Thursday, July 31, 2008

A Heads Up From Radarsite



A note from Radarsite: For what it's worth, there has been an inordinate amount of hits on this July 11 "EMP attack" Radarsite article today from all over the world. And not just from individual readers, but from U.S. Gov't agencies. What's up? Anyone know anything about this? Could this just be a coinincidence? -rg

Cross posted from World Net Daily:
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=69056

Congress examines EMP threat
Iran believed to test missiles for attack on U.S.
Posted: July 07, 2008


WASHINGTON – More than four years after a stunning report about America's vulnerability to a nuclear electromagnetic pulse attack was released to Congress, the House Armed Services Committee will hear testimony from the scientist who issued the warning and who believes Iran is pursuing such an option.

William R. Graham, President Reagan's top science adviser and the chairman of the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Attack, will update the committee Thursday morning.

Graham warned in 2005 that Iran was not only covertly developing nuclear weapons, but was already testing ballistic missiles specifically designed to destroy America's technical infrastructure with the aim of neutralizing the world's lone superpower.

The radical Shiite regime has conducted successful tests to determine if its Shahab-3 ballistic missiles, capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, can be detonated by a remote-control device while still in high-altitude flight, Graham said in his report.
Graham said then there was no other plausible explanation for such tests than preparation for the deployment of electromagnetic pulse weapons – even one of which could knock out America's critical electrical and technological infrastructure, effectively sending the continental U.S. back to the 19th century with a recovery time of months or years.

Iran would have that capability – at least theoretically – as soon as it has one nuclear bomb ready to arm such a missile.

The stunning report was first published in Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin, the premium, online intelligence newsletter published by WND's founder.

Iran surprised intelligence analysts by describing the mid-flight detonations of missiles fired from ships on the Caspian Sea as "successful" tests. Even primitive Scud missiles could be used for this purpose. And top U.S. intelligence officials reminded members of Congress that there is a glut of these missiles on the world market. They are currently being bought and sold for about $100,000 apiece.
Others agree with Graham's sobering assessment.

"A terrorist organization might have trouble putting a nuclear warhead 'on target' with a Scud, but it would be much easier to simply launch and detonate in the atmosphere," wrote Sen. John Kyl, R-Ariz., in the Washington Post in 2005 after reading Graham's report. "No need for the risk and difficulty of trying to smuggle a nuclear weapon over the border or hit a particular city. Just launch a cheap missile from a freighter in international waters – al-Qaida is believed to own about 80 such vessels – and make sure to get it a few miles in the air."

The Iranian missile tests were more sophisticated and capable of detonation at higher elevations – making them more dangerous.

Detonated at a height of 60 to 500 kilometers above the continental U.S., one nuclear warhead could cripple the country – knocking out electrical power and circuit boards and rendering the U.S. domestic communications impotent.


In 2005, the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security chaired by Kyl, held a hearing on the electromagnetic pulse, or EMP, threat.
"An electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack on the American homeland, said one of the distinguished scientists who testified at the hearing, is one of only a few ways that the United States could be defeated by its enemies – terrorist or otherwise," wrote Kyl "And it is probably the easiest. A single Scud missile, carrying a single nuclear weapon, detonated at the appropriate altitude, would interact with the Earth's atmosphere, producing an electromagnetic pulse radiating down to the surface at the speed of light. Depending on the location and size of the blast, the effect would be to knock out already stressed power grids and other electrical systems across much or even all of the continental United States, for months if not years." Read more

18 comments:

  1. It would take a very precise missile to actually deliver such an attack. During the Cold War, the USSR never had such a rocket nor does the US. Our rockets can get close to such a point, but not the pinpoint accuracy that is needed to knock out all electronics in a one-two punch.

    Knowing this and knowing that the Iranians are not even close to that level of rocket technology (when they put a satellite into space, then they will be close to it). I wouldn't worry.

    Plus US government and military computers and electronics are shielded from EMPs. A leftover from the Cold War in which an attack on any US city or military instillation would result in an EMP.

    There is more of a threat of EMPs and a total year long blackout from Solar Flares and Solar Weather than from any man-made source. A major Solar Flare hitting the Earth would knock out ALL electronics and power-lines world wide. That is why I keep a close eye on the Solar Weather by going to Space Weather.

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  2. Thanks Findalis. I'm not worried. Just passing along some interesting info.
    That particular article is two weeks old now. And yet yesterday, and then especially today, I've been getting all kinds of hits on it from all over the world. Just wondering why? And Why now?
    rg

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  3. Some people will try anything to get people scared. The boogie man is every where.

    Iran is scary enough with a nuke to be trying to show that it can do a devastating blow against the US. A nuclear attack against any US city or aircraft carrier group would be devastating enough.

    BTW: If you want to see some really amazing solar pictures try SoHo.
    I've been viewing them for the last hour and they've really got to me.

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  4. Thanks Findalis. I'm not positing anything. But I just went back and looked over my stats again, and almost every other hit is on that old article. A lot are coming from Google "Emp attack". Maybe there was some tv show tonight about it --

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  5. That particular two week-old article is the most popular article on Radarsite today -- 353 hits. Something must have triggered it.

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  6. Could this have something to do with it?

    http://blog.americancongressfortruth.com/2008/07/29/us-intel-iran-plans-nuclear-strike-on-us-timmerman-reports-on-claremont-institute-meeting/

    Or this?

    http://www.khaleejtimes.com/darticlen.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2008/July/subcontinent_July1016.xml&section=subcontinent&col=

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  7. re: Snoopers suggestion:

    http://blog.americancongressfortruth.com/2008/07/29/us-intel-iran-plans-nuclear-strike-on-us-timmerman-reports-on-claremont-institute-meeting/

    This certainly could have something to do with it Snooper. The dates match perfectly. His article on the 29th, my hits start increasing on the 30th and go wild on the 31st. If you Google "Possible EMP attack" Radasite's aticle shows up at about number six. And most of the hits are conming from Google.
    Now I'll check out that second url --

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  8. re: Snooper's second url suggestion -- That's certainly an interesting possibilty, but that first one really fits perfectly.

    That's what I love about our group. I have never asked a question, no matter how arcane, that someone didn't come up with at least a plausible answer. This, I think, is another example of this group expertise. It is at least a reasonable explanation for this rather strange anomaly. (It's now up to 370 hits on that one article).
    Thanks guys.
    We live in interesting times. lol
    rg

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  9. You realize Roger that this little group of ours would make a killer think tank. Anyone know any millionaires willing to fund it?

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  10. I'll follow Snooper's links. Evidently, pinpoint accuracy isn't necessary. Today, there are always very good reasons to keep a lot of cash under our mattresses. When the power goes down, so does banking. Cash rules - especially when cash registers do not work:-)

    This response is interesting Roger, especially when .gov shows up.

    Maggie
    Maggie's Notebook

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  11. Fidalis, how cool would that be?

    Mr. Gardner - I decided to take a break from political blogging for a while, but I watch your site and several others everyday. I just wish that it didn't seem so inevitable that Obama will win.

    Lindsey

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  12. For my part, I don't see a trace of inevitability. As it stands now, Obama is tied with McCain when everybody on both sides of the debate thinks he should be way ahead. Once the debates come around, I am pretty confident that McCain will eviscerate him, since he doesn't do too well without a team of speech writers behind him. All McCain needs is a list of Obama's own words and he'll be on the defensive the whole time, and all McCain needs are the swing votes, which ought to be in the bag once they see Obama getting hammered mercilessly rather than singing to choirs.

    On Findalis's first comment, it's pretty strange that the people talking about the US's huge vulnerability to EMP attacks didn't mention the pinpoint accuracy the would-be warhead would need to have. In fact, the POV they paint makes it sound like all it has to do is be at a certain altitude to inflict heavy damage.

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  13. Exactly webmaster. For this to be possible the devise or bomb would have to be exploded high in the Stratosphere with a pinpoint accuracy that Iran doesn't have.

    It was after such an atmospheric test in the late 1950's (I do believe they used a 3 MT exposition) that the problem with EMP was discovered. And the race to find shielding for electronics was also started.

    Until Iran can actually develop a missile that can be called an ICBM, this is only speculation.

    I suspect that Iran is planning to put its Shahab-3 missiles on a freighter then fire it. Or they can just load a nuke on a ship and sail it into a nation's waters. A person could then detonate the bomb easily.

    And I suspect that Iran would try for Washington DC. NY has the UN and they would need their fellow Muslims to support them in this. Washington DC would cripple (but not destroy) the US government.

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  14. Right Findalis.
    How about Berkeley?
    rg

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  15. Berkeley would be the most incredibly appropriate choice a terrorist could make as a WMD target. There's not even any hope of hitting a military target there, which would reinforce their unspoken desire to hit civvies. Mind you, I'm not advocating it...it's just brain fruit!

    I sure would love to see how people spin it, though. My jaw would hit the floor if they fell back on old faithful: that we (they) deserved it.

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  16. There is another blogger who goes by rg. He is a good guy, so I wouldn't worry, but I thought I would let you know roger.

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  17. Also, you have to remember that the USA is always thinking up the un-imaginable as to come up with a counter effect to some kind of case senerio. We have various think tanks (like the Brookings Institute in D.C., etc.) who think up these wildest things in how we could be attacked. And then the military and the think tanks will come up with a plan and several contingiousy plans.

    I was going to address what "findalis" already stated. In which our military, govt, and other important facilities are well shielded from any kind of EMP. As well as, Iran is a very long way off from achieve this kind of technology too. And they would be dealt with accordingly if they came across these kinds of weapons.

    See, our adversaries i.e., china, russia and so on...believe in M.A.D. - Mutually Assured Destruction. And none of them want this. Whereas, Iran and other Islamic threats believe it's they're destiny to cause this death and destruction for the religious ideologies. So therefore M.A.D., has no meaning or purpose for them. That's the scary thing we are confronted with when it comes to islam and their agenda/objectives.

    All I can say is that 2/3's of the worlds GUNS are in america and in private hands. Now add in the military arsonal. And there is no way another nation is going to attempt to come onto our shores with divisions, brigades of armies. Without no doubt, I'm sure private citizens would organize a milita to assist our armed forces in defending our lands and interest.

    I would like to suggest that people who do own guns. That you simply stock up on ammo for your favorite hand gun and rifle/assault weapon. Since ammo can be expensive. I suggest people just buy one box per month or every other week if you can. And in a short time span, you'll have a nice reserve of ammo. Because if all hell does break lose. First thing you'll want to do. Is to protect what is most valuable to you...i.e., family, property, food and other supplies.

    Now for the people who don't own a weapon. I would highly recommend you at the very least purchase a handgun which is a .40 caliber. A .40 cal. is powerful enough for self-defense in close quarter combat situations. And the magazine will hold usually 14-16 bullets. If you do get a handgun. Please get at least 2-3 extra magazines as to easily reload if necessary. If you go online or to a gun show you can get the mag. for your weapon at a reason price.

    You don't have to get an H&K or Sig and spend a fortune. But, you will want a decent and reliable handgun. Something like the Tauras 24/7 model: $350 or a Springfield XD: $400...this is a very good weapon for the money.

    Just be prepared for anything. Since our enemy (ALL of Islam) is hiding within our borders. An attempt to take us over will be fought from the inside. So they're here (muslims) inside our nation as I write this comment. And they are preparing for a war on many different levels.

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  18. And -- Hi Lindsey! Glad you're taking a break and glad you're still a reader.
    And an Obama win isn't inevitable. In fact, things are looking better daily.
    And please call me Roger. lol

    Take good care of yourself.
    rg

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