Re: Al Qaida Nukes in the USA

[Russ Johnson <rujohnso@nmsu.edu>]

Given that I heard a review of this last night on a talk radio program

that is famous for its stories about UFOs, ghosts and monsters (hey, I

couldn't sleep), I would also question its credibility. The spectre of a

dirty bomb is quite plausible, but a 10 kT suitcase sized nuke weighing

35 pounds? I don't think so. I think those guys in the "nests" in

Pakistan and Iran are dreaming. And they have neither technology nor a

home garage.  Good grief!

-Russ



jjcohen wrote:



> From the NewsMax Website: http://www.newsmax.com

>

> Breaking from NewsMax.com

>

> A new book written by a former FBI consultant claims that al-Qaeda not

> only has obtained nuclear devices, but also likely has them in the

> U.S. and will detonate them in the near future. These chilling

> allegations appear in "Osama's Revenge: The Next 9/11: What the Media

> and the Government Haven't Told You," by Paul L. Williams (Prometheus

> Books).

>

>                             <snip>

>

> Williams says his "intelligence" concludes the most likely means of

> attack would come in the form of a so-called "suitcase (size) tactical

> nuclear bomb."

>

> "The chatter that everyone is referring to is coming from the nest in

> Pakistan, a virulent nest in Iran, the chatter is all about nukes

> being here....the best bang for the buck is nuclear, they (al-Qaeda)

> know that."

>

> Such bombs are estimated to have an explosive strength of

> approximately "10 kilotons" and could weigh less than 35 pounds.

>

> "With today's technology and the Internet, an experienced person could

> easily assemble such a bomb in his home garage," Williams explained.

>

> A bomb of that strength could easily level Manhattan and spread lethal

> radiation throughout the NYC-Metro area says the author. "It (the

> nuke) could render Manhattan unlivable for 1,000 years," he estimated.

>

>                                         <snip>

>

>

>

> I wonder if the residents of Hiroshima and Nagasaki realize that their

> cities will still be "unlivable" for another ~950 years? Given the

> quality of insight exhibited in his "unlivability" assertion, the

> credibility of rest of the information in William's book might also be

> considered  somewhat questionable.