Theory Based Scenario #2

 Caution: While the likelihood of this event is statistically improbable, it might create a pause in thought.

As preppers, we try to image all kinds of things that can go wrong, and how to plan for them. Most people would consider this a negative mental exercise, but it doesn't affect my mental outlook or attitude, so I continue to make relationships and links between seemingly uncommon things or situations. Some of these scenarios can produce humorous outcomes, or provoke serious thought. While it is a never ending list, at least it's a way to pass the time while trying to keep the mind occupied.

The last one that I wrote about linked the climate change, and the huge Mountain House order by the government along with the government's ammo purchase. I'll go back and relabel it as a Theory Based Scenario, and will probably make this a common randomly posted subject. So, we'll begin with this fictional theory post.

I'm hoping that most of my readers remember the missing truck in Mexico that had the radioactive payload  [link provided].  The Cobalt-60 is a radioactive isotope that can release high-energy gamma radiation. While the beta energy from this isotope is easily offset by low level shielding, the higher energy can be devastating to humans. This is a very penetrating 1.3 MeV energy isotope [enough energy to cause pair production reactions in human cells]. The half life is 5.2 years, and would render the fallout area generally uninhabitable for this amount of time. In other words, an effective dirty bomb material candidate.

It is also known that the Mexican cartels employs military personnel to control their territories, combat Mexican army units, and expand territory from other cartels. It is also known that the cartels have enough cash to purchase equipment that is superior to the official government equipment, and enough money to pay their employees better as well. Another safe deduction is that the ex-military training would involve nuclear weapon handling, and explosive devices. One can safely deduce that any Narco group to be in possession of a working dirty bomb could have an extremely advantageous bargaining position against the official Mexican Army and competing cartels.

While this poses no threats to the gringo population, unless it is detonated in the United States, it could create a few crisis conditions in the United States. It has long been known that Islamic terrorists have been trying to acquire nuclear material to detonate in the United States. Thus, a declining cartel could very well be persuaded to use their "Last Stand Weapon" either in the US or Mexico. It would be pure political suicide to use it. It might just be a case of the spoiled kid that knocks over the game board when it becomes obvious that he/she is gonna lose.

The economic impact would be huge if commerce was disrupted [link for further data]  between our two countries. The possible influx of illegal immigration into the Reconquista areas of the United States could also create added racial tension, and other cultural blow backs. The increase in crude prices that would ripple through the US economy would probably be the biggest negative impact on the typical American.

I really enjoyed the feedback from my fellow bloggers, and back and forth dialogue. I'll open up the feedback portion of the post with a  few starter questions:
How could you prepare for this event?
Additional random comments?
Do you like these type of posts, and would you enjoy more of these?

Keep Right On Prepping - K