On Fri, 22 Jul 2005 23:56:27 +0100, Tony Polson wrote:

Plus there are dirty bombs - nuclear devices that release massive
radiation rather than powerful explosions, chemical and biological
weapons of all kinds. They can be detonated almost anywhere.

I must admit that, when I first heard of the botched explosions of
this week, I did wonder if the small explosive combined with an odd
smell meant that some such agent had been used. Judging by the
chemical suits, the police clearly shared this concern, though
obviously it has not proven to be the case.

A dirty bomb (or even a large conventional bomb, perhaps of the nail
variety) in the middle of Oxford Street in the height of a shopping
Saturday, perhaps in the run up to Christmas, would probably be vastly
more destructive in terms of death and injury than a bomb on a train,
which by virtue of the long, thin nature of its target will be rather
limited in its effect. Several bombs, perhaps staggered to catch
panicking crowds running away from the first explosion, would be
worse. There is just about nothing that can be done to stop that,
even if it *was* a police state.

Thus, the only solution is much deeper than trying to catch the
perpetrators beforehand. As the IRA have already proven, if
terrorists want to bomb something, they will do so, just as if someone
wishes to steal a given car, however secure it may be, they will find
a means of doing so.

Neil

--
Neil Williams in Milton Keynes, UK
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