* Editor’s Note: This article was written in 2007 approximately. But the fact still remains: The U.S. government made plans for the “day after a nuclear holocaust” (read the story below to see how this came about and why we reported on it and have left this article online to serve as a warning to our readers).
Worries are simmering that al-Qaeda may somehow strike an American city with a nuclear weapon. Most people of course consider this unlikely; government however seems to be taking it a lot more seriously. In fact, an expert group of government and military officials is putting together an emergency survival program which recommends the building of bomb shelters, steps to prevent panicked evacuations and – perhaps tellingly – the possible ‘temporary’ elimination of our civil liberties.
Also known as Martial Law.
Odds Increase Each Year Of A Terrorist Group Acquiring A Nuclear Weapon
Many experts say the possibility of al-Qaeda, or any other terrorist group, obtaining a working nuclear weapon is rather small.
Atleast, they used to say that. I guess it depends on who you talk to. Some would say it’s a small possibility. Others, like our Vice-President, state it is now a ‘daily threat’ and now the top concern of Homeland Security.
CHICAGO TRIBUNE: Cheney: Nuclear attack on U.S cities ‘very real’
Does Cheney know something we don’t? Most likely.
Last month, top government and military officials and other experts – organized by a joint Stanford-Harvard enterprise called the Preventive Defense Project – quietly met in Washington for a day-long symposium to hash out a blueprint for human survival after a full-scale nuclear holocaust.
The discussion, called “The Day After,” took as its basis the idea that efforts focusing on nuclear strike prevention may fail, and that the possible collapse of government rule may necessitate putting in place a contingency program.
Two men organized the non-partisan project – Stanford’s William Perry, a secretary of defense during the Clinton Administration, and Harvard’s Ashton Carter, a senior Defense Department official for the Clinton White House.
Project members assumed a nuclear bomb similar in size to the one which destroyed Hiroshima in World War II had detonated in a major U.S. city. While packing a wallop of around 10 to 15 kilotons, such a weapon is small – at least when compared with most Cold War-era warheads – and is a relatively simple bomb. Still, it’s hardly the kind of easy-to-hide, portable weapon al-Qaeda might use…
First One Nuke, Then A Second Nuke
The 41 experts discussed how the U.S. government could best respond to offset a second nuclear attack, to curtail health problems from any radioactive fallout, and to restore political rule. Project comments were made “confidential”, although a few participants freely described the exchange of views to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Some responses were more colorful than others. Fred Ikle, a former Defense Department official under Ronald Reagan whose 2006 book urged attack preparation, Annihilation from Within, claimed that the government “should plan how it could restrict civil liberties and enforce…martial law in the aftermath of a nuclear attack,” but also lay down guidelines for how our liberties might later be restored, according to the Chronicle.
But there’s one problem with Ikle’s scenario: once a government assumes absolute power, it almost never gives it back willingly.
Our new masters may continually argue that there’s another big bully just around the corner who may be planning to do us ill. And since there will always be someone wishing us ill somewhere on this globe, they will always have a reason to maintain their dictatorship.
Mr. Ikle’s idea that the U.S. government must immediately declare war on American freedom if we suffer an all-out nuclear attack didn’t sit well with many other panel members, several said.
Some participants heatedly retorted that our freedom is our greatest protection. They said the federal government instead needs to immediately educate first responders and other citizens on maintaining proper procedure even if the government is unable to issue orders, as seems more likely.
“Your cities would empty and people would completely lose confidence in the ability of the government to protect them…you’d have nothing that resembles our current social order,” answered Steve Fetter, dean of the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland. Such experts declare this is what makes publicly available information on possible attacks and contingency plans so necessary.
In fact on Sept. 11th, 2001, we had an essential breakdown of government rule. The president flew to Omaha, Nebraska, the vice-president hid in “an undisclosed location”, and for hours the federal government essentially left us to our own devices.
Under attack and without direct government rule, Americans actually became more caring of others, not less. The pressing issue was not a breakdown of civil order but a lack of citizen preparation – no one knew what to do either during or after the attacks.
The information which all Americans most need for self-protection is referred to in intelligence circles as “open source intelligence” (OSINT) – pertinent information which is not classified, but is instead available to all.
The first 72 hours after a disaster are the most critical for survival. Enter your email below to get a checklist of essential items you need in your 72 hour emergency get home bag…
Surviving “The Day After” A Nuclear Attack
In our section titled, Survive a Nuclear Attack, we have several articles that give specific tips for evacuations from cities struck by a nuclear weapon: Building and preparing a temporary or long term fall out room to deal with high levels of radiations, procedures for reconnecting with family and friends after an attack; and finally, communications tools, should electricity be knocked out across a region and cellphone networks down.
With a little preparation and planning, survival is possible for many (though surviving a nuclear attack is unlikely for those closest to a nuclear blast, who have little warning it is about to occur).
References:
United States drafts ‘Day After’ nuclear plan
Bush orders contingency plans for nuclear attack on U.S.
Author: Al-Qaida Has Nuclear Weapons Inside U.S.
Our Top Posts About Man Made Disasters
More Information about Nuclear Threats
Nuclear Terrorism: How to Survive a Nuclear Terrorist Attack
If Terrorists Attack Nuclear Power Plants: 10 Ways to Survive A Nuclear Meltdown
Can America Survive a Nuclear War? Can Its Citizens?
How to Survive a Nuclear Suitcase Bomb
Terrorist Nuclear Attack on New York City: The Likely Effects
How to Survive a Nuclear Attack
Countdown to a Nuclear Attack on U.S. Cities
Shoulder Fired Nukes? Nuclear Attack Survival Guide
The first 72 hours after a disaster are the most critical for survival. Enter your email below to get a checklist of essential items you need in your 72 hour emergency get home bag…
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