EMP attack = End of U.S.

Great Debates
41

Let’s assume for a minute that this op-ed piece from the head of a conservative (Jeb Bush must do everything in his power to keep Terry Schiavo alive) think-tank is correct.

If we really believe that a high atmosphere EMP could be used to try to take out the USA and someone had the means to deliver it and stupidity to do so - hint, al Qaeda can’t launch an ICBM, so it would have to be Russia, China, or possibly India or future Iran or North Korea - then would it be wiser to:

A) spend USD trillion(s) on a missile defense system that might not work in the end

  • OR -

B) work on shielding technology and make sure that all critical systems are shielded and have adequate back up in place (cost likely in the low billions USD)?

42

Oh Yeah! Well if it wasn’t for the UK you’d all be speaking Belgian :confused:, or something, I forget how it works.

43

haha you’re funny. Now I’m going to watch my tv. The one one I own that’s tax free.

44

I know the UK has nukes, but do you have the necessary rocketry? I only included France, because they seem to have the biggest slice of ESA.

45

The UK’s nuclear warheads are carried on Trident SLBMs; any country with ICBM/SLBM technology has the capability to launch a continent-wide EMP attack; i.e., launch a nuclear missile, but instead of having the warhead go off hundreds of meters over Washington, D.C., set it off a few hundred kilometers over North America. Any missile with intercontinental range will easily reach that sort of altitude in the course of a “normal” strike.

46

I don’t understand why there’s so much scoffing in this thread. EMP is a real, scientifically documented effect of nuclear detonations. It induces current in unshielded wiring strong enough to physically damage or destroy it. Integrated circuits are especially vulnerable.

If there were a significant nuclear detonation at high altitude over the US, it would end us as a first world nation, and possibly even a functioning state. Practically all computers and electronics would be rendered non-functional. Most vehicles would stop functioning. The electricity grid would be severely damaged. This isn’t stuff that would be a minor inconvenience - most of the things that we rely on to keep our economy running would be destroyed. There’d be massive starvation deaths as transport and electrical infrastructure was completely destroyed.

Now, you may think it’s not a practical threat and doesn’t deserve special attention - but I don’t understand why the people are acting like we’re talking about 1920s style death rays or something. This is a real and valid threat.