crocodile deathroll

If every one in the Islamic world bought a smoke detector that will make GW panic. They may have enough to build 2 bombs. He may even just do another one of his preemptive strikes even if there was lust a the very slightest increase in demand for smoke detectors in Iran.

Arken

I seem to remember during the invasion of Afghanistan the U.S. military finding an Al-Qaeda document on making nuclear weapons that was taken from a website article that was meant to be satirical. I wonder if this is the same thing.

I also wonder if you could make an effective dirty bomb with smoke detectors, although I suppose it would be easier and faster to do that with medical waste.

ps418

This thread reminds me of the time I cut open about 200 firecrackers, M80s, and assorted other fireworks, and put all the powder in a paper ball with a wick, lit it, and dropped into into a hollow fence post. I didn't get the mushroom cloud I'd hoped for, but I did get colored flames shooting several dozens feet into the air, and a load rooaarr (and some strange looks from the neighbors).

Man that was fun. Too bad all the fun fireworks are illegal in my state. . .


Patrick

Corwin

You might actually be able to. It wouldn't take much at all... remember that a dirty bomb is mostly a psychological weapon. The physical damage it does is minimal, and because of its small blast radius it's fairly easy to clean up. The actual damage is psychological.... people hear 'radioactive' and panic.

Really all it would take would be enough Am-241 for people to be able to say it was radioactive. Not enough for the radiation to actually DO anything.

ps418

Yeah, as a way to kill people, 'radiological dispersion devices' are pretty inefficeint. Of course, even without causing major physical damage, the device could cause a major economic impact. Imagine such a device being detonated in Manhattan, or at a major port. The zone of contamination would have to be cleared for who-knows-how-long while decontamination is in progress.

Patrick

Corwin

Yes, and the economic damage is the real goal... (well that and general social mayhem.) The radiation is pretty minor and easily cleaned up, but let's remember, a lot of people still won't go anywhere near three mile island. (There's a housing development on that site now as I recall...)