UK report warns nuclear attack realistic - or as Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano might say "Man-Caused Disaster"

I can just see it now:

Rahm: [interrupts the President playing basketball] Mr. President. I mean, Yo Barry.

Barry: Yes, my son.

Rahm: Janet just called to say that we've suffered a 'Man-Caused Disaster'.

Barry: Come on Rahm, you know I don't like it when you interrupt my game.

Rahm: Yeah, I know. But Barry, this is like a really big 'Man-Caused Disaster'.

Barry: Listen Rahm. I'm going to finish my game and then we'll call Janet back regarding the
'Man-Caused Disaster'.

Rahm: But Barry, I really don't think it can wait.

Barry: [bricks his shot] Damn it! You made me miss my free throw. Now I'm only 2 out of 5. That's like Special Olympics caliber free throw shooting Rahm.

Rahm: Yeah, Barry. I apologize for making you miss, but do you realize what you just said?

Barry: You mean about my 2 out of 5 shooting? Yeah, Rahm, I know my free throw shooting sucks. You don't have to keep gettin' in my face about it.

Rahm: No, Barry. I didn't mean your free throw shooting. I meant your comment about the Special Olympics. [Rahm winks his eye] You know, the Jay Leno type Special Olympics Comment you just made.

Barry: Oh! Right! Uh, er. Did I say that?

Rahm: Yeah, you did.

Barry: Well damn it, Rahm. Your job is to not let me make those kind of mistakes!

Rahm: But, Barry.

Barry: Enough! Talk to the hand!

Rahm: Yes Sir, Mr. President.

Barry: Now scurry back to your cubicle. I'll see you after I'm done schoolin' these Secret Service punks!
by Rees

UK report warns nuclear attack realistic

Although al-Qaida is probably not going to survive the coming years, a nuclear or chemical attack on British soil is becoming increasingly likely, according to a new report by the British government.

The report, cited by the British Independent newspaper on Tuesday, warned that a "dirty bomb" attack was now "more realistic" than before.

"Contemporary terrorist organizations aspire to use chemical, biological, radiological and even nuclear weapons," the report said. "Changing technology and the theft and smuggling of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) materials make this aspiration more realistic than it may have been in the recent past."

According to the Independent, the "Contest Two" report is the first unclassified document that includes a detailed picture of British officials' assessments of the future course of terrorism and its underlying causes.

The report describes how terrorists in conflict zones develop new explosives and attack methods and quickly disseminate the information worldwide.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith highlighted the underlying causes of the danger of an unconventional weapons attack.

"Failed states, conflict, technology - both in terms of the ability to use materials and the ability to learn about how materials are used - contribute to our concern about that as a threat, including what we know about what terrorists may have previously planned to do and may be planning to do," she said.

According to the report, the threat to the UK is basically fourfold and consists of al-Qaida's leadership, other groups affiliated with al-Qaida, networks or individuals motivated by a similar extremist ideology, and separate groups that follow an al-Qaida-like agenda.

The document said that international pressure would likely cause Osama bin-Laden's organization to "fragment," but noted that the ideology driving it would survive the structural changes to the group, resulting in a possibly greater threat from break-off factions.

The report also warned that "terrorist organizations will have access to new technology and may become capable of conducting more lethal operations."

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