EMP Threat – A Single Nuke Could Destroy America
March 30, 2009 by national
Filed under Homeland Security News
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A sword of Damocles hangs over our heads. It is a real threat that has been all but ignored.
On Feb. 3, Iran launched a “communications satellite” into orbit. At this very moment, North Korea is threatening to do the same. The ability to launch an alleged communications satellite belies a far more frightening truth. A rocket that can carry a satellite into orbit also can drop a nuclear warhead over any location on the planet in less than 45 minutes.
Far too many timid or uninformed sources maintain that a single launch of a missile poses no true threat to the United States, given our retaliatory power.
A reality check is in order and must be discussed in response to such an absurd claim: In fact, one small nuclear weapon, delivered by an ICBM can destroy the United States by maximizing the effect of the resultant electromagnetic pulse upon detonation.
An electromagnetic pulse EMP is a byproduct of detonating an atomic bomb above the Earth’s atmosphere. When a nuclear weapon is detonated in space, the gamma rays emitted trigger a massive electrical disturbance in the upper atmosphere. Moving at the speed of light, this overload will short out all electrical equipment, power grids and delicate electronics on the Earth’s surface. In fact, it would take only one to three weapons exploding above the continental United States to wipe out our entire grid and transportation network. It might take years to recover from, if ever.
This is not science fiction. If you doubt this, spend a short amount of time skimming the Report of the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse Attack from April 2008. You will come away sobered.
Even as the new administration plans to spend trillions on economic bailouts, it has announced plans to reduce funding and downgrade efforts for missile defense. Furthermore, the United States’ reluctance to invest in a modern and credible traditional nuclear deterrent is a serious concern. What good will a bailout be if there is no longer a nation to bail out?
Fifty years ago, it was not Sputnik itself that sent a dire chill of warning around the world; it was the capability of the rocket that launched Sputnik. The rocket that lofted Sputnik into orbit also could have served as an ICBM.
Yet for all its rhetoric, the Soviet Union was essentially a rational power that recognized the threat of mutual destruction and thus never stepped to the edge.
The world is different today. Intercontinental range missiles tipped with nuclear weapons in the hands of leaders driven by fanaticism, leaders that support global terrorism, leaders that have made repeated threats that they will seek our annihilation . . . can now at last achieve that dream in a matter of minutes.
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Yes, EMP is a huge threat to our technological dominance and everyday life.
But the point almost everyone is missing is that there is no need for an adversary to develop and field a capable missile.
For $5,000 an enemy can simply ship us anything they want in a cargo container…on time, and without any credible or effective inspection being performed.
Or, they can base a SCUD on a merchant ship off our coast, Iran is believed to have already tested this concept for deploying an EMP weapon.
Missile defense keeps money flowing to major contractors but in the case of today’s most likely bad actors it is worthless.
Seal our borders, inspect all cargo containers on an offshore inspection port (if it arrives here it is already too late and country of origin “inspections” touted by DHS are worthless), stop and board all suspect vessels within SCUD range, keep a better eye on private aviation, and inspect all cargo on commercial flights, not just flier’s baggage.
Require EMP hardening of all new essential products including airliners, vehicles, ATM’s, computer networks, food & fuel storage and distribution systems, water supplies, etc.
And, get the many existing Cold War era shelters re-identified, stocked and ready while we build a new network of shelters to meet today’s ominous threats.
See these articles for more info:
No Place to Run
http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=35948
The North Korean missile crisis
http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=36693
America’s need for civil defense
http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=36884
The day a nuke hit our port
http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=35206
Why port security is life and death for U.S.
http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=35072
When the nuke comes to port
http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=34991
Doomsday for Islam?
http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=35443
For a technology that has been in public domain for so many years, it is
very odd that the media and/or government has not been more forthcoming
with solutions or at the very least updates of threat levels.
i do not doubt the ability of this happening. however if a country decides to launch a nuclear device to cause electronic havoc to our country, are they not in essence taking a chance of retaliation. though our capabilities on terra ferma would be wiped out we would still have the option of launching our nuclear tipped missiles from submarines based around the world and thereby render the attacking country defenseless. yes?–no?
i do not doubt the ability of this happening. however if a country decides to launch a nuclear device.
Pete, let’s just say it’s not a country, but maybe a terrorist group. Say Mahmound Ima freakin nutcase gives some terrorist organization one of these things. After it goes off we wouldn’t know our arses from a hole in the ground let alone who was responsible.