How would the US handle a nuclear 9/11?

There is no doubt that terrorists would love to detonate some form of nuclear device inside the United States. Our government is aware of this threat and they have taken many precautions to prevent such a disaster. However, should the terrorists be successful, Jay Davis in the Washington Post has taken a look at how the US would respond. (hat tip Ron)

If a terrorist group were to detonate a nuclear weapon on U.S. soil, the FBI, CIA, Department of Homeland Security and the nation's national labs would race to track down those responsible and prevent any further detonations by that group.

After the Sept. 11 attacks, the time between the fall of the twin towers and our response in Afghanistan was less than one month. But current U.S. nuclear forensics capability -- which involves analyzing nuclear radiation and isotopic signatures -- can't guarantee definitive information within a month of an attack. [snip]

But in our post-Sept. 11 world, we won't have months to respond. There would be enormous pressure to rapidly identify the terrorists and the chain of events leading up to the attack.

With a few changes, the speed and accuracy of nuclear forensics could be significantly improved.

First, we should update our 20th-century program to confront 21st-century enemies. Much of our field and laboratory equipment dates to the Cold War. So do most of our personnel. We need to develop and manufacture advanced, automated radiation analysis equipment that can be deployed to the field and is backed up by improved laboratory measurement. We need enhanced computer simulation and modeling capabilities. And we need to establish a federal initiative to reinvigorate the field of nuclear chemistry.

Second, international collaboration is essential. Nuclear material can have a unique signature depending on its source reactor or fuel facility. A shared and appropriately accessible international database of nuclear samples can help to more quickly match debris from an explosion with its original source.

Third, we must consider what it will take for the world to believe our analysis. The U.S. intelligence community's failures in assessing weapons of mass destruction in Iraq could well result in international skepticism regarding any nuclear forensics investigation we might perform. A group of recognized experts not associated with our federal investigation should be established to provide independent validation of the forensics analysis.

Finally, we need to manage expectations and prepare for the inevitable political pressure to respond quickly after an attack. Through realistic drills, our leaders can become aware of the strengths and limitations of the nation's nuclear forensics capability. Even with these changes, forensics analysis will take time, and results will not be immediately conclusive. Our leaders must recognize that, at times, decisions may need to be deferred or made amid uncertainty. (continue reading)

Sort of related, read more disturbing details on "Air Force Mistakenly Sent Nuke Triggers To Taiwan", at - Largely

Wednesday Evening Catch-Up:

Muslims 'to outnumber traditional churchgoers' The Telegraph

The increasing influence of Islam on British culture is disclosed in research today that shows the number of Muslims worshipping at mosques in England and Wales will outstrip the numbers of Roman Catholics going to church in little more than a decade.

Government Benefit Programs in Trouble, Breitbart (hat tip hubby)

WASHINGTON (AP) - Trustees for the government's two biggest benefit programs warned Tuesday that Social Security and Medicare are facing enormous financial challenges, with the threats to Medicare far more severe.

The trustees, issuing a once-a-year analysis of the government's two biggest benefit programs, said the resources in the Social Security trust fund will be depleted by 2041. The reserves in the Medicare trust fund that pays hospital benefits were projected to be wiped out by 2019.

Obama’s Muslim connection, Israpundit

Saudi Arabia’s King Adbullah issued an unprecedented call for a sincere “interfaith dialogue” in the Middle East., Deceiver.com

The Clever Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Faultline USA (vote at RCP)

Back at U.N., Annan Talks Of U.S., Ban, New York Sun

‘Earmarks, the Gateway Drug for Overspending’, Bob McCarty Writes

Comments

[Always On Watch]

Debbie,
Have you heard that "Fitna: The Movie" was released today?

Info at my web site.

[Skunkfeathers]

I would tend to agree with a later comment: if we do take a nuke hit, we take out the nation sponsoring the responsible terrorists. Nothing gets the message across more succinctly, or definitively, than that. If it ain't Iran, I will suggest that their empty saber-rattling will dissipate like a popcorn fart in a hurricane, with that demonstration.

Let the world know that we will defend ourselves by all the means in our power...and the world will not only respect that...they'll take a bit more care of who's soiling their own back yards.

I know that doesn't sit well with the DailyKos, Moron.arg, Recreate '68 crowd...but their very public and projected to the terrorists cowardice has led the enemy to believe we can be undercut and intimidated, and no longer have the stones for the long haul.

[Debbie]

Karen, great catch and good question. I just don't understand. Columbia could be such a good partner, and we need them in the region.

[Karen]

This is a timely post indeed, Debbie. I heard on the news this morning that Columbia reported an arrest made in relationship to FARC terrorists in possession of a large amount of materials for a dirty bomb.

Does this earn them the trade agreement approval now? Bush has been trying to get Pelosi and Co to approve it for months.

[Debbie]

Comment from R. J. Godlewski:

Although I believe that a nuclear attack upon the United States is probable (given enough time, anything will happen), our best defense is still to bypass the terrorists themselves and issue a direct warning to their rogue sponsors. That is, we can do much to prevent rogue nuclear attack upon the United States by making everyone understand that we will annihilate anyone who so much as offers psychological support to the perpetrators.

In WWII, we faced a similar situation. The Nazis had nerve agents and we didn't even know about it. However, FDR said in June, 1943 (when we hadn't quite yet achieved air superiority) "Any use of gas by an Axis power will immediately be followed by the fullest possible retaliation upon munition centers, seaports, and other military installations through the whole extent of the territory of such Axis country."

In a sense, what we'd be saying to the world is that "If we lose a city, the planet is going to be short a nation or two."

I've always feared that nukes are already here -- which is why everyone is bending over backwards to appease the Islamists. What we need to do is return to the days when the world thought that George W. Bush (or Reagan in 1983 or MacArthur during Korea or General Sherman during the Civil War, etc.) was completely off of his rocker. Diplomacy only forestalls war; appeasement only hides aggression; but the best defense against despots is having them think that you're absolutely nuts. ;o)--end comment.

[Paul Champagne]

How do we respond to a nuclear terrorist attack on the US?

The answer seems pretty simple to me, first we nuke Iran ... and then after the forensic evidence tells us who did it, we nuke them too. We would have probably gotten it right the first time.

[Michael]

Our borders were thrown open after 9-11-2001. Why? Or President, all of the current candidates, and the US Chamber of Commerce refuse to close the doors they themselves have opened? Why?

Here's a News Flash! America's largest border, and the one in which virtually 99% of all Islamists pass.......is our International Airport system. The system is wide open to foreigner from Islamic countries and EU nations which have been infested by America hating Islamists.

Every Federal Officer that I have every had a conversation with.....and I speak with them daily, is resigned to a nuclear attack on the United States. We know who the sponsors are, and we know most of the operatives.....our Law Enforcement is not allowed to seriously pursue them....they are "Allies" remember?

Who cares? We'll just lie to the American people, on behalf of our buddies under the crescent moon!

Here is a snippet, a blast for the past.

http://www.sptimes.com/2004/06/09/Tampabay/TIA_now_verifies_flig.shtml

[Faultline USA]

Debbie, Thank you for the link. On the Obama Connection link I read a comment that his Rev. Wright is an ex-Muslim too. Has anyone looked into that to see if it's true?

[Layla Elizabeth N Gonzalez]

This is pathetic. We have illegals running around - probably many terrorist here right now from our porous southern border. We are going to be destroyed from within and it is not like our government does not know.

Just like they knew that there would eventually be a flood out in New Orleans if they did not fix things, they know there will be a disaster they may not be able to fix if they do not get it right now. Sigh.......... Just more typical stupidity. Sheese!

[Angel]

sigh..we allow jeehadis all over our country..and we are imploding from within Deb..too scarey to think about!:)

[Stormwarning]

Y'all are missing the point, now aren't you? "There would be a need to know who did it. Current forensics wouldn't provide immediacy."

Dig a little deeper and you'll realize this has nothing to do with "dems" or "libs."

[Smooth Stone]

It's shocking to see our great nation implode from within. Compare our national pride in 1941 to our national pride now; the contrast is unsettling, with no thanks to arabists and "peace activists".

[Skunkfeathers]

We'll be able to thank liberals for their appeasement of and support of terrorists, if we take an Al Qaida nuke hit.

[Stormwarning]

I was going to use this article in a post and couldn't figure out how to position it. The air marshall thing is disturbing. As for the post-nuclear attack question, I read it as question of response, and a
hypothetical at that.

I think that the question the WaPo article was facing was the balance between the urge and expectation to repond and the inability for the forensics to give the immediacy of answers. The would be a need to know who did it. Current forensics wouldn't provide immediacy.

[Debbie]

Uncle Sloane: Thanks for the links, I'll check them out. Much appreciated.

[Uncle Sloane]

This is a better link about the air marshals.
http://www.theaviationnation.com/2008/03/25/tsa-censoring-posts-on-cnn-air-marshal-story/

[Uncle Sloane]

Preparation for a Nuclear nightmare seems far down the list of priorities for either party. Democrats are too busy undermining our security by failing to vote on terrorist wiretapping bills and Republicans are too busy looking like impotent little wimps. God help us. The government isn't even committed to maintaining an adequate number of air marshals.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/356546_tsaed.html