Dirty Bomb - Page 2

Neon Beach · 01-20-2005, 10:03 AM

What is a “dirty bomb”?
A “dirty bomb,” also known as a radiological weapon, is a conventional explosive such as dynamite packaged with radioactive material that scatters when the bomb goes off. A dirty bomb kills or injures through the initial blast of the conventional explosive and by airborne radiation and contamination—hence the term “dirty.” Such bombs could be miniature devices or as big as a truck bomb.

How much expertise does it take to make a dirty bomb?
Not much more than it takes to make a conventional bomb. No special assembly is required; the regular explosive would simply disperse the radioactive material packed into the bomb. The hard part is acquiring the radioactive material, not building the bomb.

Is a dirty bomb a nuclear weapon?
No. Nuclear weapons involve a complex nuclear-fission reaction and are thousands of times more devastating.

Is a dirty bomb a weapon of mass destruction?
Yes, but more because of its capacity to cause terror and disruption than its ability to inflict heavy casualties, experts say. Depending on the sophistication of the bomb, wind conditions, and the speed with which the area of the attack was evacuated, the number of deaths and injuries from a dirty bomb explosion might not be substantially greater than from a conventional bomb explosion. But panic over radioactivity and evacuation measures could snarl a city. Moreover, the area struck would be off-limits for at least several months—possibly years—during cleanup efforts, which could paralyze a local economy and reinforce public fears about being near a radioactive area.

Has a dirty bomb ever been used?
No. In May 2002, the United States arrested an alleged Qaeda terrorist, Jose Padilla, for plotting to build and use a dirty bomb. Also, according to a U.N. report, Iraq tested a one-ton radiological bomb in 1987 but gave up on the idea because the radiation levels it generated were insufficiently deadly.

Which radioactive materials could be used to make a dirty bomb?
Many types of radioactive materials with military, industrial, or medical applications could be used in a dirty bomb. Weapons-grade plutonium or uranium, as well as freshly spent nuclear fuel, would be the most deadly, but these are also the most difficult to obtain and handle. Medical supplies such as radium or certain cesium isotopes used in cancer treatments could be used, although they generally would be less dangerous. As little as a measuring cup’s worth of radioactive material would be needed, but experts say that such small amounts would be unlikely to cause severe harm, especially if scattered over a wide area.

ramcat · 01-20-2005, 10:07 AM

A bomb is a bomb is a bomb, dirty or not. They still cause death and destruction. The difference is the degree.

Neon Beach · 01-20-2005, 10:08 AM

Someone told me you were the bomb.

ramcat · 01-20-2005, 10:41 AM

A dirty old one at that.

MATT A · 01-20-2005, 12:25 PM

It was on the news she is right. However don't think that many people have their hands on dirty bombs. After the cold war the Soviet's arsenal was not that well protected. Since then we have been spending a lot of money trying to protect it also.

ramcat · 01-20-2005, 12:29 PM

Bush was just on the news saying that we will not tolerate threats. I wonder what he will say after some crazy idiot zealot blows another building up?

COCONUT · 01-20-2005, 12:44 PM

they also think that it could be related to some kind of "GANG" thing.or maybe they are just saying that so people do not panic.

ramcat · 01-20-2005, 12:52 PM

What scares me is that there are prople out there who are willing to comit suicide thinking that they will be sent to their heaven for killing others.

COCONUT · 01-20-2005, 12:56 PM

no ram i mean it could be nothing..Chinese gang(made up stuff)..i saw on the news.But they said darned if you do darned if you don't say anything.Scary stuff.

ramcat · 01-20-2005, 01:01 PM

Everytime we are threatened, especially after 9/11, it will cause an instant reaction, no matter if the threat is real or not. My point was what we learned since that date and the realization that there are real nuts out there that will do these things. There are others that think it is "cool" to send threatening letters just to see the "reaction". The sickies of this world are starting to really scare me.

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01-20-2005, 10:03 AM	#11 (permalink)
Neon Beach I'm Banned Join Date: Nov 30 2000 Location: Ontario Age: 45 Posts: 52,065 Rep Power: 0	What is a “dirty bomb”? A “dirty bomb,” also known as a radiological weapon, is a conventional explosive such as dynamite packaged with radioactive material that scatters when the bomb goes off. A dirty bomb kills or injures through the initial blast of the conventional explosive and by airborne radiation and contamination—hence the term “dirty.” Such bombs could be miniature devices or as big as a truck bomb. How much expertise does it take to make a dirty bomb? Not much more than it takes to make a conventional bomb. No special assembly is required; the regular explosive would simply disperse the radioactive material packed into the bomb. The hard part is acquiring the radioactive material, not building the bomb. Is a dirty bomb a nuclear weapon? No. Nuclear weapons involve a complex nuclear-fission reaction and are thousands of times more devastating. Is a dirty bomb a weapon of mass destruction? Yes, but more because of its capacity to cause terror and disruption than its ability to inflict heavy casualties, experts say. Depending on the sophistication of the bomb, wind conditions, and the speed with which the area of the attack was evacuated, the number of deaths and injuries from a dirty bomb explosion might not be substantially greater than from a conventional bomb explosion. But panic over radioactivity and evacuation measures could snarl a city. Moreover, the area struck would be off-limits for at least several months—possibly years—during cleanup efforts, which could paralyze a local economy and reinforce public fears about being near a radioactive area. Has a dirty bomb ever been used? No. In May 2002, the United States arrested an alleged Qaeda terrorist, Jose Padilla, for plotting to build and use a dirty bomb. Also, according to a U.N. report, Iraq tested a one-ton radiological bomb in 1987 but gave up on the idea because the radiation levels it generated were insufficiently deadly. Which radioactive materials could be used to make a dirty bomb? Many types of radioactive materials with military, industrial, or medical applications could be used in a dirty bomb. Weapons-grade plutonium or uranium, as well as freshly spent nuclear fuel, would be the most deadly, but these are also the most difficult to obtain and handle. Medical supplies such as radium or certain cesium isotopes used in cancer treatments could be used, although they generally would be less dangerous. As little as a measuring cup’s worth of radioactive material would be needed, but experts say that such small amounts would be unlikely to cause severe harm, especially if scattered over a wide area.

01-20-2005, 10:07 AM	#12 (permalink)
ramcat Join Date: Oct 26 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 3,224 Rep Power: 7	A bomb is a bomb is a bomb, dirty or not. They still cause death and destruction. The difference is the degree.

01-20-2005, 10:08 AM	#13 (permalink)
Neon Beach I'm Banned Join Date: Nov 30 2000 Location: Ontario Age: 45 Posts: 52,065 Rep Power: 0	Someone told me you were the bomb.

01-20-2005, 10:41 AM	#14 (permalink)
ramcat Join Date: Oct 26 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 3,224 Rep Power: 7	A dirty old one at that.

01-20-2005, 12:25 PM	#15 (permalink)
MATT A Police Department Join Date: Sep 6 2004 Location: Awaiting Posts: 15,703 Rep Power: 31	It was on the news she is right. However don't think that many people have their hands on dirty bombs. After the cold war the Soviet's arsenal was not that well protected. Since then we have been spending a lot of money trying to protect it also.

01-20-2005, 12:29 PM	#16 (permalink)
ramcat Join Date: Oct 26 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 3,224 Rep Power: 7	Bush was just on the news saying that we will not tolerate threats. I wonder what he will say after some crazy idiot zealot blows another building up?

01-20-2005, 12:44 PM	#17 (permalink)
COCONUT ~THE ORIGINAL COCO~ Join Date: Sep 2 2003 Location: NJ Posts: 6,224 Rep Power: 18	they also think that it could be related to some kind of "GANG" thing.or maybe they are just saying that so people do not panic.

01-20-2005, 12:52 PM	#18 (permalink)
ramcat Join Date: Oct 26 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 3,224 Rep Power: 7	What scares me is that there are prople out there who are willing to comit suicide thinking that they will be sent to their heaven for killing others.

01-20-2005, 12:56 PM	#19 (permalink)
COCONUT ~THE ORIGINAL COCO~ Join Date: Sep 2 2003 Location: NJ Posts: 6,224 Rep Power: 18	no ram i mean it could be nothing..Chinese gang(made up stuff)..i saw on the news.But they said darned if you do darned if you don't say anything.Scary stuff.

01-20-2005, 01:01 PM	#20 (permalink)
ramcat Join Date: Oct 26 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 3,224 Rep Power: 7	Everytime we are threatened, especially after 9/11, it will cause an instant reaction, no matter if the threat is real or not. My point was what we learned since that date and the realization that there are real nuts out there that will do these things. There are others that think it is "cool" to send threatening letters just to see the "reaction". The sickies of this world are starting to really scare me.

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