Rep: Weldon: 'Dirty Nuke' Already Inside U.S., Experts Assume

NewsMax ^ | April 23, 2002 | Staff

[Bubba_Leroy]

Rep. Curt Weldon, R-Pa., said Tuesday he believes that Osama bin Laden not only has the capacity to produce a "dirty nuke" radiation bomb, but that national security experts are operating on the assumption that he's already smuggled one inside the U.S.

"We are taking every possible precaution, both from the intelligence standpoint and the physical protection standpoint," Weldon told Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes."

"The question is: is it here? I don't know that answer," said Weldon, who serves as Military Procurement Subcommittee Chairman and sits on the House Armed Services Committee.

"But I think we have to assume it's here because we have to take every possible precaution to try to find it and locate where it would be so we can defuse it," he added.

Weldon's warning was prompted by reports that captured al Qaeda lieutenant Abu Zubaydah, who was chief of operations for bin Laden’s terror network, has told probers that bin Laden had developed a radiation bomb with an eye towards smuggling it into the U.S.

Weldon said the U.S. doesn't have enough radiation detection equipment to monitor every possible point of entry for a smuggled al Qaeda dirty nuke.

[AmerRepb]

Thanks. I thought that maybe they'd be trying to smuggle them in a few at a time and get them into a few places around the country and set them off on a given signal. That's sort of the M O I'm looking at. Not just one airline but four. A mass disturbition type operation. Thanks for your input.

[Lion's Cub]

. Odds are they don't have one, or if they do, they have no interest in using it

The jury's still out on the suitcase nukes, but it's wishful thinking to believe they don't have the dirty bomb. Israel Finds Radiological Backpack Bomb

Regarding the arrest, a U.S. government official said: "There was only one individual involved. He was from Pakistan."

I suspect that looking for this kind of stuff, as well as possible bio/chem warfare stock, is part of the reason the Israelis went house-to-house.

[Squantos]

To heck with nukes .....lets develop that pork rind cluster bomb and do it right :o)

Stay Safe !

[Kerensky]

Third world nuclear weapon delivery system:

[backhoe]

Some useful info:

Nuclear News you *can* use--

Nuclear, Biological, & Chemical Warfare- Survival Skills, Pt. II

Tiny Nukes-- the backpack threat

[Oldeconomybuyer]

The linkage between international terrorism and WMD's like dirty nukes is clearly our greatest threat. There is no doubt in my mind that the terror networks would love to use one against American civilians, and I agree that we need to operate under the assumption that they already possess at least one device. My only hope is that we can root out and stop them before they attack.

The lesson of 9/11 is that the danger is clear and present, and our response must be swift and aggressive. I have never been a "doomsday" kind of thinker, but today American culture as we know it is at stake.

[Former Proud Canadian]

Regarding the so called dirty bomb. There are technical problems with this kind of device. The material wrapping the explosive is constantly giving off radiation, enough to sicken or kill the people who are assembling or transporting the device. If you shield it to protect them, the device is to big and unwieldy.

The only way this is feasible is as a small, one man (or woman these days) 'suicide' device. The 'islamic warrior' would die in the process of delivery.

On the other hand, I would hope that by now the highest levels of the US government are making clear to ALL the arab governments that any attack that can be traced to them will be answered 1000 times over.

[BOBTHENAILER]

Great Picture.

[Neophyte]

go nastily into people's cities, killing, destroying, and (worst of all) humiliating them.

not-so-dirty nuke dumped in the middle of the hajj would be a pretty good idea.

The problem isn't in those Arab hellholes... it's the US and other civilised countres which badly need a clean up. Cast out all the untrustworthy Muslims, this fifth column.

They rejoiced when the Pentagon and the WTC were attacked, they would celebrate when/if the durty nuke went off.

Actually, without their active help this device wouldn't be in the US at all.

[twigs]

I believe this is what has been motivating Bush to take such strong action.

I think you're probably right. The president looks so solemn so much of the time. I think he knows a lot that he's very concerned about.

[vannrox]

President Bush. I think he knows a lot of things that he doesn't want the general public to know. I believe that he is very concerned about US interests. It must really seem disgusting to him to have the Democrats playing wars on Politics to take advantage of the situation.

[Ditter]

You are certainly correct about a different mindset. I think they thought Muslims all over the world would rise up & join them on 9-11. I'll bet they were surprized when that didn't happen. I don't doubt they are working on a dirty bomb but maybe our military response gave them a reason to reconsider.

[angcat]

we should have done it first...................they will get us first ........................as usual we will suffer because we have to appease everyone else but our own country..........................

[angcat]

i love that picture...................hehehehe

[Sam's Army]

What civil rights have we already coughed up?

[Thud]

This is not breaking news. Congressman Weldon has been peddling this for months. It is his way of getting his name in the papers. Please stop reposting his PR.

[Spook86]

Well stated...as an ex-Spook (retired from the game BEFORE 9-11), I never saw any convincing evidence that Al Qaeda had built a dirty radiation bomb (please don't call it a nuke, it's not a true nuclear device), let alone smuggled one inside the U.S.

However, from a security standpoint, you've got to assume workcase, given bin Laden's strong interest in such a weapon. And, don't forget, there's a bureaucratic element at work here, too. What better way to get more funding for your anti-terrorism program that to tell an influential member of Congress that Al Qaeda has built a dirty bomb and has already smuggled it into our country.

[hobbes1]

It was a cylinder 40 cm by 60 cm, and weighed 68 kg

A solid 150....I say it's time to start patrolling gyms, and detaining all semi- to buff Arabs....