-Caveat Lector- In a message dated 5/19/99 2:58:39 AM Eastern Daylight Time, ANON writes: >> Our luncheon speaker was Representative Kurt Weldon (R-PA) who led an >> early May delegation of U.S. congressional representatives to meet with >> members of the Russian State Duma to discuss ways to end the US-NATO >> bombings. Weldon repeatedly expressed the opinion that President >> Clinton wants the bombings to continue for irrational reasons which are >> unclear to his congressional critics. >> >> During the question period, I asked Weldon, "Given the weakness of the >> Russian missile alert system, especially with probable year 2000 >> computer problems, and the irrationality of both President Clinton and >> President Yeltsin, who already several times has threatened nuclear war >> over the bombings, what do you consider to be the percentage chance of >> nuclear war in the next 12 months." (My question and his reponse were >> the first and only reference to nuclear war during the conference, >> except for one panelist's sarcastic comment about using nuclear weapons >> against Belgrade.) >> >> Weldon said (somewhat paraphrased): "This is why we in Congress are >> working so hard and doing our own negotiations. We are worried about >> the Russian nuclear safety issues. We are worried about the >possibility >> of nuclear war over the instabilities this war has caused. In fact, I >> have a story to tell. When the eleven members of our congressional >> delegation were sitting there with the members of the Russian Duma, >> Chairman of the Russian State Duma Foreign Policy Committee, Vladimir >> Lukin, warned the Americans, 'You have to understand that if we want to >> cause you a problem over this, we could. Someone, we don't know who, >> could send up a missile from a ship or a submarine and detonate a >> nuclear weapon high over the United States. The EMP (electromagenetic >> pulse) would take away all your capability.'** So we in Congress take >> this whole situation very very seriously." >> >> This warning is even more direct and threatening than President >Yeltin's >> several warnings that the bombing of Yugoslavia could eventually lead >to >> World War Three or that Russian would massively retaliate should one US >> bomb stray into it's territory. >> >> **Note: an electromagnetic pulse from a high detonated nuclear weapon >> could burn out most unprotected electrical and electronic equipment, >> unprotected computers, solid state electrical components of aircraft, >> modern autos, trucks, tractors and most consumer equipment and >> effectively bring America to a halt. As I understand them, EMP weapons have a radius of coverage of about 25 to 50 miles from their detonation point (still quite a problem). Does anyone know if Lukin's statement that the EMP from a nuclear weapon detonated at high altitude could affect the entire U.S. is true? Jon Bell DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substanceonot soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.