Iraq - Scotsman says Saddam has weapons to wipe out world's population, nuclear bomb within 3 years

The Scotsman ^ | September 7, 2002 | Fraser Nelson and Alison Hardie

[blastbaby]

PAGING SCOTT RITTER (Major, USMC [Ret.])!

Well, I didn't actually SEE the weapons - You see, I wasn't getting enough airtime and I thought that was what they wanted me to say - but if you say there aren't weapons there Suddam - well hey - I like you - you seem like an honest guy - well ok then........... ( now please let my nanna go...ok?....sure, sure, whatever you want....)

[stainlessbanner]

Good Post HAL9000. Thanks

[Brett66]

I wonder if he could build a more advanced nuclear weapon using tritium boosting. If he can, then he will have 40-50 kt nukes at his disposal. It would not be hard to smuggle them into a large city.

[Terriergal]

Bomb bomb bomb... bomb bomb Iraq...

[SpottedBeaver]

SADDAM Hussein has the capability to make an atomic bomb within three years, and has stockpiled enough chemical and biological weapons to wipe out the world’s population, according to the file on Iraq due to be released by Downing Street.

... and if that doesn't convince you, your haven't been paying attention. There are other ways to deliver the WMD.

... And if a hand-full of 757s, turned into balistic missles, last 9/11, didn't convince you that he doesn't have a delivery method.... Then nothing will.

[agrace]

You know, Steve Malzberg (I think it was him) said on ABC radio the other day something about Scott Ritter getting paid off and lo and behold, that's why he's done such a complete turnaround, but that was all he said. Any additional details?

[elfman2]

Links are our friends.

[RightWhale]

It would not be hard to smuggle them into a large city.

That is a nightmare scenario.

However, it is highly dangerous to the person[s] attempting it. First of all, there would have to be a lot of smuggling in order to get enough devices in enough cities to make a serious impact on a large country outside of immediate fear and panic. One device by itself would not be effective militarily; it would be counterproductive like sowing dragon's teeth.

If one such smuggling were detected, all counter-measures around the planet would be activated. This would include full mobilization. Besides catching the smuggling and the smugglers dead or alive in that one case, the smugglers would be identified, the real danger to the perps.

So, it would require several smuggling attempts to do anything series, and the more attempts, the greater the chance of discovery. Once discovered, begin the endgame.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

You of course realize that Scott Ritter would disagree with practically all of this...

Since he is currently on the Iraqi payroll.

[America's Resolve]

If they ever use these things against us or our allies, I want that country totally obliterated ... houses, people, mosques, hospitals, camels, cows, scorpions ... everything. Been a long time since I've read anything this scary.

he's shown his willingness to use these things in the past. he's killed more muslims than the US ever came close to doing. If he'd kill muslims with such a relish, imagine how quick and easy it would be for him to kill Jews or Americans.

Tons of VX? Ebola? Yah. return em to the stone age. let em start civilization from the stone age again. It'll keep em out of trouble for a while at least.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

She is merely a liberal fool, foisted upon the nation by a majority of liberal fools and other ignorant folks in California. Lesson to New York state: Beware of electing liberal fools -- the pain could last a very long time.

[Terriergal]

I hear ya... I hear ya.

[AmishDude]

I miss listening to Steve Malzberg. Not sure exactly why, but I loved his show. I guess it was all the preparation he put into it.

[Mr. Mojo]

Any additional details [about Ritter]?

The details are numerous , and because I might not be able to relay them to you with complete accuracy, I suggest you type in "Scott Ritter" in the FR search feature, using the "order by post time" option. You'll find a lot of info there.

[America's Resolve]

greyhawk signed up 2002-09-06.

Like I really give a crap what you want/need.

[dark_lord]

It would not be hard to smuggle them into a large city.
Well, actually, it might be. It may or may not still be classified, but it is not a secret that the US has nuclear emission detectors that can be used to detect the presence of a bomb from several miles away. You do have to aim it right in the direction of the device, but...you can detect whether an aircraft or a ship is carrying such a device.
Now someone who knows this can shield the device by surrounding it with enough water or lead. However, it is then essentially difficult to sneak it to the target. No way can you hide it in the hold of a commercial aircraft. No way can you transport it in a truck.
I don't know whether or not you could successfully put it in the hold of a ship below the waterline and covered with shielding and successfully get it into a port or not. Supposedly the nuclear material that was being smuggled to Israel for their nuclear weapons program was detected on a ship in the Med back when Nixon was President, and that was the reason (again, supposedly) that he put US forces on alert worldwide and caused some excitement. Some of the older members of this forum may remember that. (That Nixon did that, not the part about the detectors, the ship in the Med, the fissile materials, etc. - noone has ever admitted to that.) Of course...I could be completely wrong here. No such detectors REALLY exist, of course.

[agrace]

Guess I missed some discussion on it right here, what a surprise. ;) Thanks, I'll do that.

[agrace]

I really like his show too. I can even stomach his evening show with Richard Bey, as long as Steve isn't on vacation or something, as he was last week. Stand alone Richard Bey is a bit much for me. I think I enjoy Steve for his passionate sincerity more than anything. He's very genuine and seemingly honest. And of course, agreeing with him on pretty much everything doesn't hurt any. :) Great guests too - a couple Sundays ago he had on the father of one of the soldiers killed in Somalia, himself a disabled Vietnam vet with another son who just returned from Afghanistan and yet another also in the military. I shamefully forget his name, but it was an awesome hour or so.