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US lacks labs to test for 'dirty bomb' »

Posted By STONERS 11 months, 3 weeks ago in News
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The U.S. has a shortage of laboratories to test the thousands of people who might be exposed to radiation if a "dirty bomb" detonated in a major city, according to a recent congressional investigation.

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Comments So Far: 28
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    STONERS11 months, 3 weeks ago

    "I had hoped since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, that our government had smart people lying awake at 3 o'clock in the morning, trying to think through everything that terrorists could be dreaming of, every kind of attack they could be dreaming of, and trying to think of ways to prevent it and to respond to it if it does happen."

    "Learning how poorly prepared we are for a dirty bomb, a radiological attack, makes me think that that's not happened."

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      STONERS11 months, 3 weeks ago

      "When a former Russian KGB agent was poisoned with polonium-210 last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified 160 U.S. citizens who were staying at the same hotel where the Russian was poisoned or eating at the same restaurant and were potentially exposed. But the CDC found only one laboratory in the U.S. that was qualified and able to conduct analysis for exposure to the radioactive material."

      "Ultimately, 31 samples were tested, and it took seven days to test each one. The Energy Department has labs capable of doing a polonium analysis, but those labs do not meet legal standards for testing set by CDC."

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    johnbbbs11 months, 3 weeks ago

    Fearmongering. "Starts when you're always afraid" So-called "dirty bombs" are a tool to keep you in terror, more by the Government than by terrorists. They are VERY hard to make, do not "disburse" well, are relatively not dangerous. But they DO sound awful. The ONLY thing we have to fear ........ is fear itself.

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      simonsez11 months, 3 weeks ago

      I couldn't agree more, John. Handling radioactive material and transporting it without detection is very difficult.

      Of course it kills those individuals involved in putting it together as well.

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      fishifanb11 months, 3 weeks ago

      Sounds like an effort to ply another several billion out of the U.S. Treasury to me.

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      jordan1111 months, 3 weeks ago

      This is a reactive administration, which surrounds itself with reactive advisors. Fighting 'terrorism' requires being proactive, as obviously it makes sense to stop terrorist acts before they happen.

      Imports are not being watched. Our animals have been poisoned, and our childrens toys covered with lead. Imagine what terrorists could do to imported goods. Our food supply has been getting 'dirtier', and people being sickened is now a common occurance. Imagine what terrorists could do if they got ahold of our food supply. (And so on).

      That old adage "out of sight, out of mind" aptly applies to the lack of our anti terrorism policies. The media doesn't talk about it, so Americans don't think about it.

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        getreal111 months, 3 weeks ago

        Looks like they should volunteer testing to regular doctors and medical clinics, since they do have the test. They should be free to the doctors and the public. After all we most likely wouldn't have this problem in Global trade weren't so cheaply accepted by other countries. Sometimes they should demand their worth and then we may have better goods.

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          RedRiverJ11 months, 3 weeks ago

          The day after 9-11 our government should have started every way possible to fight terrorism to keep it from happening. Our politicians should consider ever way to help people if they are victims of terrorists as well as keep us safe. It is like they are asleep at the wheel........sometimes I think we have an entire senate and house of morons. What do you expect from politicians that will not and have not put up A BORDER FENCE 6 years after the fact.

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            wallyone11 months, 3 weeks ago

            red.. the culprits were those sent to protect you..

            The shepherd always tries to persuade the sheep that their interests and his own are the same.

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            kaizersozey8311 months, 3 weeks ago

            don't worry, dirty bombs are terribly innefective. This type of attack really has no grounds for alarm. The effect it would have on people would be minimal. The people directly related to the attack (meaning around it) would be the only ones with anything to worry about. An small explosion is not a great means to spread radiation throughout any city. Do a little research into "dirty bombs" and you will find that it really has no basis for believing it is a plausible attack method. It was something that was thrown around the news networks as a means for getting people to watch.

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              PsychoHosebeast11 months, 3 weeks ago

              "don't worry, dirty bombs are terribly innefective."

              Yeah, as long as you're not in the area when it goes off... granted, the damage isn't outrageous, but that doesn't make being killed by one any easier.

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              Charlson11 months, 3 weeks ago

              The Bush administration has had years to work out many of these terrorist issues and have done very little if anything to really make us safer. No secure borders, no adequate checking of imports coming into the US, many of our aiports are still not secure and have failed bomb detecting tests, nuclear facilities are still vulnerable to terrorist attacks as well as our power infrastructures, and this administration touts how well they are doing. And now when we have disasters like Katrina, or mass floodings or drought, or wild fires in California, we are stretched so thin in National Guard troops and supplies that we may be reaching a breaking point. But hey, why worry? Our troops are fighting them in the wrong country so they won't come here.

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                mamasan11 months, 3 weeks ago

                thats because this admin wants to shut all the national labs and privatize everything.

                they dont give a crap about keeping us safe.

                they care about putting cold hard cash in the hands of thier

                CRONIES!!!!!

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                  fishifanb11 months, 3 weeks ago

                  The goal has never been to make us safe but to use fear to solidify power and overcome opposition. If you have any doubts just follow the money.

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                    Grrr11 months, 3 weeks ago

                    I can tell if you're radioactive just by tasting you. Can't everybody do that?

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                      Grrr11 months, 3 weeks ago

                      Wow. Chastised and spammed all at the same time? I'm exhausted!

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                      Alexia11 months, 3 weeks ago

                      Makes me very curious to see what Chertoff comes up with in his "report" on the recent counterterrorism "experiments" he oversaw in Portland, OR, Phoenix and the Territory of Guam. Wasn't the issue in this story supposed to be something he's reviewing...??? Scary, indeed...

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                        dunkirk11 months, 3 weeks ago

                        The experiments we ran as part of *insert project name here* have been completed and were hugely successful. All objectives and goals of *insert project name here* were met and in most instances exceeded.I'd like to congratulate *insert cronies name here* for making this a very successful test and helping to ensure the safety of the US.

                        THe Bush template

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                        bumbaklotartattack11 months, 3 weeks ago

                        We're winning the war on terror!

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                          nostalgia11 months, 3 weeks ago

                          And who will be the first to scream and point fingers if one of these go off in a US city and there are no labs?

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                            Mutainia11 months, 3 weeks ago

                            Chernobyl, anyone? That could be a lab for a dirty bomb.

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                              aceofspades111 months, 3 weeks ago

                              Philadelphia would make a good lab

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                                jumanji11 months, 1 week ago
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