Archive for the 'Terrorism' Category

Over at the Counterterrorism blog (linked in this site), you will find that there was concern that the Jihadists recently captured in Canada were targeting Pickering Nuclear Power Plant.

American nuclear reactors have to be designed with an overall negative power coefficient.  According to 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix A, general design criterion 11:

The reactor core and associated coolant systems shall be designed so that in the power operating range the net effect of the prompt inherent nuclear feedback characteristics tends to compensate for a rapid increase in reactivity.

Translation: when an incident happens (let’s say, a loss of reactor coolant), the nuclear design of the reactor must be such that without any assistance or interference from humans, the reactor tends to decrease power and shut itself down.

The CANDU reactors in Canada are not U.S. design nor do they have to meet U.S. Code, but they do have a negative overall power coefficient like U.S. reactors.  Also like U.S. reactors, they have strong containment and reactor building designs, as well as serious, heavily armed security, truck barricades and other impediments to vehicular threats.

The very worst that the Jihadists could cause would be some serious financial damage to the reactor site in terms of peripheral equipment (such as step-up transformers, switchyard equipment, etc.).  They could not get close enough even to damage the reactor building structure, much less to cause a release of radioactivity.  And even if all of this did happen, the reactor shuts down because that is the way it is designed.

Shopping malls, drinking water supplies, bridges, tunnels … these things are soft targets.  A nuclear power plant?  Too hard.  They wouldn’t even get close.  No worries.  Security did its job and the Jihadists were caught.  Around nuclear power plants they always will be.

Over at the Counterterrorism blog (linked in this site), you will find that there was concern that the Jihadists recently captured in Canada were targeting Pickering Nuclear Power Plant.

American nuclear reactors have to be designed with an overall negative power coefficient.  According to 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix A, general design criterion 11:

The reactor core and associated coolant systems shall be designed so that in the power operating range the net effect of the prompt inherent nuclear feedback characteristics tends to compensate for a rapid increase in reactivity.

Translation: when an incident happens (let’s say, a loss of reactor coolant), the nuclear design of the reactor must be such that without any assistance or interference from humans, the reactor tends to decrease power and shut itself down.

The CANDU reactors in Canada are not U.S. design nor do they have to meet U.S. Code, but they do have a negative overall power coefficient like U.S. reactors.  Also like U.S. reactors, they have strong containment and reactor building designs, as well as serious, heavily armed security, truck barricades and other impediments to vehicular threats.

The very worst that the Jihadists could cause would be some serious financial damage to the reactor site in terms of peripheral equipment (such as step-up transformers, switchyard equipment, etc.).  They could not get close enough even to damage the reactor building structure, much less to cause a release of radioactivity.  And even if all of this did happen, the reactor shuts down because that is the way it is designed.

Shopping malls, drinking water supplies, bridges, tunnels … these things are soft targets.  A nuclear power plant?  Too hard.  They wouldn’t even get close.  No worries.  Security did its job and the Jihadists were caught.  Around nuclear power plants they always will be.

A good story about making Marines was recently carried in the Parade magazine, and can be found here.  I also cite two books in an earlier post on making Marines: “Making the Corps,” and “Into the Crucible.”  One interesting thing about this story is found in the comments to the story.  One or more comments pertain to how this story has accidentally poor timing given the Haditha incident.

Let me say it as loudly as I can: No, and a thousand times NO!  Look, as the investigation(s) come to a close and whatever legal action is necessary ensues, we will find out the details of what happened.  We do not know now, and so I will not speculate.  In Boot Camp and SOI (School of Infantry) the Marines train killers – killers of the enemy.  They do it with no apologies.  They DO NOT train killers of women and children.  If the worst happens (Marines are found guity of crimes), then those who are found guilty will be punished.  It is not helpful, effective to appease our enemies, effective to appease the anti-war zealots, or honorable for us (brass, military, bloggers and finally the citizens) to engage in self-flagellation or in any way dishonor the Corps over something that a statistically insignificant number of men did (or are alleged to do).  The Marines who were not involved in this should keep their head held high.  This includes almost every member of the USMC.  We should all remember that the honor, dignity and prestige of our Marines, Soldiers, Airmen and Sailors are at stake, and act with decorum in the coming days.  The coming days might be trying and difficult.

In the future I will post more on this incident, including a quote from Ernie Pyle on what war does to soldiers (from his famous “This is Your War”).

The Imam for the recently captured terrorist ring in Canada says that they “never spoke of hurting anyone,” and that they were “steadfast, religious people.”

Right.  That’s why you procure three tons of ammonium nitrate … to be peaceful, steadfast and religious.  Perhaps the little Muslim children were going to play with it?

Or just perhaps they were going to blow people up with it?  See story here.

The Imam for the recently captured terrorist ring in Canada says that they “never spoke of hurting anyone,” and that they were “steadfast, religious people.”

Right.  That’s why you procure three tons of ammonium nitrate … to be peaceful, steadfast and religious.  Perhaps the little Muslim children were going to play with it?

Or just perhaps they were going to blow people up with it?  See story here.

There has been quite a lot of teeth-gnashing over the distribution of anti-terror funds.  While there is much to be critical of regarding the bumbling, inept Department of Homeland Security, those who are criticizing the distribution of funds should think carefully before they speak.  A FNC analyst late p.m. on June 2 (Bernard Kerik, as if he has no “dog in this fight”) criticized funding for Charlotte, N.C., who hasn’t the landmark buildings that NYC does (perhaps Kerik thinks that skyline is the only important thing?).

Well, Bernard should go back to school on this one.  Right as 9/11 was occurring, calls came immediately from NYC to Charlotte to make sure that the banks got the data and information downloads that needed to be sent from the WTC (I know this from personal conversations with a trading floor representative from one of the banks).  Charlotte banks were asked what they could do to help with the NYSE, and the answer was given, “We can run it tomorrow!”

The first and fourth largest banks in the nation are located in Charlotte, controlling some 1.7 trillion dollars in assets.  See here for source.  We all might find much to moan and roll our eyes at with the DHS (such as the unbelievably stupid DPW port deal), but regarding the redistribution of federal funds to cities that are not as well-prepared as NYC, they might have gotten this one right.

Calling Bernard Kerik: Rather than emote and gush on national television, wouldn’t it be better to analyze?  Calling FNC: Why don’t you get better analysts?