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willhelmfollowshare
7-30-2008 12:53 AM
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willhelm says:
“The only explanation we can find is that Iranians are figuring out how to launch a missile from a ship and get it up to altitude and then detonate it,” “And that’s exactly what you would do if you had a nuclear weapon on a Scud or a Shahab-3, and you wanted to explode it over the US.”

"If a crude nuclear weapon were detonated anywhere between 40 kilometers to 400 kilometers above the earth, in a split-second it would generate an electro-magnetic pulse that would cripple military and civilian communications, power, transportation, water, food, and other infrastructure"

Asked how many Americans would die if Iran were to launch the EMP attack it appears to be preparing, Graham gave a chilling reply.

“You have to go back into the 1800s to look at the size of population” that could survive in a nation deprived of mechanized agriculture, transportation, power, water, and communication.

“70 to 90 percent of the population would not be sustainable after this kind of attack”.
33 Comments   | Add a Comment
7-30-2008 10:01 AM
willhelm
Hello..hello,,ello..ello..lo ?
7-30-2008 10:05 AM
bignosemousie
“70 to 90 percent of the population would not be sustainable after this kind of attack”.
That is bad news.
7-30-2008 10:25 AM
bmeuppls
That presupposes that the Iranians could get a surface ship within range to fire one of these. At present their range is only 750 miles or so. Their longer range missiles are not very reliable.

This ems pulse would only cripple the electronics that were within a certain range of the blast - depending on size that could be 50-250 miles of the epicenter. Of course a hit like that on New York would be devastating to the local area as far as computers, lights, heat, etc, but all financial data (banks, Wall Street) is required under SOX to have a duplicate storage facility that is to be able to be changed over to within a window of only hours. And all of the backups that I am familiar wi...
7-30-2008 10:48 AM
jatfla
I heard a suggestion several weeks ago about the complete lack of *control* that the Iranian testing has shown. It was even more chilling because this person said "who is more of a threat....a trained race-driver racing down the highway with a nuke or a 98 yr. old woman racing down the highway with a nuke?" The point being they (Iranians) probably can't hit what they're aiming for.

The issue has to be dealt with...the longer the World waits the worse it will get. History shows how the region is still about conquest, control, dictatorship, repression, destruction. Their arena is now the World.
7-30-2008 2:48 PM
The REAL Napster
The worse case scenario will be that of 'extremists' (read-terrorists) 'stole' the nuke and launched the attack without the participation9or knowledge) of Iran's government. Same pitch that the Russians used when they said they were 'broke' and could not secure their nuclear stockpiles. And people wonder why Russians (and others) are against a U.S> missile shield? Hello, McFly?
7-30-2008 10:06 PM
bmeuppls
I'm not saying don't prepare for it. Definitely prepare. But be realistic in what the result would be. They may not be as dire as what the article insinuates...

And I am speaking on an American civilization basis, not an individual basis, cause if it is explodes overhead, well, you would certainly classify it as catastrophic, but if it is 3000 miles away, the effects won't be nearly as personal and catastrophic... emotionally horrific and tragic, certainly...
7-30-2008 10:27 PM
masbury
So the Iranians will secretly develop this technology, and secretly load it on a secretly designed ship, and secretly pilot the ship halfway around the world, and secretly get close enough to the USA to secretly launch a missile that will go undetected long enough to trigger a nuclear bomb over a US city, and they don't care about a potential response-in-kind from the USA.
Remarkable!
7-30-2008 10:48 PM
jatfla
There is nothing "secret" about their intent. That's the point!!!!
7-30-2008 11:00 PM
bmeuppls
They broadcast their intent everyday. The really frightening part of that is, they think our response (sending them to meet their maker) is a good thing for them as they can have their 72 virgins...
7-30-2008 11:02 PM
Rioting Drone
Remember, a civilian container ship can be used as cover. Also, Iranians have a small fleet of Kilos (Diesel Electric Subs), and may have purchased aging Alphas from the Russians (not like there would be admittance, and I think [hope] the U.S. spooks would notice a transfer of a nuclear sub).

Never underestimate the sneaky sneaky of anyone.
7-30-2008 11:11 PM
blueridge
Rewind........play:

"There is no doubt Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction, and is planning to use them...on us".
--Dick Cheney, neocon, VP, pre-Iraq war

Tonight I want to take a few minutes to discuss a grave threat to peace and America's determination to lead the world in confronting that threat....

The threat comes from Iraq. ...We also must never forget the most vivid events of recent history. On September 11, 2001, America felt its vulnerability.....America must not ignore the threat gathering against us. Facing clear evidence of peril, we cannot wait for the final proof -- the smoking gun -- that could come in the form of a mushroom cloud.
-- GWB, Oct. 2002
7-30-2008 11:13 PM
blueridge
The really frightening part of that is....
....that too many Americans will believe this "intelligence" propaganda...again!
7-30-2008 11:16 PM
blueridge
Iran has no history of attacking any other countries, while the U.S. and Israel have.

As for this argument:

The worse case scenario will be that of 'extremists' (read-terrorists) 'stole' the nuke and launched the attack without the participation9or knowledge) of Iran's government.
Oh, you mean like when those nuclear bombs were loaded on B-52s from Minot AFB last year and flow cross country--without chain of command approval and control?
7-30-2008 11:19 PM
The REAL Napster
There is NO propaganda about Iran openly (and repeatedly) admitting they have over 6000 operating centrifuges to highly enrich uranium. (to weapons grade no less Unlike Saddams claims to scare his neighboring countries (Iran in particular), Iran does have capabilities. Or they are the world's best liars. Take your pick.



Iran has no history of attacking any other countries, while the U.S. and Israel have.
I guess you forgot about the years long Iran/Iraq war in which Saddam later used mustard gas against his own people (the Kurds). Amazing how quickly we forget who was fighting who.
7-30-2008 11:21 PM
blueridge
That's it, promote a fear scenario based only upon paranoid suspicion, lacking any credible evidence, which no one may confront with facts.

Hint: Remember Colin Powell's (false) testimony of "proof", before the UN, in the run up to the Iraq war. Now everyone is willing to believe something without any presentation of even false evidence...just talk, and we are supposed to believe this. IT'S A LIE TO START WAR BASED UPON IRRATIONAL FEAR LACKING CREDIBLE EVIDENCE. IT IS A FICTION STORY!
7-30-2008 11:23 PM
blueridge
centrifuges do not equal nuclear weapons
7-30-2008 11:24 PM
blueridge
Okay then, lets go bomb Russia, China, Pakistan, and Indian then too...if that is your case. "They could fall into the hands of terrorists, outside of their own government".
7-30-2008 11:27 PM
blueridge
Get your facts straight, Napster. Iran never invaded Iraq:

Iran-Iraq War - MSN Encarta
Iran-Iraq War, armed conflict that began when Iraq invaded Iran in September 1980
7-30-2008 11:33 PM
willhelm
lacking any credible evidence
Well, that's about as ignorant as it gets.

I agree of most of those skeptical of the Iranians ability to pull off this speculative maneuver. We must remember, though, when it comes to rationale there is only one motivation for Islamic governments and that is Islam. We can speculate all day about Iran's intent. Especially in light of the fact that Iran's end-game is not obliteration of the West, but obliteration and chaos in the world. At least that is the goal of the ruling elite in Iran.
We build monuments that say we must "never forget" when evil is brought upon world by evil men, yet we always do. It is just amazing.
Ahmadinejad is not spe...
7-30-2008 11:40 PM
blueridge
For crying out loud, it is Israel and the U.S. that are planning to attack Iran!

Ahmadinejad has never threatened to attack the US or Israel, unless they are attacked first.

NIE report said they do not possess nuclear weapons, period. It is only speculative (and desired propaganda) to insist further without hard evidence.

This is consistent with UN studies too.
7-30-2008 11:42 PM
jatfla
"...no history of attacking other countries...". What about financing and providing weapons and manpower for 'attacking other countries'? What about the taunting of ships in the Persian Gulf?

"There is none so blind as those who will not see." It's called the Chamberlain mentality and all to our doom. You mock and call it 'scare tactics'. Ok...whatever. Better to be prepared and forewarned than blind/deaf/dumb and destroyed.

Not threatened the US & Israel?? You've got to be kidding, right?
7-30-2008 11:43 PM
blueridge
then you are bent on hate and ignorance and lack the objectivity think rationally about these real threats.
To the contrary (do not tell me what I am), the hate and willfull ignorance is on those who WANT TO ATTACK IRAN with as much "evidence" as Iraq having WMD...i.e. none.

The U.S. government has a consistent history of late lying to instigate war, unless you are ignorant.
7-30-2008 11:46 PM
blueridge
"There is none so blind as those who will not see." It's called the Chamberlain mentality and all to our doom. You mock and call it 'scare tactics'. Ok...whatever. Better to be prepared and forewarned than blind/deaf/dumb and destroyed.
Is this the only test of truth? IRRATIONAL FEAR LEADS TO UNJUST WAR. Ergo, "we better go attack every country with nuclear weapons, because we do not know they will not be used against us"..."we don't trust them"..."lets go kill them all". This is the height of insanity, in logic, and of course is only being applied to Iran.
7-30-2008 11:50 PM
jatfla
Oh, good grief.
7-30-2008 11:50 PM
blueridge
Not threatened the US & Israel?? You've got to be kidding, right?
Unless you deliberately misread, Iran has never threatened to militarily attack the US or Israel except in retaliation for an attack upon them. (They do not recognize political Israel, never threatened military offensive first attack).
7-30-2008 11:51 PM
blueridge
I agree...good grief, what irrationale to attack a country without provocation. Just make up a reason and do it, is what is being done.
7-31-2008 12:03 AM
The REAL Napster
Get your facts straight, Napster. Iran never invaded Iraq:
Iran-Iraq War - MSN Encarta Iran-Iraq War, armed conflict that began when Iraq invaded Iran in September 1980
No you get your 'facts' correct please. I never used the word 'invade'- that was you. And it is no secret why Iraq attacked Iran, Saddam was looking to annex Iran as he *tried* to do with his oil rich neighbor, Kuwait. You might want to brush up on actual history, since your command of that seems to be lacking.
7-31-2008 12:06 AM
willhelm
To the contrary (do not tell me what I am), the hate and willfull
ignorance is on those who WANT TO ATTACK IRAN with as much "evidence"
as Iraq having WMD...i.e. none.
I do not want to attack Iran. I think it would be catastrophic for the US to do so. I do think, however, that Iran should pay the consequences for it's actions in supporting and financing the terror networks and the carnage in Darfur. I believe Israel should obliterate Iran's nuclear capabilities right now, given the remarks of Ahmedinejad.
I am disappointed that the Bush administration missed an opportunity to put our heel on Iran's throat economically and drive the pro-American people of Iran to rise up and...
7-31-2008 12:16 AM
blueridge
See War on Iran: Security or Neocon Plan Continued? where Patrick Buchanan sheds alot of light about the origin of these designs for war, well before claims of WMD or 9/11.
7-31-2008 12:30 AM
bmeuppls
A failure in believing Saddam Hussein would invade Kuwait directly led to the first Gulf War. He consulted with our diplomats and they didn't think he was serious. He invaded, we stopped him.

According to Islamic law (the Qu'ran), you must announce your intentions before hostilities begin. It is a pity that we chose to ignore Hussein. Bin Laden, too. He published his intentions in 1997, and the world ignored it.

Ahmadinejad has repeatedly stated that Israel will be "erased from the map" and that the US will "vanish like the pharaohs."

The Qu'ran also states that once the intentions have been declared, no further notice is required and that lying and misdirection is permis...
7-31-2008 12:34 AM
bmeuppls
I give as much credence to what Pat Buchanan says as I would to a first year law student's advice in a lawsuit. He is an anti-semite who associates with racists, and a pseudo wannabe on world affairs. I find it interesting that a prog would use him to support their arguments...
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