U.S.'S SECRET WEAPON AGAINST IRAQ (electromagnetic pulse bomb)

Newsmax Insider Report ^ | 8/29/02 | Limbacher

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Last week when President Bush met with the ever proper, suit-clad Donald Rumsfeld in Crawford, Texas, he met with the press and told them that when the time comes, a full discussion will reveal all the facts about Iraq.

President Bush offered a litany of factors that will be fully discussed, including, he said, "new technologies."

The buzz in Washington is that Bush was referring to a new weapon the Pentagon plans to use against Iraq, with devastating effect.

The new weapon is known as an "EMP" or electromagnetic pulse bomb. Such a weapon is not new to military planners.

When a nuclear device is exploded, it emits a powerful EMP that blows transistors and electric circuits for hundreds of miles. A successful EMP will knock out all electrical and communication systems. Even cars and trucks will stop working. Modern life will come to a screeching halt.

Apparently, the U.S. has perfected a weapon that emits a powerful EMP without the nuclear blast.

A Washington insider says such a weapon over Baghdad would likely collapse Saddam's command and control instantly.

"Saddam's Republican Guard won't even be able to use walk talkies," the insider tells NewsMax.com.

[SGCOS]

...Start worrying when we use mass drivers...

No kidding. Those folks will run over anybody.

(...groan...)

[michigander]

Saddam to be target of Britain's 'E-bomb'

Be sure to see reply 14 in that thread.

[DK Zimmerman]

The base theory has been around for a while, I'm thinking I saw a Modern Electronics article on them years ago that said the theory was dated then.

But actually making a functional device is another matter. From that same (time-dimmed) article, they had been tested, completed, and filed away. US interest comes from recent emphasis on means of non-lethal attacks.

[Barnacle]

We are the only people in the world who have become privy to this secret!

Hi! Is there room for one more? Come on, I won't tell a soul.

It's our little secret. No more posts on this.

[Chemnitz]

My biggest question would be, "Will my TV remote still work?"

[CougarGA7]

Not to mention that there are solid state components that are RADHARD and would not be effected by an EMP.

[A Ruckus of Dogs]

LOL, that is really funny!

[Barnacle]

Hey! See my post #24.

Oh, all right. You're already in. You can stay.

But no more!

[DK Zimmerman]

Agreed, but they are by far the exception and almost entirely limited to military apps.

Bottom line is, if it has a chip in it (and what doesn't these days - in the US) EMP will fry it. Omar's camel doesn't depend on a chip to start, nor his well to supply water.

On the other hand, I understand we got some very nice results from carbon fiber bombs in Kosovo (from public sources, of course).

[steve50]

Most modern US military hardware is shielded to withstand a certain amount. I would assume the Russian/Chinese makers are about as far along as we are in this respect.

Plans are supposed to be available for a EMP device on the net, somewhere around $400 bucks worth of electronics. Think there's an article on it around here somewhere.

[DE50AE]

"Someone said the Brits had come up with the E bomb... "

Must be in response to the Russians developing the Goldeneye" :)

[Vermont Lt]

If you do a search about recent attacks on Iraq (no-fly zone stuff) you will see that we blew that up a few weeks ago. At least thats what some are saying.

But, as you say, the fiber wouldnt be affected--but the lasers on each end would be useless.

[DK Zimmerman]

I respectfully disagree.

The vast majority of our military stuff is NOT shielded/hardened. We have consistently been unwilling to foot the the bill in our pursuit for the biggest bang for the buck. This typically means off-the shelf technology.
Not denying some is, but the vast majority is not.

Soviets have taken a different approach for decades!!! (See above) Don't know about Chinese, but I would be surprised if they didn't follow Soviet/Russian lead.

[LetsRok]

Rumsfeld is pulling a "Corbomite Maneuver".

[steve50]

Thanks for the info DK. I wasn't aware that we lagged behind others in this area. Not a welcome surprise.

[weikel]

Most military equipment is not encased in a Gaussian shield think again.

[DK Zimmerman]

That's really the downside to the issue. We discovered the bloody effects and have known the solution from the get-go.

We have simply been unwilling to pay for it. They haven't. Another example of, yeah, we might know how to, but don't. They "lift" it from us and do!

I've got another even more telling example, but I fear I got it classified and I haven't seen it in the public domain.

[AFreeBird]

Hasn't the Chicoms installed a fiber optic system? I'm sure I read that. EMP won't affect fiber.

No, just the devices on either end of the fiber.

[Paul Ross]

Stupidity Bump!

EMP effects realiably lethal to electronics are also going to be reliably lethal to a large part of the civilian population in the immediate area (imagine sticking your head in a microwave oven, jimmying the safety interlock, and turning the thing on at full power).

You've said some foolish and absurd things before, Poohbah, but this just takes the cake.

[dts32041]

At least you appreciate the humor and acutally know what I am talking about.