June 25, 2005 :: G2 Bulletin :: News
Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) joins the many Congressmen recently warning that the U.S. is vulnerable to an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack, reports Joseph Farrah’s G2 Bulletin. An EMP attack is generated when a nuclear weapon is detonated several dozen kilometers above the Earth’s surface, producing a large electromagnetic pulse. Such an attack would destroy a nation’s entire electric power infrastructure, resulting in cascading failures in energy, telecommunications, transportation, finance, food, and water. Bartlett warns that such an attack is imminently possible: “Terrorists could steal, purchase, or be provided a nuclear weapon and perform an EMP attack against the United States simply by launching a primitive Scud missile off a freighter near our shores.” He points out that Iran recently test-launched a Scud missile from a surface vessel, and also that North Korea could develop an EMP weapon in the near future. Bartlett correctly argues that the U.S. must act quickly to harden the nation’s infrastructure to withstand such an attack.
Another critical step must be taken: The U.S. must build and maintain a robust missile defense shield capable of protecting the homeland. Such a defense—which would incorporate defensive systems based on air, land, sea, and space—would cause a rogue nation or terrorist-sponsoring state to think twice before launching such an attack. Until then, the U.S. will remain vulnerable. (Article)
» More stories on: Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Weapons
