🚀 go-pugleaf

David Bromage wrote:
> 
> Brian wrote:
> > Welllllll, while I actually I agree with your sentiment, I think what
> > you're talking about WRT China is pretty silly, as they don't have very
> > many ICBM's and thats the point.  The Son of Starwars isn't intended to
> > defend against thousands of incoming warheads or decoys but rather the
> > supposed "rogue state" which has one or two and lobs them in a fit of
> > irrational pique.
> 
> At best, the NMD won't work. It cannot protect against cruise missiles
> or satchel charges (suitcase bombs). If I had a nuke and wanted to
> attack the US, the easiest way would be to send it FedEx. I'm serious.

Except it would be detected in transit.  "suitcase bombs" or nuclear
"satchel charges" are only comparatively small.  In reality they are
converted medium or heavy artillery rounds of 155mm or greater calibre,
adapted to the role of demolition device.  They also leak radioactivity
quite profusely (at sub-lethal levels of course but still quite badly). 
The US has been preparing for this possibility for over 40 years.  They
have detectors which would rock your socks off, being able to detect not
only the size of the sub-critical mass but also its configuration and if
close enough, even its source, and all from considerable distances as
well.

While smuggling a device would be much easier than building an ICBM, its
still fraught with difficulties as a viable strategy.