The Price of
Liberty
is Eternal Vigilence.
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EnterpriseSurvival.com
Articles by J. B.
THREAT OVERVIEW
The Nature of
Threat:
The variety and lethality of
domestic and international
threats citizens face today are
greater than at any time in
history. Natural phenomenon -
extreme weather, earthquakes,
volcanic activity - and their
effects are all "known threats"
for which we plan and respond.
Accidental or unintentional
events, those that place the
population in a specific area
at risk, remain the most
probable event for most people
in North America. Proximity to
industry and manufacturing
operations, which use dangerous
materials on a regular basis,
constitute risk. Our highways
and rail systems afford the
movement of large quantities of
chemical and flammable
materials - each of which is a
mobile threat. There are
numerous other accidental risks
that we live with on a daily
basis. Law and safety
procedures do mitigate or
reduce our risk in a positive
manner through deliberate
analysis and corporate action.
We accept human error, that
accidents do happen; and, we
all face the possibility of
personal losses including an
untimely end to life.
From an
international perspective, we
tend to view other countries as
threatening or allied. Treaties
and alliances for mutual
defense, trade, travel and
varied diplomatic activities
all warm relationships among
both governments and their
people. This bonding of nations
reflects a commonality of basic
values and goals. The law of
the land in these countries is
characterized as having both
respect and dignity for each
human being manifest in
individual freedoms.
World
economic growth and social
revolutions of the last century
have left many peoples far
behind in quality of life.
Characteristic in these
societies is the absence of
positive values in national or
tribal leadership. Indeed, the
leaders in such structures are,
for the most part,
appropriately classified as
dictatorial, totalitarian,
ruthless, and murdering. The
law of their land allows only a
society of submission, designed
solely to satisfy their
leader's personal ego and
passion for power.  Their
governments or organizational
structures foster hatred of
civilized values systemically
through education. The term
"brain wash" comes to mind when
we consider that children are
taught to accept contradictions
in logic and behavior as the
norm. Compliance is mandatory
and dissident individuals are
subjected to beating, torture,
mutilation, sexual abuse,
psycho-chemical experimentation
and death. Family members,
including wives and children,
often bear witness to the
indecency. They are constantly
told the United States and
other free countries are to
blame for their condition. Lack
of housing, employment, food,
medicine and a constructive
system of education all support
this climate of submission. The
population is void of human
values and individual
self-worth. The bare essentials
of life are provided only to
those who work in support of
the leadership. At the extreme
ends of this tyrannical
structure, death is the penalty
for criticism and eternal life
is achieved only as a reward
for obedience. Indeed, an
individual who sacrifices
himself for his leader's sake
is elevated to the status of
martyr and guaranteed eternal
happiness. That belief is the
genesis of the suicide bombers
we observe today.
From the
biblical days of Cain and Able
to the present, the root cause
of such behavior can only be an
intrinsic evil in mankind.  Unchecked,
evil has emerged to new heights
with terror organizations and
terrorist governments who seek
only to do harm to civilized
societies. With motives of
self-perpetuation, power and
greed, terrorist leaders have
instilled hatred and coerced
murder, war and genocide. Their
biological and chemical
capabilities are a known. Their
actions to obtain a nuclear
capability are also known.
These types of weaponry in
their hands may well be the
greatest threat to mankind in
history. There is little doubt
that they would use them given
an opportunity.
~~ J. B.
Stalker
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NUCLEAR SURVIVAL 101
In a worst
case terrorist or war scenario
- the detonation of a nuclear
weapon, distance from the burst
equates to survival and
longevity. Consider that a
nuclear weapon can be millions
of times more powerful than the
largest conventional explosive.
A relatively small nuclear
weapon, in the order of 10kt,
could be within grasp of a
developing nuclear weapon
program or terrorist delivery
scheme. It lends itself well to
political leverage for
terrorists. If detonated, there
are four primary nuclear
effects and each is threatening
in its own way. You do not need
to understand nuclear physics
to take defensive action during
a nuclear attack, but an
appreciation of their effects
is essential.
Blast Effect.
This is the physical damage
piece of the detonation.  Blast, or
shock wave, contributes about
one-half of the nuclear weapon
effect. Enormous quantities of
gases are produced in the
detonation causing a condition
of overpressure at or above the
ground zero. This gaseous mass,
or "shock front," has crushing
atmospheric pressure. In less
than a second, the front moves
away from the fireball with
wind speeds reaching several
hundred miles per hour. Capable
of significant damage, the wall
will defile the face of mother
earth along with the buildings,
vehicles, and life forms in its
path. Debris from the
destruction becomes yet another
threat. Already radioactive,
the debris becomes projectiles
violently moved in the winds
and capable of causing great
damage and death. In some
instances, direct and reflected
waves from the blast may
converge. This "Mack effect"
significantly increases their
strength and damage potential
from the blast. The ground
zero, or crater area, for such
a weapon would nominally be
measured in miles.
Thermal
Effect. This is the
fire making piece of the
detonation. An enormous
explosion instantly followed by
brilliant light and heat are
the signature of a nuclear
detonation. The danger to life
and civilization here is simple
to explain: How hot and how
bright will it get? The answer
to both is "intense" and
measured on scales beyond daily
comprehension. A temperature in
the order of several thousand
degrees Fahrenheit would put us
in the ballpark for a small
nuclear device. As this intense
heat expands outward from the
fireball, everything in it's
path becomes a candidate for
progressive fire ignition.
(Wood and paper type items burn
in 400 - 500 F range).
Secondary explosions of fuel
containers will add to the
intensity. The light produced
will be blinding - permanently
so, if viewed directly or for
too long. Temporary loss of
vision, or flash blindness,
will be common from the extreme
light intensity. Flash burns to
unexposed skin will occur at
considerable distances from the
explosion. These thermal
radiation effects constitute
about one-third of the total
weapon effect.
Initial
Radiation. This is the
mass casualty piece of the
detonation. During the first
minute, the detonation produces
gamma rays, neutrons, beta
particles and a small amount of
alpha particles. The alpha and
beta particles travel a
relatively short distance,
inches to several feet, and
thus are not particularly
threatening. Gamma rays and
neutrons will cause significant
injuries and will travel
considerable distance in the
air. Radiation exposure is
measured in Centigrays (cGy) or
"Rads." Simply put, greater
exposure means greater injury.
Incapacitation will occur in a
matter of minutes with same day
death given exposure to 8,000
rads. At lower levels, the
human body will make a partial
recovery within an hour of the
explosion. Radiation illness
and death will follow over days
to weeks. Radiation illness is
characterized by projectile
vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and
delirium. Initial Radiation can
also adversely effect
communications and electronic
systems including computers.
Although the radiation exposure
is transient, the effect is
often permanent on such
systems. Residual radiation
occurs after the first minute
of the blast. This is the
origin of fallout: radioactive
residue from the bomb mixed
with debris (earth and
material) from the blast area.
Winds can carry and spread this
radiation over large geographic
areas at distances much greater
than the other nuclear effects.
Early fallout is a
physiological threat to life as
the radiation is strong.
Delayed fallout, generally very
fine particles invisible to the
eye, will spread over a
considerable portion of the
earth's surface in time.
Constantly decaying while
suspended in the atmosphere,
delayed fallout is less of a
health concern.
Electromagnetic Pulse
(EMP). This is the
electronic and communications
neutralizer. Gamma radiation
interaction gives rise to an
ionized atmosphere around the
nuclear burst point. Strong
magnetic and electric fields
are produced by secondary
explosions generally at or
along the earth's surface. A
high energy short duration
pulse of EMP would resemble a
lightening bolt. It can induce
a current in any electrical
conductor causing severely
damage to the equipment. The
size of the affected geographic
area will be large to very
large based on the weapon size
and the altitude of the burst.
Self Defense in a Nuclear
Attack. A nuclear attack on the
homeland will almost certainly
be without warning regardless
of the scenario. As such, there
are only a few preparatory
actions that may be taken.
Reading the foregoing text for
basic nuclear effects
understanding or knowledge was
the first such step. The second
is to support and encourage
action by the United States and
Canada to prevent this event
from ever occurring in North
America, or anywhere else. The
use of shelters, evacuation
plans, special protective
apparel and respiratory masks
all require advance notice.
Without notice, its come as you
are.
If a nuclear
detonation occurs:
-
Drop to the ground
facedown: This is
to avoid the blast and
flying debris. Use any
terrain feature available
to help protect yourself. A
depression, ravine, ditch,
or behind a building will
all reduce dangerous
exposure.
-
Close
eyes: Cover if
possible. Wait for the
light and heat to pass.
-
Protect exposed
skin: Pull arms
and hands under the body
for protection. Curl up if
necessary to reduce
exposure. Cover the head
area if possible.
-
Recover:
The light and heat will
arrive first. Within a few
seconds, the blast will
pass. Wait for the debris
to stop falling before
getting up. Regain
composure and self evaluate
physical condition.
-
Relocate:
If able, walk away from the
blast area. Never go any
closer to it.
Editor's Note:
Materials presented in US
Army Field Manuals 3-3, 3-4,
3-100, and 3-14 were used in
the preparation of this
article. The author is a
retired Army Nuclear Staff
Officer.
~~ J. B.
Stalker
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