A ‘pre-emptive’ strike on Iran would kill thousands

international | anti-war / imperialism | other press Friday September 05, 2008 18:12 by pat c

Jim Moody of the CPGB writes on the likely effects of a ‘pre-emptive’ strike on Irans Natanz fuel enrichment plant. Full text at link.

No nuclear explosion, when delivered by bomb or missile, could be contained underground - especially one so large as to ensure complete destruction of Iran’s nuclear facilities within mountain tunnels, as well as its earth and concrete protected structures below ground. This is not akin to an underground nuclear test, where containment can be achieved.

Overwhelming scientific opinion holds that a nuclear weapon in the tens to hundreds of kilotons range, used in the way envisaged, would not only kill those in the immediate vicinity. People would be incinerated, blasted and crushed. Aerial nuclear contamination would then certainly kill everyone within a few dozen kilometres. Thousands who are 100 kilometres away from the site would suffer radiation poisoning and die over weeks or months.