The Times of London reports that Osama bin Laden may have a nuclear threat.
See: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,2001350025-2001372097,00.html
What should we do about this?
“…does not have the capability to mount a nuclear attack but fear he would do so if he could”?
Um, so the news is, that if Osama had a bomb, he’d drop it on us? How is that “news”?
As for “what to do”, well, my first impulse was of course to panic and rush out in the street in my bathrobe and run around shouting, “The sky might be falling! The sky might be falling!” but then I realized that that’s just what the terrorists want us to do. 
So I’m gonna go buy another house instead, and won’t the hubby and kids be surprised when they get home? 
Well, what “nuclear materials?” A two kilo lump of weapons grade plutonium? 200 lbs. of Chernobyl dirt? Sixteen truckloads of uranium ore and a Gee Wizard Home Gas Centrifuge Kit (Fun for the Whole Family!)
This guy is not Lex Luthor, Evil Genius. He’s merely evil. If he did, in fact, get his hands on enough weapons-grade plutonium and sneak it back to his cave, he’s most likely dead already. “Hazardous material” as a description is like “socially uncacceptable” to a rabid werewolf.
No one seems to be answering the question, so I’ll give it a shot.
A) Find bin Laden and detain or kill him.
B) Neutralize the entire Al-Qaeda network post haste.
C) Imprison Mullah Omar and all Taleban members for life.
D) Develop some sort of credible deterrent to further terrorist acts.
E) Increase our efforts to introduce democracy into the Middle East.
F) Actively discredit and boycott all nations or organizations that support or harbor terrorists.
G) Deploy covert operatives with the express intent of liquidating all terrorist leaders and cells.
H) Create a global alliance committed to the military prosecution of those who engage in terrorism.
Maybe the United States could work with Columbia House or something – “Got a personal nuclear weapon? Send it in to Columbia House and redeem it for a lifetime supply of Cinemax soft-porn videotapes and DVDs of your choice!” He won’t be able to resist…
To be serious, though, what’s there to address in the OP? If ObL does/did has a nuclear device, the choices are either (1) stop him and take it away, or (2) sit here and do nothing – and I doubt anyone will vote for #2. And if he doesn’t, then it’s a moot point.
Also, what if
(3) We’re not sure whether or not he has nukes? or
(4) We think he might acquire some nukes at some future time?
The U.S. as well as the other nuclear powers don’t really like the fact that anyone other than they may have their hands on nuclear materials. I’m sure that the U.S., the Russians, the Chinese, and a lot of other people are keeping pretty close tabs on nuclear materials.
OBL isn’t going to be able to go out and buy himself a fully functional A-Bomb. And I doubt he’s going to build one himself out in Afghanistan. It’s not that easy.
And the nuclear powers probably know a lot more about how to build and operate nuclear devices than they do about anthrax.
I don’t think we need to worry about this.
Evidently, all the guy has to back up his initial sucker punch is Anthrax. With all due respect to those that are suffering the effects of this disease, relatively speaking, it’s not as bad as it could be.
It’s no e-bola, that’s for sure.
It just seems to me that if they had anything worse, they’d be using it right now.
Be careful there, Bomzaway There is no direct evidence linking him to the anthrax and he aint the only one who wishes us ill. Wouldn’t be the first time someone did dirty knowing someone else would take the heat.
Remember OK City? When everybody was so sure at first it was Arab terrorists?
one answer is “kill em all!”
(first, we need to figure out who “all” is…)
i really dont see much of a threat. he has no way to deliver a device. he would most likely just burn his own fingers, so to speak.
If you think about it, how in the hell is the caveman going to get the nuclear device in the country? ever since 911 its gonna be kinda of hard to come in with a giant ass nuclear device on a donkey?! i mean just think about it, he couldnt handle the job, he wouldnt even be able to put it together… but something to think about is some of the russian suitcase nukes that “dissapeared” from there inventory that are sold off, thats kind of a worry to me
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Acutally they are beginning to suspect that Bin Laden didn’t have anything to do with the anthrax
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