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US Ability To Identify Source of Nuclear Weapons Decays

Posted by Soulskill on from the it-was-the-one-armed-terrist dept.

Hugh Pickens writes "The NY Times covers a report released by the National Research Council, which says the ability of the US to identify the source of a nuclear weapon used in a terrorist attack is fragile and eroding. The goals of the highly specialized detective work, known as nuclear attribution, is to clarify options for retaliation and to deter terrorists by letting them know that nuclear devices have fingerprints that atomic specialists can find and trace. 'Although US nuclear forensics capabilities are substantial and can be improved, right now they are fragile, under-resourced and, in some respects, deteriorating,' the report warns. 'Without strong leadership, careful planning and additional funds, these capabilities will decline.' The report calls on the federal government to take steps to strengthen its forensic capabilities and argues for the necessity of better planning, more robust budgets, clearer lines of authority and more realistic exercises."

4 of 139 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Neutron Signatures by bsDaemon · · Score: 2, Funny

    that's old hat. it's all about subspace tachyons these days.

  2. HERE'S TEH PLAN by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    First. we nuke all the commies. Thirdly. we nuke all the arabs. Seconded. we go get the oil . Teh plan is ideal.

  3. What's the half life by Lev13than · · Score: 3, Funny

    'Although US nuclear forensics capabilities are substantial and can be improved, right now they are fragile, under-resourced and, in some respects, deteriorating,'

    Fifteen years ago they had full capabilities, but only five years later their capacity was cut in half. Then, in 2005 they found that their capabilities were down to 25%. Today they are working at 12.5% effectiveness. At this point their capabilities are so degraded they have no idea what will be left in 2015.

    --
    When you have nothing left to burn you must set yourself on fire
  4. As dumb as Americans can be... by fantomas · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... I am sure that you can't replace the entire US nuclear forensics programme with an 18 year old with an A level in Computer Science. I'm guessing there's a few folk with PhDs and the like in their organisation who are doing more than playing darts and watching day time tv. What do you think? Is it all a con? could it be replaced by a single teenaged student?