Brian T. Kennedy, explained in a recent Wall Street Journal article why the U.S. needs a space-based missile defense against an EMP attack:

First, as the defender of the Free World, the U.S. will be the target of destruction or, more likely, strategic marginalization by Russia, China and the radical Islamic world.

Second, this marginalization and threat of destruction is possible because the U.S. is not so powerful that it can dictate military and political affairs to the world whenever it wants. The U.S. has the nuclear capability to vanquish any foe, but is not likely to use it except as a last resort.

Third, America will remain in a condition of strategic vulnerability as long as it fails to build defenses against the most powerful political and military weapons arrayed against us: ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads. Such missiles can be used to destroy our country, blackmail or paralyze us.

Kennedy states that, “For the past decade, Iran – with the assistance of Russia, China and North Korea – has been developing missile technology. Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani announced in 2004 their ability to mass produce the Shahab-3 missile capable of carrying a lethal payload to Israel or – if launched from a ship – to an American city.”

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated in 2005: “Is it possible for us to witness a world without America and Zionism? But you had best know that this slogan and this goal are attainable, and surely can be achieved.”

Americans need to take Mr. Ahmadinejad’s threat seriously. Just as Hitler announced his plans to dominate Europe and perpetrate genocide, the regime in Iran has been unequivocal in its plans.

Kennedy outlines the following scenario: An ordinary-looking freighter ship heading toward New York or Los Angeles launches a missile from its hull or from a canister lowered into the sea. It hits a densely populated area. A million people are incinerated. The ship is then sunk. No one claims responsibility. There is no firm evidence as to who sponsored the attack, and thus no one against whom to launch a counterstrike.

A nuclear-armed Shahab-3 missile off the coast of the U.S., can be launched and explode 300 miles over Chicago. The nuclear detonation in space creates an electromagnetic pulse (EMP):

Gamma rays from the explosion, through the Compton Effect, generate three classes of disruptive electromagnetic pulses, which permanently destroy consumer electronics, the electronics in some automobiles and, most importantly, the hundreds of large transformers that distribute power throughout the U.S. All of our lights, refrigerators, water-pumping stations, TVs and radios stop running. We have no communication and no ability to provide food and water to 300 million Americans.

What would follow such an EMP attack?

Economic collapse might be the least of our worries. With telephones, computers and transportation at a standstill, law enforcement will be nearly helpless. Add to this scenario numbers of tactical teams attacking police and civilians with automatic weapons fire the way terrorists did in Mumbai and whole regions (even the entire United States of America) could be reduced to utter chaos.

Incidentally, DARPA (the CIA research department) created an effective EMP device with less than $500.00 and materials that are easily purchased in a hardware store. The plans are even easier to access on the internet.

Since the Iranians are already able to launch ballistic missiles and trigger an EMP, Kennedy may be right that “the only solution to this problem is a robust, multilayered missile-defense system.” The hope that the present administration will commit funds to “space-based interceptors that destroy an enemy warhead in its ascent phase” is wishful thinking- at best!

Mr. Kennedy, president of the Claremont Institute and a member of the Independent Working Group on Missile Defense, might better serve the nation by advising us all to become survivalists. America as we have come to know it will never return. With or without an EMP attack, we need to start creating a new psychology and new strategies that are local rather than federal.

Contact your neighbors and local public officials to discuss various scenarios. Consider bartering for what you need. Do not listen to people that advocate taking matters into your own hands but purchase first aid supplies, food and other equipment that will enable you to help those around you.

We are preparing to hold a Town Meeting somewhere in the Seattle-Tacoma area to sound out the best people in our community on these and other subjects. We need to do this soon. So contact us at knapp.m@comcast.net with your concerns and ideas. In an emergency, you and the people around you are the best protection there is against the forces that would destroy our way of life or even seek to enslave those we love.