Time will tell. Al Queda is saying they have backpack nukes bought from Russia. Fox is trying to say they only have "nuclear materials".
Move along folks, nothing happening here...
I don't think they really have backpack nukes. The calling card of Islam is that their violence is limited only by their capability. If they had nukes, we'd know in very short order.
The likelihood that any Soviet-era nuke is a) in Islamic hands, and b) is still operable, is next to nil.
My grandmother had nuclear materials-Specially licensed "Byproduct" californium and americium in her smoke detectors.
Without going into a lot of discussion we should not have (Though I am sure others will chime in, as usual)AQ's technology base, particularly what was observed in captured sites in Afghanistan is more likely restricted to medical or well-logging sources such as 60Co and Cs137, rather than a "Nuclear" device, even if one was given them from an old FSU flea market.
Yes, such a "dirty bomb" would be bad, but orders of magnitude less disruptive than a fission weapon, and the infrastructure damage would be quickly minimized.
One adverse effect it would have on their "cause" is W's demonstrated willingness to go after them. If they want to let the "Nuclear" genie out of the bottle, it would hurt us-But would also give us quite a hunting license and some interesting Rules of Engagement.
They are stupid-But are they THAT stupid? Maybe.