Serious, Unpublicized, Side Effects of an EMP Attack

Strategy Page ^ | 12/27/06

[Paloma_55]

I think that two weeks of "shock and awe" on their governmental, military, and infrastructure would do the trick.

The people of Iran do not want their leaders, nor the religious nuts that run the country. They would do the rest.

We should move to a strategy of using air power and leaving the cleanup to the people.

[Red Boots]

Doesn't Iran have all their sensitive military HQ underground, where it would be safe ? I think I remember reading that.

[reagan_fanatic]

Look what a little fecal matter on some lettuce did

If an enemy really wanted to harm this country, he would hit the food and water supplies. Might not make a pretty explosion for the TV cameras like taking down a couple of buildings would, but the effect on the economy would be devastating.

[Snardius]

...EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse)...

I want the handheld version of this device so I can fry the electronics in the car of all those a**holes who drive slow in the passing lane on the freeway...

[Tijeras_Slim]

True, but the Starfish test occured in a more robust electronic environment, as opposed to the ultra miniturized current state of technology.

Of course, 20 jihadis with dynamite taking down spreadout transmission towers during peak deman time would probably be about as effective to shutting down the grid.

[DouglasKC]

I think the whole EMP thing is played up for more dangerous than it really is.

The military has been aware of this potential problem for decades and took steps decades ago to remedy it. I know because in the early 80's I was a computer repairman in the Air Force and ten year old equipment had EMP proof circuitry in them.

[TC Rider]

Back in the 80s, the DIA spent a lot of money with GE and Harris to develop rad-hardened, EMP resistant RAM, processors and gate arrays using exotic materials. For the most part they were successful.

A hardened satellite would use those materials as well as conventional shielding.

A scientist on the project once told me that most unexplained computer crashes were caused by a hot particle passing through your RAM and flipping its state.

[FastCoyote]

"Then again, what's to prevent Iran or North Korea from setting off a nuke in low orbit, just to mess up everyone's satellites?"

For one thing, the advanced nations can tune their bombs to give off more or less emp. They may even be able to make shaped emp blasts for all I know.

[TXnMA]

"The ONLY way to be certain our future is secure from attacks by those who wish us harm is do eliminate those who wish us harm."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Very good! (How could that be compressed into a tagline...?)

[FastCoyote]

"That won't protect the ICs."

My 67 Camaro doesn't have no stinkin ICs.

[Mr. Jeeves]

At some point we are going to have to resign ourselves to "thinking outside the box." Things that we would NEVER have considered pre-9/11 are going to have to be on the table.

And since nuking a billion people is out of the question, the most important of those outside-the-box strategies is going to be to put American resources into teaching people alternatives to Islam, so that the Muslim population of the world can outgrow their present state of unconsciousness.

[Rb ver. 2.0]

"a hot particle passing through your RAM and flipping its state."

Heh....

[Dumb_Ox]

Didn't the Navy eliminate celestial navigation classes?

[arthurus]

You misjudge the people of Iran. The protesters and the emigres belong to the educated class and comprise a small minority in the population. The students that get on the news from time to time for protesting, even rioting, can be pretty much ignored by the mullahs and the Nutjobs because they graduate from school and either leave the country or they go to work for the government and quit complaining. Iran is a functioning democracy and lets its dissidents exit to where they are not dangerous. The Iranian people are Mohammedans and that implies a certain set of ideas about how a proper government will rule. That set of ideas is anathema to our own sensibilities. The common folks, being Mohammedans, think that the Islamic approach to morality and conduct is just peachy and it reinforces their tribalism at the same time. Those folks are not going to rise up with pitchforks and AKs. They can actually change the government with their votes and they do. The directions they elect, however are not what we would choose for them and are inimical to Infidels and The Werst.

[dc27]

I wish they had a directed EMP weapon for home use. The house next to me became a rental. Seems like 15 people living in a small house. They blast mexican music all day long.

[VOA]

This is just one of the dangers in dropping all other nav aids in
favor of GPS, a system than can be shut-down by an enemy, leaving
the U.S. with little upon which to fall back.

One could almost be forgiven for seeing another reason for the left
going after The Boy Scouts.
Decrease the number of self-reliant (AND orienteering) Americans.
For the ultimate attack by The Left's fellow-traveler Islamics.

[RockinRight]

I was looking at it in my telescope and there's duct tape on the cord.

[montag813]

This article is idiotic. Israel would never do such a thing. An EMP would wreck the entire Israeli economy and the un-hardened portions (90%+) of its military infrastructure.

[esquirette]

Like, for example, not only acknowledging our Christian heritage but embracing and teaching it? I think there are now too many who would rather die.

[jwparkerjr]

Frankly I don't know that nuking a billion people is outside the box any more. I know, even with what we know now of the enemy, that it seems unthinkable, but if it's a billion of them or 300 million of us and our way of life I would have little hesitation in deciding for me and my family!