon "Terrorist States" as designated by the US State Department. That should cover the North Koreas of the world.

I think the immediate resurrection of the neutron bomb as a viable weapon system is also in order, so that he will have more flexibility.

[CyberAnt]

Well ... with a nuclear plant just up the road a piece, I have put my trust in GOD. There has been talk here about what would happen and the skinny is this: only about 100,000 would be affected by this nuclear plant being attacked. So, for now, I'm guessing that their "bomb" is going to target a much larger population center. San Diego is not a good location - too many military installations - too much security. I think LA or San Fran is a much more probably target; along with NYC or Wash. D.C.

[Doc Savage]

People are so short-sighted and focused only on the next moment. I said at the time of the September 11th terrorist attacks that the United States should have launched a total world-wide nuclear attack against ALL Muslim nations, Morth Korea and China.

Given the next year, the next five years, the next fifty years, the next 500 years, these maniacal terrorists will continue to try to bring us down by any and ALL means necessary.

We can act now, unilaterally, to destroy Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sudan, Eygpt, Palestine, Libya, China, and North Korea, or we can suffer the tragedy and torment that will continue against us FOREVER more. They will not stop until the last true American patriot is decapitated and killed.

The only satisfaction a conservative American patriot will be able to savor will be the expression of awe and disbelief of the faces of the Communist Democrats in this country when their appeasement policies literally blow up in their faces and little Tommy Dasshole watches his body liquefy in the searing radiation blast of a nuclear weapon detonated by his much loved and worshiped fellow terrorists.

You know we are going to suffer a nuclear holocaust in the in this country tomorrow, the next day, or the next year. It is only a matter of time. We can sit back and wait for extinction, or we can strike now, take our losses, and hopefully rid the earth of the vermin known as Muslims.

[Coastie]

Try this handy dandy Blast mapper!

Blastmapper

Have a nice day!

[krogers58]

This author's impressive explanations of nuclear blasts, are extremely accurate and chilling, however, the quotation from the Time article is quoted out of context, and appears to be meant to convey hysteria. The sky is NOT falling! The only thing to fear..........you know the rest of the quote.

[Paul Atreides]

Just don't profile anyone! That is the worst thing that could happen. Heaven knows New York City would rather go up in a mushroom cloud rather than have anyone profiled.

[Cobra64]

There is an actual (not paper-mache) Fat Man in the West Point Military Academy in West Point, NY. (We live about 4 miles from there). Fat Man is a very large and ugly bomb!

Anyone visiting the NE should take the tour. You'd be very proud of ARMY. BTW, the USMA is about 2 miles away from the Indian Point nuclear power plant in Buchannan, NY.

So, I don't think Uncle Sam is going to let the evil-doers take out the plant.

I'm very happy living on five acres borded by three national parks, knowing that Uncle Sam is protecting one of our military schools. Helos, and Fs (don't know if 15,16,18?) flying over the area constantly. The Coast Guard have ships and boats positioned on the Hudson river.