It's the people, stupid

NY Post ^ | December 31, 2009 | Editorial

[Scanian]

That was quite a revealing -- and understandable -- public tantrum President Obama threw Tuesday.

Understandable, because the president has every right to be livid over the "potentially catastrophic breach of security" that nearly saw a terrorist bring down an airliner with 289 people aboard.

And revealing, because perhaps Obama has come to understand that he does not enjoy as much control over intelligence matters as he might have imagined.

Also, that the Islamist threat to America won't be countered with mere words.

[Scanian]

I hardly qualify as an expert and I’m sure there are numerous hideous and scary high tech methods to disable this country and cause unimaginable death and distruction but for me the question is, is this bunch of incompetent loons capable of any of it?

What you describe sounds like something that a hostile foreign government - Iran, for instance - might attempt. The US government should be aware of such technologies and prepare for their use but I can’t see a gang of 7th century barbarians being the ones to employ them.

[New Yawk Minute]

For many years, I have read an article here and an article there on EMP.

Last summer, while all of this healthcare craziness was going on, you would think that I would have had enough to stress over..heh

I must have come across an article somewhere on EMP that sparked my interest enough to begin to google it. One article led to another, which led to official papers on it and then that novel.

I believe any government can do this to us and I dont think its too off base to think that Al Qaeda is capable, also.

One big EMP set off above mid America, or several small ones could devistate us...within days, people will be killing people for goods.

The ship can be outside US waters and they could also sink it when they are done and disappear in a tiny boat..or in the case of terrorists..blow themselves up. We wouldnt know who to blame, when we are caught in the dark, with no cars working and planes falling out of the sky. It is not only the power grid that would go, but also most automobiles which use computers and also planes.

It anyone here enjoys scaring the daylights out of yourself..do a google seach, then read the free online novel I posted earlier.

There is also another novel that was written more recently, with a foreward written by Newt Gingrich called one second after. Both of these novels are about life after an EMP attack. Scary, scary stuff.

[Max in Utah]

I purchased the novel One Second After in audio CD format this past June. The story is something that can keep you awake at night wondering "Will that really happen to us?"

I'm afraid that someday it will. It's just too tempting to our worst enemies.

[Western Phil]

The US government should be aware of such technologies and prepare for their use but I can’t see a gang of 7th century barbarians being the ones to employ them.

The US government pretty much lost interest in this during Clinton's "Peace Dividend".

[Little Ray]

Neah.

Its a harassment attack. They haven’t been able to achieve anything so they make a bit of a fuss, the Feds ratchet down on us and they get a win out of it.

As far as I can tell, it has been a complete success.

[SargeK]

Stars on the wall, actually.

[New Yawk Minute]

If you think that was scary, read the other one. It isnt as well written, the author, I believe is not professional, but he is an excellent story teller, you wont be able to stop reading.

I read that first, and then got the hard copy of one second after. I dont think it was as good. One second after is about a town working together and the other “lights Out” is about a neighborhood working together.

http://www.giltweasel.com/stuff/LightsOut-Current.pdf

Although both of these are fiction, they give some really good ideas on how to survive (or attempt to survive) after and EMP attack.

(This got to me so badly, that I bought a crank radio, that I keep in a metal container). I have been collecting a lot of survival info, too. (just in case)

[FrogMom]

The guy calls for “Full-body searches and scans, restrictions on hand-held luggage and intensive questioning of passengers all help.”

With the prices they charge for checked luggage, the trend is to stuff ever-more into your carry on so you don’t have to check anything. The must resolve this issue.

A little ethnic/racial profiling wouldn’t hurt, either.

[Max in Utah]

I read Lights Out a year or so ago. I agree that it's a good story but one that most people will never read. I loan out One Second After to anyone who's interested in listening to it.

It's coming up on 10 years since I've had my hand crank radio. Thanks for the reminder of the metal container, maybe mine will fit inside a 20mm ammo can.

[Max in Utah]

A little ethnic/racial profiling wouldn’t hurt, either.

I heartily agree! Stop searching the grannies from Iowa and concentrate on the usual suspects.

We could do with some training from the Israelis... they're the true experts in this kind of defense.

[New Yawk Minute]

I think my family thinks I have flipped out..lol

Nobody wants to read this stuff. I keep telling them, they will be sorry if this ever happens. I am no survival expert, but at least I have read a few things.

Its funny how things are right under peoples noses and they ignore it. More people should learn about this and at least try to prepare a little. If your government doesnt care, then people should care.