““Several potential adversaries have or can acquire the capability to attack the United States with a high-altitude nuclear weapon-generated electromagnetic pulse (EMP). A determined adversary can achieve an EMP attack capability without having a high level of sophistication.” “
Just that sentence, alone, deserves absolute scorn for being ridiculous. They called possessing nuclear weapons and missiles capable of intercontinental range as not being of “a high level of sophistication.” Well, blown my skirt and call my Peggy. I everyone ought to have a nuclear missile topped with a nuclear bomb. It ain’t that hard, gosh darn it. Kind of like changing the oil in the tractor. Creating a nuclear weapon is a major challenge. Just because it was done 60+ years ago doesn’t make it not a high level of sophistication. Countries with massive budgets and high levels of education and technical engineering have failed to produce one, yet, this mickey mouse commission calls it trivial.
Making a missile go far enough and high enough is itself a massive and sophisticated challenge. Hell more countries have nuclear bombs than missiles that can do that. No sophistication there I guess. Just some good ol’ low level third-world know how to get those two things accomplished.
Most if not all first world nations are capable of nuclear weapons and launch systems. Quite a few second world nations such as Pakistan, India, Iran, South Africa, Ukraine, etc are too. I think we are close to the point where large first world corporations could have both too if they were so inclined. The technology is from the 40s and 50s you know.