What is the greatest threat facing the U.S today? Global warming? Financial colapse? Another 9-11? A direct nuclear strike on a major U.S. city?
"Think about this scenario: An ordinary-looking freighter ship heading toward New York or Los Angeles launches a missile from its hull or from a canister lowered into the sea. It hits a densely populated area. A million people are incinerated. The ship is then sunk. No one claims responsibility. There is no firm evidence as to who sponsored the attack, and thus no one against whom to launch a counterstrike.
"But as terrible as that scenario sounds, there is one that is worse. Let us say the freighter ship launches a nuclear-armed Shahab-3 missile off the coast of the U.S. and the missile explodes 300 miles over Chicago. The nuclear detonation in space creates an electromagnetic pulse (EMP).
"Gamma rays from the explosion would permanently destroy consumer electronics, the electronics in automobiles and, most importantly, the hundreds of large transformers that distribute power throughout the U.S. All of our lights, refrigerators, water-pumping stations, TVs and radios stop running. We have no communication and no ability to provide food and water to 300 million Americans."
"While not causing immediate civilian casualties, the near-term impact on U.S. society would dwarf the damage of a direct nuclear strike on a U.S. city."
"Airplanes could literally fall from the sky, food would rot, and our medical and emergency response capabilities would be non-existent – the lives and property lost would be immense."
"Seventy to ninety percent of the population would not be sustainable after this kind of attack. America would be reduced to a core of around 30 million people — about the number that existed in the decades after America’s independence from Great Britain."
"Twice in the last eight years, in the Caspian Sea, the Iranians have tested their ability to launch ballistic missiles in a way to set off an EMP."
So far, Barack Obama has indicated that he is very ambivalent about missile defense systems. Will this change?
More
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What a single warhead could do. Why the U.S. needs a space-based missile defense against an EMP attack.
General Warns Obama On Missile Defense
Obama adviser: No Obama commitment on defense shield
Missile Defense in the Obama Administration
Why Obama Will Continue Star Wars
U.S. Intel: Iran Plans Nuclear Strike on U.S.
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