<IP> sleep better?

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

------ Forwarded Message
From: "Aftergood, Steven" <saftergood () fas org>
Date: Fri, 04 Oct 2002 10:30:55 -0400
To: secrecy_news () lists fas org
Subject: Secrecy News -- 10/04/02


ASTEROID IMPACT COULD HAVE LED TO NUCLEAR WAR

An asteroid that entered the earth's atmosphere last June with a burst
of energy could have triggered a nuclear war, according to
congressional testimony yesterday from Air Force Brig. Gen. Simon P.
Worden.

"Two and a half months ago, Pakistan and India were at full alert and
poised for a large-scale war, which both sides appeared ready to
escalate into nuclear war," Worden recalled.  "The situation has
defused for now. Most of the world knew about this situation and
watched and worried."

"But few know of an event over the Mediterranean on June 6th of this
year that could have had a serious bearing on that outcome. U.S. early
warning satellites detected a flash that indicated an energy release
comparable to the Hiroshima burst. We see about 30 such bursts per
year, but this one was one of the largest we have ever seen. The event
was caused by the impact of a small asteroid, probably about 5-10
meters in diameter, on the earth's atmosphere."

"The event of this June received little or no notice as far as we can
tell. However, if it had occurred at the same latitude just a few
hours earlier, the result on human affairs might have been much worse.
Imagine that the bright flash accompanied by a damaging shock wave had
occurred over India or Pakistan. To our knowledge, neither of those
nations have the sophisticated sensors that can determine the
difference between a natural NEO <[near-Earth object]> impact and a
nuclear detonation. The resulting panic in the nuclear-armed and
hair-triggered opposing forces could have been the spark that ignited
a nuclear horror we have avoided for over a half century."

Worden's remarkable testimony was delivered at an October 3 House
Science Subcommittee hearing on the threat posed by asteroid and other
near-Earth objects.  See his prepared statement here:

   http://www.house.gov/science/hearings/space02/oct03/worden.htm

The iconoclastic Gen. Worden came to public attention earlier this year
as director of the Pentagon's aborted Office of Strategic Influence.

------ End of Forwarded Message

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