From: Eugen Leitl (eugen@leitl.org)
Date: Thu Sep 19 2002 - 15:11:00 MDT
On Wed, 18 Sep 2002 CurtAdams@aol.com wrote:
> Iraq isn't cutting-edge, sure, but technologies for the kinds of
> weapons generating concern are anything but cutting-edge. Uranium
Nanotechnology and bioweapons of any clout need not apply, though.
Especially free environment capable molecular self-replicators, which are
(many) decades away.
> enrichment and fuel processing are 60 years old - out there with
Sure, nukes. Pretty old news, though. And I very much doubt Iraq could do
a decent fusion device. HEU is not that widespread (since you can't make
it in your backyard, and have to buy it on the black market), and I don't
think Iraq has any decent Pu which would do for more than a dirty fizzle.
The isotope fingerprint after the fact will pretty much be a major pointer
on where the fissibles came from.
> vacuum tube computers and 33 lp records. The techs for converting
> <random mammal>pox into neosmallpox are only 20-30 years old, but are
> pretty much standard in any publication-worthy microbio lab. Not
> nanotech, but strongly analogous.
Weaponized smallpox is not the end of the world, and there is zero
evidence Iraq is into any more than cargo cult biowarfare.
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