Study: 3 million would die in worst-case Calif. terror scenario

bayarea ^

[chance33_98]

SAN DIEGO (AP) - A little-noticed study ponders the unthinkable: What would happen if a terrorist unleashed a chemical, nuclear or biological weapon in the nation's most populous state?

The answer is as chilling as the question: In a worst-case scenario, as many as 3 million Californians would perish.

[Mitchell]

Me: Do we just reconcile ourselves to living in a more chaotic, increasingly violent world?

You: This is why Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld et al have been at pains to stress that we are in a new era in which pre-emption is mandatory. They are not kidding around. This is the world we live in, post-9/11. Better get used to it.

Undoubtedly true. And it's why I think we'll see severe preemptive action, not merely behind-the-scenes covert activity aimed at "regime change." Our reaction needs to be obvious to the entire world. It's not just a matter of defusing this particular threat; we need to demonstrate unequivocally to anybody else who's thinking of doing something similar that it would be very dangerous for them even to take preliminary steps in that direction -- because we will stop them preemptively.

[Mr. Mojo]

Joke!

Not a funny one.

And btw, there are many "good guys" (and gals) living right in the heart of enemy territory (S.F., the west side of L.A., etc). These conservatives have to be especially tough to live in such close proximity to such leftist pukes. They fight the good fight, and are to be commended.

[goody2shooz]

In terms of the greatest amount of physical damage a nuke would qualify. But for the maximum deathrate, smallpox would win. Why?

Because it is contagious and spreads rapidly. It is the gift that keeps on giving. Anthrax is not contagious and nukes, except for fallout, have a finite range of annihilation.

The Russians weaponized a variola that appeared in India in the late 1960s, a virulent smallpox strain with a kill rate of 50% rather than the 30% that existed elsewhere at the time. It was powdered, placed in the nosecones of ICBMs with the intention of bombarding a virgin population, namely the U.S.

Not only have we quit vaccinating during the past 30 years but those who have been vaccinated (except for military personnel) were never vaccinated for the deadly India I variola.

Letting loose smallpox in our nation would be devastating. And if you think the CDC can deal with it, look how poorly they're dealing with the West Nile Virus situation. It's pathetic.

[altair]

A nuke would set fires that'll kill millions in a region.

Especially some place like Los Angeles/Orange County. There are only a handful of roads out. Bomb the roads out (101, 2 and 15 to the north, 10 to the east, 405 to the south) and set something off in downtown, like maybe the four-level to guarantee maximum disruption in transportation. That could easily kill millions all by itself with a minimum of effort.

What would happen if you detonated a large enough bomb on top of a fault line? Would that cause an earthquake?

[.45MAN]

Other than FreeRepublic Kalifornia is not worth talking about...

[backhoe]

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

[Mohammed El-Shahawi]

I think these Q&As realy frame the dawn of a new strategic doctrine nicely. It's utterly amazing that nobody else in the world (with the exception of Tony Blair) has caught on to this.

[chance33_98]

Other than FreeRepublic Kalifornia is not worth talking about...

They do have a few hot babes there though. My daughter is there too, but hopefully safe up in the mountains.

[Publius6961]

Good idea. The Free Republic is headquartered in CA, ya know.

And depending on the time of day, downwind of the San Francisco Bay area...
The good news, is that the real people inhabit the other 90% of California outside of the target areas...

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Yeah, preparing for an attack is so much better than sane visa policies, protected borders, or deportations. More exciting to live on the edge I guess.

Apparently that's how President Bush feels. I, for one, don't get it.

[okie01]

"It's utterly amazing that nobody else in the world (with the exception of Tony Blair) has caught on to this."

For what it's worth, which isn't much, I believe Italy's Berlusconi has caught on, as well.

But, then, his mind isn't clouded by elitist Euro-socialism, either.

[Mr. Jeeves]

I think there is a pretty fair chance that weaponized anthrax is already in place in our major cities, and the enemy's agents are waiting to loose it. We'll find out after the attack on Iraq begins.

[RooRoobird14]

In a worst-case scenario, as many as 3 million Californians would perish.

I'm not touching this one!

ROTFLOL--especially if it involved thousands of Hollywierd Clymers assembled for yet another "I'm So Wonderful" awards show.

[Joe Hadenuf]

And the down side is?

Well, the down side is that a$$holes from Minnesota are f-n stupid enough to make jokes at a scenario of 3 million Americans brutally murdered from a terrorist attack. This after we already lost 3,000 on the east coast.

I guess if I had to live in an icebox 6 months out of every year I would be angry and jealous too.

[NorseWood]

bump

[Mitchell]

I think these Q&As realy frame the dawn of a new strategic doctrine nicely. It's utterly amazing that nobody else in the world (with the exception of Tony Blair) has caught on to this.

Do you mean outside the U.S., or are you including the U.S. government here? I think that Rumsfeld, Cheney, and Wolfowitz are well aware of these issues. Powell, on the other hand, acts like he's not convinced that we're at this point yet. I'm not sure where Rice stands -- I suspect with Rumsfeld, et al.

One unfortunate consequence of the propping up of the domestic nut anthrax-mailing theory is that public discussion of these strategic issues has been muffled. After all, the anthrax mailings are the visible evidence that this isn't just speculation for the future, that we have already reached the end of the road for MAD and must look at new strategic doctrines. As a result, all such discussions end up getting diverted into the question of whether the anthrax sender was foreign or domestic (which is itself a euphemism for the question of whether it was a military foray or a crime), rather than the question of how best to deal with the new realities.

[Mohammed El-Shahawi]

I was, of course, referring to the REST of the world outside the US. Of course the US administration fully understands that the stakes have now changed.

I can almost imagine the conversation that took place in Baghdad in around 1992. Saddam sat around with his generals lamenting the fact Iraq's conventional weaponary (tanks, planes) was no match for the that of the US. He had chemical and bilogical weapons that he couldn't use in any conventional battle, since the US would use nuclear weapons against Baghdad. What was the solution to this? How could he get America?

The solution was really very, very simple. Attack America in America's home using covert means with plausible deniability.

It's amazing how nobody can grasp this. I watched Ted Koppel interviwing Eagleburger last night. Ted's a smart guy, actually. He said to Eagleburger "What if we go to war with Iraq, and Iraq has chemical and biological weapons already pre-positioned in America"? Eagleburger replied "It's possible but extremely unlikley."

Unlikley? You've got to be kidding. It's much, much easier to imagine that 20 terrorists would be willing to disperse anthrax covertly (and walk away after doing it), than it is to imagine 20 terrorists would hijack 4 planes and commit suicide by flying them into buildings. The logistics are child's play compared to the logistics of hijacking planes.

People are on total denial that it could even be possible that this could happen. It's really quite frightening.

[claptrap]

There is nothing to worry about, the california democrats will protect you, and the fourteen armed planes that guard America will stop any imagined or unimaginable attack. In fact Bush might send the red crescent to help, and remember
Islam is a religion of peace!

[claptrap]

Lets get real buddy, California is totally expendable, there is so much evidence to witness that fact, look at New York,
or D.C. most of the country would better off without any input from these overpopulated areas, and remember
Islam is a religion of peace!

[evilsmoker]

Oh lighten up already. This Californian got a chuckle out of it.