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If
Terror Should Strike: Preparedness beyond the Color Chart.
By Hans J. Kugler, PhD, President,
International Academy of Alternative
and Anti-Aging Medicine.
I grew up in a time when terrorism was first evolving in Europe.
I was a NATO officer in the West German Air Force and a platoon
leader at the Air Force Academy. Rarely a month went by without
a British, French, Italian or other NATO expert on terrorism bringing
us up-to-par about every aspect of this new disease. Later, while
studying biochemistry at the School of Medicine at the University
of Munich (with a minor in the University's International Politics
Program, which focused on the cold war and terrorism), it became
second nature for me to evaluate a problem logically, scientifically
and from a military point of view. This demanded that you "know
your enemy, how he functions and how he plans to achieve his goals."
- - - and then do everything in your power to prevent him from achieving
his goals.
What I’d really would like to say to everybody is this: "Chill
out!"
Throughout the ages, humankind has lived through disasters natural
(such as earthquakes, plagues, and floods), and self-inflicted (such
as war and crime) and survived. Relative to some of these horrific
past tragedies, terrorism is nothing more than an ugly pimple on
the world’s face. European countries have learned to live with
it, they take the best possible precautions, and life goes on. If
a terrorist act still happens it’s simply "c’est
la vie," "such is life," or "Scheisse passiert"
(the equivalent of the US "S… happens"), but life
goes on.
Today, from U.S. terrorism experts to European intelligence agencies
alert us to the fact that more terrorism attacks are – most
likely – to come. Even though the possibilities are grim, from
nuclear to chemical/biological agents, we must see this in perspective,
and not panic.
First a few cold facts
Nuclear weapons: Even though at least 100 atomic bombs –
some of them as small as a suitcase – are missing from the
former USSR arsenal, some experts in this field appear to agree
that the terrorists may have one, but had not yet been able to bring
one into the U.S. Others, like Bin Laden expert Yosseff Bodansky
(TV interviews, December 2001) – taken quite serious by Washington
- suggest that terrorists has successfully dispatched two suitcase
atomic bombs to the US.
The biological/chemical threat is very real! As reported in the
Los Angeles Times on Sept. 16, 2001, Section A, page 25, U.S. reconnaissance
satellites spotted numerous dead animals near one Bin Laden camp
in Afghanistan, suggesting that the testing of chemical weapons
had already been accomplished. I E-mailed and inquired with the
CIA, asking if samples of the dead animals had been retrieved and
examined by pathologists - - - but as you guessed, there was no
response. Even though the anthrax attacks (biological) were real,
with some of the anthrax being "weapons grade," I believe
that these attacks are done by other groups (Iraq?) to help the
terrorist’s efforts in the US to simply rattle our cages, and
to terrorize the population at large. If this was meant to be the
real second attack, it would have to be classified as a near total
failure. But one thing we should never do, namely to underestimate
the terrorists.
As I see it, the real second attack ( - - I still hope that increased
intelligence work will prevent it - -) will be either
a) with a chemical poison (Sarin, most likely), in an area
of high population density, warm climate, steady offshore winds.
Add other available pieces of information, and Miami, with Boston,
Atlanta and San Diego as distant possible seconds, appear to be
at risk. Or
b) A real atomic bomb; a "dirty" bomb is more of
a p.i.t.a. (pain in t -- a--) bomb, with a mostly psychological
effect, unable to fulfill terrorist’s "2nd strike requirement,"
being a multiple of the first attack. Or c) A biological attack
with smallpox. As a close 4th possibility I see a cyanide attack.
Now the better news:
The probability of YOU being affected by an attack: The immense
size of our country alone makes a terrorist’s victory truly
impossible, and the probability of YOU being affected by
any attack (even a nuclear bomb), expressed in mathematical terms,
is extremely, EXTREMELY small, actually close to zero. Naturally,
the probability of being affected by any attack increases in densely
populated areas; yet, in mathematical terms, it is still is close
to zero. Even if you live in a highly populated area, and even if
they explode an atomic bomb, the probability of YOU being affected
is still far less than 1/10 of one percent. In mathematical terms
this is still less likely than you getting into your car and having
an accident the same day. Do you really worry about having an accident
each time you get into your car? Certainly not; psychologists would
call this "neurotic."
But then, accidents happen. - - - and it doesn’t hurt being
prepared. So, let’s talk about what we can do to be prepared;
simple preparedness that is within reach, even if we never use it.
This somewhat reminds me of the time when I was a platoon leader
in the Air Force academy. As part of my regular duties, I was in
charge of handgun training. On weekends I did MP duty, always carrying
a gun. But I never drew it on anybody. The probability of this happening
was close to zero! But I was prepared, and that’s what put
me at ease.
Safety of flying: Aviation in general is about154 times safer than
driving a car. Knowing terrorist’s principles, namely that,
after an attack in one area they quickly move into another, makes
it even more safe. Add to this all the precautions that are being
taken right now, I believe flying is the safest it has ever been.
Did you delay taking a trip/vacation? Right now is the time to do
it. Hotel rates are as low as they can get. The deals you can get
to go to Hawaii are amazing!
Basics of preparedness:
Discussions I have had with doctors, police officers, scientists
from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and experts on Gulf
War toxins contributed to this list of basic supplies and Do’s
and Don’ts.
1) Call and write to your Senators and Congressmen, encouraging
them to make smallpox vaccines available to anybody who wants to
take it. THIS IS VERY URGENT! Click on the "Smallpox and Cyanide,
two disasters waiting to happen." If you agree with our thinking
and logic, don’t delay any actions.
Telephone (for both): 202-224-3121
For senators:
Name of Senator
US. Senate
Washington, DC 20510 |
For Members of US Congress:
Name of Congressman/woman
US House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515 |
2) Have the following available in your house:
a) A three to six day supply of water and food. To ensure
that you don’t waste money, stock up on canned foods, sports
and protein drinks, and other foods that you would buy in any event.
Rotate food in order not to waste any.
b) Water filters: Two (about _ gal.) water filtration devices
(like the Brita filters). If you should have to use a questionable
source of water, run it through one filter and then through the
other before using it.
c) Air purifier(s): You can find air purifiers at your local
hardware store or home superstore; the best combine electronic and
high-efficiency particulate arresting (HEPA) filters. This could
be a life-saver for several situations, from a nuclear event, to
a cyanide or other chemical (Sarin, Tabun) attack.
d) Dietary supplements: Taking B vitamins helps you maintain
your energy levels and manage your stress. Furthermore, whereas
antioxidants such as vitamins C and A, beta-carotene, and the mineral
chromium (which aids blood sugar homeostasis) work particularly
well when taken during the day, vitamin E and the trace mineral
selenium work well when taken at night. Beta-glucan, IP-6, Echinacea,
colostrum, TMG, phycotene and Thymic Protein-A are especially beneficial
for activating immune functions. The friendly microorganism Lactobacillus
acidophilus is used to maintain or repair the gastrointestinal balance
disrupted by many poisons. Plant extracts such as olive leaf , oregano,
and cat’s claw have antiviral characteristics. In addition,
taking enzymes on an empty stomach helps enhance your body’s
defenses and deactivate certain offensive microbes.
e) Antibiotics. Even though some experts suggest having a
two-week supply of antibiotics like Cipro, Doxycycline, or Levaquin
and carrying a two-day supply wherever you go, this may not be necessary.
Even though, if you need to take antibiotics, you will have to take
them for two months, the Government has recognized the potential
of this threat and already accumulated large stores of antibiotics
in every city. So, having a small supply available is just playing
it safe. Also, antibiotics should NOT be taken preventively (lots
of possible negative effects), and should ONLY be taken when advised
to do so by a health professional. If a biological attack occurred
where antibiotics are effective - - and even if you were exposed
- - taking the antibiotics two or three days after exposure will
still protect you.
f) Detoxification supplement: Niacin-based detoxification
was very helpful in Russia after the Chernobyl accident. If close
to a source of nuclear radiation, or downwind from one, (i.e., the
wind blows from the affected area towards you), immediately start
a niacin-based detoxification program to help eliminate any radioactive
pollutants from your body. Most importantly, don’t go outside.
If you are not used to taking larger amounts of niacin (makes your
skin flush, very uncomfortable), take a detox supplement that contains
non-flushing niacin, like the CAA-11 detox formula by Gero-Vita.
Detoxing (combining the supplement with sweating) will help to remove
toxic chemicals from the body, which everybody should do anyway.
(www.journaloflongevity.com/JOLWeb/Archives/02February2001/toxins.html).
g) Gas mask: A truly effective device - - - if you had it
available right when you’d need it. "You’d have to
carry this thing around with you wherever you go. How would you
know when to put it on? By the time you become aware of a risk,
you’d probably have inhaled enough of the poison," is
what you hear from people who advise against buying one. Several
years ago terrorists used Sarin gas in a subway in Japan, trying
to kill thousands. Actually only 12 got killed. Some of those people
– unable to get out of the subway quickly – could have
benefited from a gas mask.
But then I saw an example of true preparedness that really made
me think: On a TV show about terrorism in Israel they showed people
at a concert hall, all dressed up in black suits and evening gowns.
The concert was interrupted because there was a chemical poison
alert. Everybody stayed calm. People reached under their seats,
produced gas masks, and put them on; what a strange sight! When
the alert was canceled, everybody put away their gas masks and the
concert resumed. The next day I ordered a few military surplus gas
masks from a catalogue; $ 12.95 each. I keep two in my house, two
in my car, and two at work. The probability that I’d ever need
them is extremely low, but my mind is surely more at ease. When
in doubt, if the air does not appear safe to breathe, you could
also use breathing equipment (often used by people with breathing
problems), or devices like scuba breathing gear.
h) A battery-operated radio.
i) Duct tape.
j) Potassium iodide pills ( in case of nuclear incident near
you; only take when advised by health authorities, and only in amounts
recommended by the FDA; listen to radio). If advised to take those
pills, you’ll be advised to take one 130 mg tablet/day (or
two 65-mg tablets) for adults (18 and older), one half 130-mg tablet/day
(or one 65-mg tablet) for people age 3 through 18, and proportionately
less for younger children and babies. Check out the potassium-iodide
fact sheet at "purchase potassium iodide," and keep a
copy with the potassium iodide pills. Divide the pill content of
one bottle into several equal amounts, put them (together with a
drying agent) in bottles with CRC (child resistant caps), label
them, and keep them in the various places where you spend large
fractions of your daily time, like home, car, at work, weekend home,
travel kit, others.
What to do and Not to do
If you are in an affected area, tune in to emergency radio or television
stations. Find out whether the attack was biological, chemical or
nuclear; where it occurred; how far you are from it, and whether
or not you are downwind from it. If not in or near a hot zone, just
go about your business. Don’t crawl into a hole. That’s
what the terrorists want you to do.
If you are at your home, or wherever you are when you hear about
a terrorist attack, AND IF YOU ARE CLOSE TO, OR IN A HOT ZONE,
immediately turn off any air system that takes in outside air. Close
all windows, button up, and do anything to reduce outside air intake.
Seal cracks on doors or windows with duct tape. Immediately turn
on an air-purifier.
If an incident occurred, and if you have been exposed to any questionable
pollution or dust, or you just moved through a potential hot-zone,
discard all your clothing, and take a very thorough shower (best
with a friend, to take your mind off things, and to reduce stress).
Since we don’t have any detection devices that alert us to
a possible chemical attack, and especially which one, this involves
a lot of guess-work.
If you are in a highly populated area, out in the open, and suddenly
see people clutching their throats, choking, falling down, spasmic,
you most likely have a poison gas attack. Besides doning a gas mask,
and quickly, the only real thing you can try to do is to hold your
breath, run into the wind (if you can quickly determine that), and
get inside a building. And ten hope that somebody (or you) recognizes
the situation and turns off any outside air intake. The two most
likely possibilities are a nerve gas (Sarin, Tabun), or HCN (cyanic
acid).
In the military, in order to counter a possible poison attack (as
with an organo-phosphorus poison like Sarin or Tabun), soldiers
are often issued, along with gas masks, a ready-for-self-injection
syringe containing Atropine (counteracts some of the effects of
such poisons). You give yourself the shot, right through the clothing,
and stick the used syringe on your lapel so that emergency crews
(doctors) will know that you have taken atropine.
If, under similar abnormal conditions, there is a strong smell of
almonds of almonds, it’s most likely a cyanide (hydrocyanic
acid) attack. This type of poison gas is most effective in closed
areas; wind will dilute it and reduce it’s effectiveness. It
requires warm temperature because HCN’s boiling point is around
78 depgrees F. Therefore HCN may deposit on your body as an oily
film, easily absorbed into the body. Washing it off with lots of
water should be done immediately. As a matter of fact, because HCN
is very soluble in water, diving into a shower would be the best
defense; the shower water washes it right out of the air. For more
details about a possible cyanide attack, click on "Smallpox
and Cyanide, two disasters waiting to happen."
Don’t cancel any travel (or other) plans you have. That’s
what they want! Show defiance! Make more travel plans! Double your
business efforts! Get involved to fight back! "Now I’ll
really fight back." Offer to work some overtime and donate
the extra money to victims in affected areas. Just ask yourself
this: "What do the terrorists want us to do?" - - - AND
THEN JUST DO THE OPPOSITE.
Need to understand more about terrorism and how it works: check
out "Are we sleepwalking to the terrorists’ drumbeat right
into self-destruction", posted on this site and elsewhere.
If you have any questions about toxins/biological agents, go to
www.immed.org by prof. Garth Nicolson, formerly Chairman of the
MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, expert on Gulf War
biological agents.
If you are trying to understand "WHY THEY HATE US,"
read NEWSWEEK, October 15, 2001.
In closing I would like to state again, (previously transmitted
to Washington authorities): namely that what worries me - - WHAT
WORRIES ME TREMENDOUSLY - - is that needed actions move along
too slow, like molasses, bogged down by bureaucratic pencil-pushing,
WHILE SUCH KEY ACTIONS SHOULD REALLY BE TAKEN WITH LIGHTENING SPEED.
Does it really need a successful second attack by the terrorists
to get things moving?
The major reason, as I see it, is that our Washington Government
representatives have little or no knowledge what terrorism is really
about.
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