20 to 40 Tactical Nukes Already in The US?

www.WSBA910.com morning drive interview ^ | 6/30/04 | Me: 7.62 x 51mm

[7.62 x 51mm]

On the way into work at 6:20am, I was listening to local radio station, WBSA's (www.wsba910.com) Dennis Edwards, interview of Paul L. Williams, author of his new book, "Osama's Revenge: The Next 9-11", who said there are already 20-40 tactical (10 kiloton) nukes in the US, in major cities. He also said that in October 2001, George Tenet testified that he'd sent President Bush a memo detailing some of the information and the serial numbers of two (2) of the nukes.

Anyone else hear this? Really ruined my day, if true.

I'm in the York-Lancaster, PA area, and have seen numerous men in blue military field uniforms with NEST on the backs of their suits, over the past 4-5 weeks.

We have Three Mile Island (north) and Peach Bottom (southeast) nuclear reactors within 20 miles of my home and business, but otherwise this area is not a "target-rich" environment.

I did a Google search for that acronym and didn't find anything relating to Nuclear Emergency Search Team or anything close to it, after 8 pages. FR has a few articles in their search archives.

It's 7:53am as I write this. and the next interview with author Williams will be on at 8:10am. You can get it streamed over the Net. They also carry Rush and Hannity daily. Sorry I didn't get this on sooner, but I have 4 landscape crews to brief and get moving, plus the retail garden center staff to get started-up and moving by 7am.

If this book is even partially accurate, we have a major headache brewing.

[RightthinkinAmerican]

Well, if this happens there will be no need to worry, because we will let fly everything we have against the countries that supported it, and the world will be over. There will be no bull$hit UN resolutions, just bright flashes in all the aforementioned countries. Bye Bye civilization - everbody loses.

[TomGuy]

Right! And they're going to sit on them for 3 years, just risking being caught before they can use them?

They waited about 5 years after conceiving the planes-as-missiles idea.

They aren't completely stupid (although their enlisted minions might be). Actually, they have a fairly successful track record.

Just recall that on most of the times since 2001 that the 'alert level' was raised, we got numerous reports of LEOs using radiation detection equipment in several major cities.

We can't afford to play the 'I don't see it so they don't have it' game with terrorists. Somebody was pretty good in planning 9-11, and the anthrax attack didn't happen without planning and preparation.

[rintense]

Well I don't trust North Korea at all. They may be a silent player in all of this. Add to that Libya's sudden need to cooperate, and I think the very real possibility of tactical nukes in the hands of terrorists is probable.

[RightthinkinAmerican]

There will be no pussyfooting with the UN if this happens, or worrying about an OJ level burden of proof like the Dims always want. Just the permanent nuclear end of the countries responsible.

[COBOL2Java]

How much damage would 20 tactical nukes do? I suspect millions of dead. I suspect a collapsed economy. I suspect a total re-thinking of our Middle East policy. I suspect permanent disfavor for George W. Bush.

Michael Moore's wet dream.

[TomGuy]

But farmers are generally well-armed (although this may vary from state to state) and dispersed through vast swaths of the countryside.

UNKNOWN VIRUS HITS KANSAS WHEAT FIELDS
			Posted by genefromjersey On News/Activism 06/03/2004 6:30:40 PM CDT with 50 comments 06/03/04 | vanity An unidentified wheat virus has appeared in fields throughout western Kansas. The unknown pathogen causes the leaves to turn yellow and die.These symptoms are also associated with head death,wheat streak mosaic,and freezing; however,University of Kansas researchers have ruled out these possible causes. Researchers note evidence of the virus is in almost every field-although it has not yet destroyed the crop. University of Kansas virologists,with the help of researchers in Winnipeg,are trying to identify the proteins involved in the destruction of affected plants,so the genetic sequences may be compared to pathogens found in other parts of the world. One hypothesis-that nobody...

[RightthinkinAmerican]

The point is these are REALLY hard to hide due to radiation signature. I believe they would have been noticed by now. Fissile material is WAY frickin' hot - basically a flashing light saying "nuke over here".

[Brilliant]

I don't trust NKorea either. However, the US estimates that they have at most 10 a-bombs. The size of their arsenal is limited by the number of uranium fuel rods Clinton gave them. They've already processed all the rods, and can't get any more. I suspect they'd be very reluctant to give any significant quantity of their stash to terrorists, or to anyone else, unless they were getting something big in exchange. Notice that they have not tested their bomb yet. In large part, that's because they don't want to use their precious uranium.

[steplock]

I would not discount it - it is a reasonable assumption.

BUT --- we have been stopping these terrorist attacks in our country for at least 30 years non-stop.

Only the Sep 11 2001 attcks succeeded. (out of thousands of attempts)

[Crusher138]

I have it from a good source that while suitcase nukes exist, they require near constant maintenance. The main problem seems to be the detonator. The sphere of high explosives used to detonate the fissionable material breaks down rather quickly over time. It needs to be replaced, which is difficult, both in obtaining the proper materials and the degree of mechanical sophistication needed to shape and physically install the new material.

While they can still explode if not maintained, the yield is MUCH less. Instead of taking out a couple of square miles, the aged bombs might take out a city block or two. Not good, but no where near as bad as it could be.

I am of the mind that if they had them, they would have used them. I also think, based on a few crumbs that have come my way, that there have been a couple of failed attempts. It is better to keep it quiet and retain the assets that allowed you to stop the event, than to publicize it and teach the bad guys what they did wrong...

[RightthinkinAmerican]

IF, and it's a big IF, there were nukes smuggled in, I wouldn't be surprised if we had already foiled the plot, and Bush is sitting on it for a nice October surprise. That'd fix the Dims.

Speaking of October surprises: I'd also like to know who the prisoner in Iraq is - the one who is on no paperwork, and who Rummy hid from the Red Cross - he is referred to only as "prisoner xxx" and is only known to a couple of high-rankers.

[eno_]

It is the tritium in certain designs that has a short shelf-life. The conventional explosives that trigger the nuke have no such inherent problem. Not to say there isn't some design or maintenence issue, but there is no fundamental limit on how long they would be good for.

[Poohbah]

Regardless of the expiration date, risk of getting caught, etc... remember, no one thought a terrorist would use a plane as a missle either.

One more time: the terrorists supposedly had the nukes in America before 9/11.

If they had the nukes, they would've used them in lieu of the airplanes.

Good googly moogly, how many times do I have to point this out?

[CIB-173RDABN]

Are the Islam terrorist crazy. Viewed from our end, we have difficultity in understanding them, so "crazy" fits. But are they really?

By this, I mean are they incapable of rational thought?

I don't think so.

I do not believe they really expected as much damage as they inflicted on 9/11, and they certainly did not fully consider the result (Afghanistan and Iraq).

So the question is, are they able to percieve the result of the next attack against Americans?

This Administration has done a good job of keeping the blood lust felt by many under control. But, another 9/11 especially if it involves chemical, biological or nuclear weapons causing tens of thousands of casualities would push this country over the edge, and total, real, unrestricted warfare would be demanded by the public.

So back to my original question, are they crazy or do they not see if they do managed to inflict great harm on this country, we will go "crazy"?

Their only chance would be to completely destroy us in one act, and that is impossible. Even if the entire United States was wiped off the face of the earth, we have enough military power around the world to see we were revenged.

No, they want a Spain, they are planning something just before our election, big but not too big.

[Poohbah]

It is the tritium in certain designs that has a short shelf-life. The conventional explosives that trigger the nuke have no such inherent problem. Not to say there isn't some design or maintenence issue, but there is no fundamental limit on how long they would be good for.

Au contraire! There is a limit: namely, how long they can be wrapped around an alpha emitter (i.e., a nice, warm lump of plutonium) without exuding out all of their volatile (and most energetic) components.

[eno_]

Without the tritium to enhance yield, your source might be right: 1-2kT vs. 10kT.

[finnman69]

Exactly, they would not sit and wait to set these off. They are too valuable and vulnerable to detection.

[Poohbah]

If the weapon's designed to use tritium, then it won't go critical without it.

If there is anything more than a trace amount of helium (tritium decay product) in the tritium capsule, then the weapon will fizzle.

[rintense]

So you're saying that it isn't at all possible that this scenario may be real? Isn't it possible you are thinking too logically right now? And after 9-11, anything is possible with these fools. ANYTHING.

Good googly moogly, how many times do I have to point this out?

Um, ok *DAD*. Sorry I choose not to believe you. You should cut down on the caffeine. Seriously.

[paulsy]

"How much damage would 20 tactical nukes do?"

It would end our world as we know it.