http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/8304256.stm

Scientists have warned that Iran and North Korea could produce a weapon 
capable of paralysing Western electricity grids for months or years.

Experts fear that a missile-launched nuclear bomb exploded above the earth's 
atmosphere could cause a catastrophe.

They told the British government that high-altitude electromagnetic pulses 
could lead to an "economic shutdown".

US government adviser Avi Schnurr said efforts to protect the US electricity 
grid had already begun.

(more)

__________________________________

Isn't this an old fear from the Cold War?

You would have thought some work had already been done on this.  How is the 
grid protected against lightning strikes or really bad solar flares?



TWP

"TWP"  wrote ...

> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/8304256.stm
>
> Scientists have warned that Iran and North Korea could produce a weapon 
> capable of paralysing Western electricity grids for months or years.

Run for the hills. Oddly enough it's not just Iran or North Korea who would 
be capable of that; any nuclear power could so it's more fear-mongering 
about Iran and North Korea than anything else.

It's not an irrational fear though; America's already done it, July 9th, 
1962. One of their nuke tests reportedly 'blew up' TV's, electrical 
appliances and street lighting in Hawaii a thousand or so miles away and 
destoyed a number of orbiting satellites.

Nuke's are bad m'kay.

I'd love to see a comprehensive list of all Iran and North Korea could do if 
they set their mind to it ...

They *could* destroy the set of Coronation Street in a directed microwave 
attack, terminate viewing entertainment for millions, leading to regular 
life treatening riots around 7:30 each night.

They *could* try to drown us all by pushing their desert sands and soil into 
the ocean.

They *could* take a kango-hammer and chisel off the side of La Palma causing 
a massive tsunami to hit America.

They *could* sneak into Yellowstone park and loosen the top soil allowing 
the bubbling volcano beneath to break free.

They *could* jump up and down in synchronisation and just maybe tip the 
Earth off its axis and plunge us into the sun.

They *could* hide under our beds then jump out and skin us all alive using 
razor blades inscribed with poems written by Spike Milligan while 
Riverdancing and dressed as Barney the dinosaur.

The *could* mount a suicide attack on the Hoover Dam, taking a small 
submarine and butting the dam wall until it gives way.

They *could* decide not to attack directly, but take a lead from America and 
put all their efforts into building missiles which will target the Moon, 
knocking it out of orbit and causing it plunge down on 1600 Pennsylvania 
Avenue ( they *could* tie ropes to the missiles so they can guide it down to 
the target )..

They *could* discover a snark. Though maybe we just beat them to that :-)


> Experts fear that a missile-launched nuclear bomb exploded above the 
> earth's atmosphere could cause a catastrophe.

It could.


> They told the British government that high-altitude electromagnetic pulses 
> could lead to an "economic shutdown".

What, worse than it is ;-)


> US government adviser Avi Schnurr said efforts to protect the US 
> electricity grid had already begun.

I'd love to to know what they think they can do to stop it. Turn off the 
grid ;-)


> Isn't this an old fear from the Cold War?

Yes, re-hash of the same old fears.

I remember there was a lot of laughing about Russia's high-tech planes 
stuffed full of electronic valves, until it was noted that they'd be more 
immune from EMP that the west's high-tech planes using IC's. He who laughs 
last laughs longest ;-)


> You would have thought some work had already been done on this.  How is 
> the grid protected against lightning strikes or really bad solar flares?

Big fuses probably, but it's probably impossible to protect against 
sifficiently large EMP.

Interesting thought about Los Palmos ... Scientists reckon we're safe for 
10,000 years, but what if someone bombed it ? I'm claiming royalties if that 
fear crops up in the news in the next few days. It's easy to do 
fear-mongering :-)

"TWP"  wrote ...

[snips]

Meanwhile, in an alternative universe, not so far away ...

Scientists have warned that both Israeli and American arsenals contain 
weapons capable of disrupting Iran's electricity supply and plunging the 
country into chaos for months or years.

Experts fear that a missile-launched nuclear bomb exploded above Iran could 
be paralysing for commerce and industry, particularly affecting its revenue 
from oil industries. Such an incident may severely disrupt Iran's military 
response capability and could be used as a pre-emptive attack strategy 
against Iran. It was not clear what effect an EMP pulse would have on 
domestic nuclear power plants. There has been speculation that an EMP attack 
could lead to reactor melt-down and cause the deaths of thousands in 
affected areas. Many more may die in hospitals and elsewhere as electricity 
supplies and electronic equipment fails.

Members of Iran's military said they were unaware of any imminent plans to 
attack Iran using EMP weapons but acknowledged that such use had been 
proposed by military strategists and others in Israel. "We have plans in 
place to deal with any attack, any eventuality", said a spokesperson, who 
declined to detail what such responses would be: "It is sufficient to say 
any attack upon Iran will be deeply regretted by those making it".

Ministers in Tehran said they, "would take every step necessary to defend 
Iran. This entire region lives every day under the cloud of nuclear threat 
from Israel. We will not tolerate anyone threatening the sovereignty of the 
Republic of Iran or our peaceful neighbours".

When asked to detail the nature of the EMP threat, government scientists 
responded, "Any nuclear weapon can be used as an EMP weapon. As Israel is 
the only nuclear armed state in the region we are concerned that Israel may 
use their nuclear weapons as such rather than attempting a direct nuclear 
attack which would bring instant condemnation from the international 
community. America backs Israel's nuclear weapons and has not only used such 
weapons herself but has engaged in attempting to develop enhanced nuclear 
devices such as nuclear handgrenades, has tested EMP capable weapons and 
even secretively attempted to create what became known as 'the neutron 
bomb'. We do not know what esoteric nuclear weapons America holds or has 
provided to Israel. The threat from Israel  is ever present, a part of daily 
life in Iran. We continue to urge Israel to sign-up to the Nuclear 
Non-Proliferation Treaty but they will not. We wonder what they are hiding 
from the world".

The Happy Hippy wrote:

> They could hide under our beds then jump out and skin us all alive using
> razor blades inscribed with poems written by Spike Milligan while
> Riverdancing and dressed as Barney the dinosaur.
> 

It gets even worse ... They sucks yer blood and they eats yer brains!!!

<quote>
Much of the United States - including "urban and suburban areas" - may soon 
be overrun by a plague of "giant, invasive snakes" capable of "attacking and 
killing people", according to genuine federal boffins.

The scientists in question are those of the US Geological Survey, which 
yesterday published a terrifying report warning of the imminent reptilian 
conquest.

According to top government snake men Gordon Rodda and Robert Reed, no less 
than nine "giant non-native snake species" are preparing to sweep as far 
north as the Mason-Dixon line, with "tens of thousands" of hostile, peckish 
maneaters already massing in Florida.
</quote>

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/10/14/snakes_on_the_brain/

-- 
Facts are sacred ... but comment is free