Radioactive Material across the US/CAN border.

[GostHacked]

I decided to throw this topic in here for the reason it affects the US and Canada.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/03/28/rad...g.ap/index.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4852410.stm

http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?he...cf-c3c4b7e53e06

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=100...glGQO0&refer=us

Were the Mexican and Canadian governments were aware of this in the first place. The US managed to get, albeit small amounts, of radioactive material (cesium-137) into Canada AND Mexico to bring it back across to the US. They say that would have been enough to make two dirty bombs.

This would prove that we need to tighten our own security at the US border.

Questions

How was it brought across our border?

When was it brought across?

Where was it brought across?

How long had it been here?

The Bloomberg site states that the radioactive amount that was smuggled was the same as what is in smoke detectors. They contain an isotope called Americium-241, which is made in nuclear reactors, and is a decay product of plutonium-241. Well, at least I learned something about fire alarms

This operation was carried out on December 14 2005.

[Nocrap]

I decided to throw this topic in here for the reason it affects the US and Canada.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/03/28/rad...g.ap/index.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4852410.stm

http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?he...cf-c3c4b7e53e06

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=100...glGQO0&refer=us

Were the Mexican and Canadian governments were aware of this in the first place. The US managed to get, albeit small amounts, of radioactive material (cesium-137) into Canada AND Mexico to bring it back across to the US. They say that would have been enough to make two dirty bombs.

This would prove that we need to tighten our own security at the US border.

Questions

How was it brought across our border?

When was it brought across?

Where was it brought across?

How long had it been here?

The Bloomberg site states that the radioactive amount that was smuggled was the same as what is in smoke detectors. They contain an isotope called Americium-241, which is made in nuclear reactors, and is a decay product of plutonium-241. Well, at least I learned something about fire alarms

This operation was carried out on December 14 2005.

Are we even equipped to detect radio-active materials? Sadly, we are so caught up in suspecting anyone from the Arab world, that a group of white guys could probably bring in just about anything. We forget that not all terrorists look like Bin Laden - many look like Tim McVeigh.

[Newfie Canadian]

I don't have a link, but I believe it was on Newsworld that I heard that the Canadian government was informed of the test.

[Riverwind]

This would prove that we need to tighten our own security at the US border.

They have the detectors in place a border crossings but they are not perfect:

http://www.federaltimes.com/index.php?S=963225

But those detectors and monitors go off a lot — anywhere from five to 25 times a day at San Ysidro, which grants entry to about 55,000 cars from Mexico daily. Anything from cat litter to ceramics and people returning from Tijuana after receiving radiation treatments can set off an alert.

In other words, detecting small amounts of radioactive material that might be used for a dirty bomb is like looking for a needle in a haystack. The reports suggest that the people in question were caught but had forged documents showing that they were entitled to have the material. Seems to me this study was done more for propaganda purposes than to provide useful insights into border security.

[PocketRocket]

Canadian border security is responsible for controlling what crosses the border INTO Canada

The USA border security is responsible for controlling what crosses INTO the USA.

This little "test" simply shows that the USA's security is no better than that of Canada or Mexico.

Before they point any fingers about border security, they should be looking in a mirror.

[geoffrey]

Well, their border security is 100% their responsibility, so I've never understood what they complain about anyways.

[PocketRocket]

Well, their border security is 100% their responsibility, so I've never understood what they complain about anyways.

Well, maybe Bush is leaving his options open.

If our border security can be painted to be such a huge issue, then Canada could be made out to be an "imminent threat".

Maybe we're next

[GostHacked]

Well, their border security is 100% their responsibility, so I've never understood what they complain about anyways.

I am really talking about the fact that it made it to the Canadian side of that border. How the hell did it get across without anyone knowing? But our government did? I think that is a big saftey risk when it comes to moving radio active materials. For security reasons it is kept quiet.

Securing the border is our responsibility as well. More so to keep stuff like this from actually happening. If the US is not prepared for it (like they really want to be anyways) how can Canada be prepared for it?