I'm currently reading a techno-novel by Stephen Coonts called "America", where the plot is a group of CIA-trained mercenaries steal a spanking-new US attack sub. They subsequently launch Tomahawk cruise missiles at Washington, AOL's HQ, and Manhattan. The payload of these weapons is an EMP(electromagnetic pulse) or e-bomb. The effects are on a scale of a nuke. For a diameter of 5 miles, all communications get fried, water and sewer pumps stop, subways are killed, cars are gridlocked with fried electronics and people without manual door locks trapped inside. Elevators halt, radios/TV's/phones go silent, pacemakers stop, back-up generators get toast, cell-phones and PDA's cook off in peoples hands, and fly-by-wire aircraft fall from the sky. Residual magnetism from the pulse works it's way through the power grid to outlying areas popping surge protectors and any unshielded electronic devices. Instantly, it's back to the 1800's, but surrounded by useless electronics and rotting food until back-up generators can be brought in. With no news/radio, a city would literally be cut off and panicked. An E-bomb can be made for about $400.00 and requires only 1940's technology. Although an air-burst would be ideal, a van parked in front of the NYSE would suffice to cook any CPU/HD for several miles. Doesn't even have to be close, since the explosion is small but the yield is large. Anyone else think this is scary stuff? This is an Al-Qaeda dream, killling off that which we now depend on even more than crude oil...technology.
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