Nuclear power plants terrorist targets...

[kristopher]

Federal security concerns since 9/11 have turned U.S. nuclear power plants into armed fortresses
By John Funk, The Plain Dealer

Terrorists trying to drive an explosive-loaded truck into FirstEnergy's Perry nuclear reactor would encounter manned guard towers, layers of fencing and concrete barriers.

As the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and the Twin Towers approaches, it is clear to federal authorities that nuclear power plants are high on the target list.

Less than three weeks ago, the Department of Homeland Security warned electric utility companies that terrorists were likely targeting their reactors -- and using power plant workers to gather intelligence.

"Violent extremists have, in fact, obtained insider positions," the agency warned in a note to power plant operators that a spokesman later tried to downplay as "routine."

The alert came after federal intelligence analysts ...

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2011/08/nuclear_security_911_firstener.html

[BeFree]

1. We can only pray

Pray that DHS is successful at keeping the plants from getting blown up.

And the NRC is successful at keeping them from doing the Nukushima and blowing up all on their own.

[kristopher]

2. Sabotage seems more likely than an assault. nt

[BeFree]

3. True

And the unintentional sabotage by the penny-pinchers is the gravest threat.
I call it doing the Nukushima. Fuckushima could have been pretty much avoided had the pinchers been eliminated, but then, it wouldn't have been 'too cheap to meter', eh?

[saras]

4. We must be training the terrorists - they're dumb as rocks

There are BILLIONS of UNGUARDABLE points of weakness for terrorists to attack in any technologically advanced civilization. Dump a couple of tankfuls of gasoline down an urban storm drain, then light it, and a suburb goes away. Do it in Manhattan...

Utilities are exposed everywhere. Infrastructure is exposed and unguarded everywhere.


But conveniently, and, I'm sure, completely accidentally, nuclear power plants are protected against protest like nothing else on the earth.

[kristopher]

6. Terrorism against nuclear power leverages critical infrastructure.

In addition to the direct damage from a terrorism rooted Fukushima/Chernobyl in the US, there would also be significant economic and civil disruption brought about by the sudden withdrawal of nuclear as a source of power for the grid.

You are correct that there are a lot of targets of opportunity out there, but few have the same potential for large scale civil disruption as nuclear power plants.

[TheWraith]

5. They're also targets for space aliens, as long as we're thinking about imaginary threats.

Seriously, after all this time, you would have to be insane or a Republican to believe there's a serious terrorist threat here.

[kristopher]

7. Really?

Insane or a Republican?

Does that mean the NRC is insane and or Republican?

[kristopher]

8. Kick