WP: Nuclear Plants Are Still Vulnerable, (Natl. Academy of Sciences) Says

[DeepModem Mom]

Nuclear Plants Are Still Vulnerable, Panel Says

By Shankar Vedantam
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, April 7, 2005; Page A12


Three and a half years after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the government has failed to address the risk that a passenger plane flying at high speed could be deliberately crashed into a commercial nuclear plant, setting off fires and dispersing large amounts of radiation, a long-awaited report by the National Academy of Sciences has concluded.

Officials at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission have maintained that such an attack is improbable and that detailed analyses of the consequences of such attacks are unnecessary. Experts at the nation's premier scientific body said those judgments are flawed.

"There are currently no requirements in place to defend against the kinds of larger-scale, pre-meditated, skillful attacks that were carried out on September 11, 2001," a panel of scientists said, even as it agreed such an attack would be difficult to pull off.

Academy officials battled the government for months to make their declassified conclusions public -- and the version released yesterday charged that federal secrecy edicts designed to keep information from terrorists were paradoxically hurting efforts to defend against such attacks.

Restrictions on sharing information imposed by the NRC had kept the industry from addressing vulnerabilities, the report said....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32383-2005Apr6.html :scared:

[ramapo]

1. If the unthinkable ever happens...

There will still be widespread shock and surprise. It is unbelievable that this has not been addressed, just another example of the incompetency of our government.

As bad as the Yucca Flats solution is, it is imperative that nuclear waste be removed asap from all local storage pools and sent to a secure location where VP Cheney can watch over it.

[Zenlitened]

2. Quick, call in the 'Minutemen'!! They'll protect us all!!

'Cuz it's sure obvious that Bush is doing NOTHING to make us safer. The ports, the nukes, the borders... not to mention the utter trashing of America's reputation in the world, and the terrorists who feed off the anger and resentment he's created.

Ugh. Excuse me, I have to get back to work on the survival bunker I'm digging in my backyard. :scared:

[DeepModem Mom]

3. And how frustrating and infuriating that Bush was "elected"...

with the help of millions of Americans convinced that he is keeping them safe --

[hunter]

4. Oh, bah...

There are so many more interesting targets.

The ideal solution is not to be a target. If nobody hates us they won't bother attacking us.

If I was a terrorist I would send the president a case of beer and a bag of pretzels.

[Massacure]

5. 747 vs four foot concrete wall, 747 vs four foot concrete wall

Hmm. I put my money on the four foot high density steel reinforced concrete wall.

[Zynx]

7. Agree - plane is going to shatter without doing much

[struggle4progress]

6. kick