8/7/2005

14 Responses to “The Sacrifice and the Reckoning: One of Our Cities Will Be Destroyed”

1. I haven’t followed your links yet, but based solely on your post, Patterico … I sure hope you’re wrong.

   –your friend

   ras (f9de13) — 8/8/2005 @ 1:57 am

   
   

2. It is easy to envision plenty of scenarios that can lead to a nuclear attack, what is worrysome is it is becoming increasingly likely. The southern border is clearly our weak spot, we seem to be just ignoring it for political reasons.

   The question is what to do about it before it happens — it’s almost impossible with the current state of the leftist-MSM and the Democratic party to have a sensible discussion about the problem.

   Dean is already out there with his bigoted hate rhetoric attacking Republicans about immigration. I notice in his speeches the word ILLEGAL is not present — So you can see where that is heading.

   bill (7c942b) — 8/8/2005 @ 6:25 am

   
   

3. “I have long been convinced that one of our cities will be destroyed by a nuclear bomb in my lifetime…”

   Jeez man. I’m not convinced of that.

   I’ll tell you what I *am* convinced of though. If we experience another terrorist attack anything like 9/11 this country will react in a way that makes everything we’ve done up to now look like a bake sale. I sincerely hope it doesn’t happen.

   Dwilkers (a1687a) — 8/8/2005 @ 7:06 am

   
   

4. Gerard’s first installment scared me so much, I haven’t gone back…

   There is something to the theory that UBL hasn’t attacked us again because he’s saving up for the big one.

   Patricia (133563) — 8/8/2005 @ 8:59 am

   
   

5. wow. Al-q can barely put together 4 backpacks. All of a sudden it has nuclear bombs, tecate trucks — full of beer — and intelligence on the whereabouts of the USS ronald reagan (but not the USS jimmy carter, not the same narrative effect).

   actus (a5f574) — 8/8/2005 @ 9:11 am

   
   

6. Even sadder, I think it will take nothing less than an Al Qaeda nuclear attack on American soil to re-stiffen the will of America’s Democrat news makers and left-leaning opinion leaders. Saddest of all, it appears only regular recurrences of such events can keep our liberal friends from lapsing into complacency. You know the resolve they once possessed, immediately after 9/11, has dissipated when they’re stoking disapproval of the Iraq War for political gain.

   Trained Auditor (f51476) — 8/8/2005 @ 9:52 am

   
   

7. It is most scary in my opinion because of the general lack of common sense among the populace. If it occurs will the nation pull together? Will the media and opposing political party to the White House spend their time whining about whose fault it is instead of dealing with it? I sure hope it is not D.C., or that there is a plan to reconstruct the government in such a scenario. I do not remember the source (if there is a particular one), but I remember the statement that “civilization is a thin veneer”.

   Actus has a good point, that for all of the background training and funds they are supposed to have they sure can be amazingly ineffectual. (Obviously they have caused much damage and sorrow, but the number of bombs that didn’t go off indicate they are not that well trained.)

   MD in Philly (b3202e) — 8/8/2005 @ 10:19 am

   
   

8. wow. Al-q can barely put together 4 backpacks. All of a sudden it has nuclear bombs, tecate trucks — full of beer — and intelligence on the whereabouts of the USS ronald reagan (but not the USS jimmy carter, not the same narrative effect).

   All it takes is a nuclear country that sponsors terrorism … like Iran is trying to be.

   Unfortunately, if such an attack would occur the sample people who blame America now, will blame us again then.

   Jeff (4c3c19) — 8/8/2005 @ 11:12 am

   
   

9. “All it takes is a nuclear country that sponsors terrorism … like Iran is trying to be.”

   countries have a hard time though: they can be deterred.

   actus (a5f574) — 8/8/2005 @ 12:18 pm

   
   

10. countries have a hard time though: they can be deterred.

    Maybe, but it didn’t work for North Korea. They didn’t abide by their treaty. However, Libya did drop their plans when they thought that they would be next, after Iraq.

    Jeff (4c3c19) — 8/8/2005 @ 12:26 pm

    
    

11. “Maybe, but it didn’t work for North Korea”

    I’m talking about nuking cities, not failing to abide by treaties.

    actus (a5f574) — 8/8/2005 @ 4:40 pm

    
    

12. “If we experience another terrorist attack anything like 9/11 this country will react in a way that makes everything we’ve done up to now look like a bake sale.”

    I really do wonder what we will do after someone uncorks a nuke on us. I’m not at all sure–in fact I strongly doubt–our response will be commensurate to our injuries.

    clark smith (1e8bc6) — 8/8/2005 @ 5:40 pm

    
    

13. Thanks for the links. That is a scary and well written piece of work.

    I think the present fear is that two suitcase nukes are supposed to be in the U. S. They are reported to be ten kilotons explosive power each. If true that is a large step down, of course, from the one hundred kiloton device in the story, but would take out a small city or effectively paralyze a large city.

    What would the public reaction be? I have to say that I think the public will be very sound in behavior (I can’t agree with you this time MD), but the media, and the Gov’t may not react so soundly. Would it be a true watershed; would it be the beginning of the end? The potential for such would be there.

    It could be vastly worse for all of us than the loss of two small cities. Everything would suddenly be up for grabs with respect to oil worldwide, our freedoms here in the U.S. might be in peril, and political stability in the mideast would shatter. If we reacted the way we might want to, or even should – truth be told – we will dislodge all the keystones.

    RJN (c85503) — 8/8/2005 @ 6:00 pm

    
    

14. I would hope that you are correct, RJN, and that the public, the media, and the government would respond in the same manner as immediately after 9/11. My fear is that would not necessarily be the case, at least not for long, but I would be very pleased if you were correct.

    MD in Philly (b3202e) — 8/9/2005 @ 7:56 am