Is the technology available to detect nuclear material crossing our borders?

Question

With the fear of suitcase nukes and terrorism, is it possible to detect and stop nuclear material (such as uranium or plutonium) from getting into the US through our borders or ports?

Answer 1

in theory, yes

all nukes require fissionable materials ... a number of pounds of it. that can be detected by radiation counters. [the weight and volume of shielding required to fool a rad detector is huge.]

so, yes -- it is technically feasible.


alas, please stop for a moment and figure out where your detector would have to be. My offhand guess is about 100 miles offshore. Off every shore, in fact. and spaced about every mile or so apart. as well as 100 miles offshore in the air since a bomb can be hauled by an aircraft.

and even then, you might not notice a submarine.


Hmm. dang -- feasible but not very practical.


Now, given the dilemna just noted, might it be better for us to not be talking about what efforts we do have in place and are taking?? so maybe an uninformed terrorist or foreign government might not know what we're doing to detect nuclear materials and therefore maybe will blunder right into our clutches???

ah. Silence might be the better policy.


:-)

Answer 2

Our borders ARE being defended. You reported so your self that the border patrol caught 500 people from sixty 8 distinctive countries in one day. they don't consult from the commonly used public intimately on the grounds that's labeled suggestion to be released on a "could nicely known" foundation. Our best concern comes from distant places. and that's what you spot interior the information. it extremely is the bigger risk. in assessment, our borders are small potatoes. we've in simple terms recently beefed up the border patrol with extra workers and technologies. And each and every individual who does make it throughout the time of will could manage NIS in the event that they ruin any rules or in the event that they simply take place to get caught. we can't save actual everyone out yet we are in a position to attempt to maintain the undesirable people out. The borders are in simple terms the 1st area of the filter out. Our inner secure practices is marvelous. So marvelous that alot of persons are nervous approximately their very own privateness even nevertheless their nobodies.

Answer 3

i know they have detectors at the ports, but ive never seen one at the Mexico/US border in SOCAL...scary thought isn't it