Bin Laden Nuke Bomb Shock ( "dirty bomb" was a factor in the terror alert )

skynews ^ | 12/04/2001 | Staff

[KQQL]

Bin Laden Nuke Bomb Shock

Evidence has emerged that Osama bin Laden is closer than first thought to developing a crude nuclear weapon. Fear that bin Laden's al Qaeda network might be close to developing a "dirty bomb" was a factor in the United States' decision to issue a new warning of possible attacks, the Washington Post reported.

Fuel rods

The so-called dirty bomb could be made by taking highly radioactive material, such as spent reactor fuel rods, and wrapping it around readily-available conventional explosives.

The newspaper said the alert was raised from interrogation of captured al Qaeda members and evidence gathered in the last month at al Qaeda facilities in Afghanistan by CIA officers and US special forces.

It said a diagram of a "dirty bomb" was found in a Taliban or al Qaeda installation in Afghanistan in recent weeks.

'Radioactivity'

"US intelligence agencies have recently concluded that Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda terrorist network may have made greater strides than previously thought toward obtaining plans or materials to make a crude radiological weapon that would use conventional explosives to spread radioactivity over a wide area," the Post said, quoting US and foreign sources.

"The concern is sufficiently deep that some countries have adopted extreme security procedures at their borders, including the increased use of devices that measure radioactivity."

[lavaroise]

"The concern is sufficiently deep that some countries have adopted extreme security procedures at their borders, including the increased use of devices that measure radioactivity."

Duh!

[KQQL]

If he has it, he will likely use it in pakistan , because hates them these days.

[nopardons]

YIKES !

[KQQL]

super duper yikes!

[KQQL]

If he has it, he will likely use it in Pakistan , because OBL hates them these days.

I bet he never thought Pakistan would have supported the US.

[sarcasm]

Washington Post article:

U.S. Fears Bin Laden Made Nuclear Strides

Some of the conclusions come from interrogations of captured al Qaeda members or associates. Some come from evidence gathered in the last month on the ground in Afghanistan by CIA officers and U.S. Special Forces from former al Qaeda facilities.

In addition, recent U.S. intelligence reports describe a meeting within the last year in which bin Laden was present when one of his associates produced a canister that allegedly contained radioactive material. The associate waved the canister in the air as proof of al Qaeda's progress and seriousness in trying to build a nuclear device.

[patj]

If he has it, it is a sure bet that Iraq has a better model.

[KQQL]

yes, I agree with you.

[sarcasm]

Related post:

(New York) Harbor security tightens against nuclear threat

[backhoe]

Keep these handy, copy & resend to others:

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

[mxbluto]

That's the reaction your leaders are hoping for. A bonus for them would be the whimpers and cries for protection.

[cardinal4]

Perhaps a premptive strike.....

[snopercod]

...spent reactor fuel rods, and wrapping it around readily-available conventional explosives.

What a crock! Merely having eye-contact with one of those rods for a few seconds is fatal. How are they going to

1. Procure one in the first place. You can't just buy them at your local hardware store.
2. Transport it to Afghanistan. You really don't want to check a 20' long hot, glowing rod with your baggage for the flight.
3. Cut through the zirconium sheath to remove the spent fuel pellets.
4. Handle the "bomb" when they had done all this?

I repeat, this article is a crock.

[CGASMIA68]

bump

[Dan Day]

The danger of these kinds of "dirty bombs" is less than the scaremongers in the media would have you believe.

Yes, you could spread radioactivity over an area. A relatively small area. Done just right, about the same size area as an accident in a chemical plant would endanger -- i.e., enough to displace a few hundred homes and a dozen or so businesses, but hardly any more damage than the sort we already take in stride when a train carrying tank cars of dangerous chemicals derails.

And like a chemical spill, the moment an attack like this occurs, the evacuations would start and the actual amount of danger to people would be low. It would just make for an environmental mess, but again, over a relatively small area.

Some uninformed alarmists have tried to paint pictures of millions of people with radiation poisoning and entire regions made uninhabitable, but that's simply ridiculous.

[Michael Barnes]

backhoe, the links provided are excellent readings. Thanks for the continual posting of ths information.