Pentagon preparing for a nuclear worst-case scenario at Fukushima

[1776Forever]

Source: Stars and Stripes

Pentagon preparing for a nuclear worst-case scenario at Fukushima
By Chris Carroll
Stars and Stripes
Published: March 16, 2011

WASHINGTON — If the deteriorating situation at a Japanese nuclear plant veers toward a worst-case meltdown scenario, people across the country — including 86,000 American servicemembers, civilian employees and their dependents — could face an unprecedented atomic disaster.

The Pentagon on Wednesday began laying out precautions to keep troops safe, announcing a 50-mile no-go zone around the unstable Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear complex that is wider than the official Japanese evacuation zone. The U.S. Embassy in Japan told American citizens within 50 miles of the plant to evacuate if possible or stay indoors.

Meanwhile, military doctors began advising U.S. air crews flying rescue missions within 80 miles of the stricken complex to take potassium iodide tablets to combat harmful radiation effects. Already, troops on some bases in Japan and aboard ships offshore — including two air crew members on the USS Ronald Reagan who had to take iodide tablets Tuesday — have been exposed to radiation from the nuclear plants, although at levels not believed high enough to pose a serious risk.



Read more: http://www.stripes.com/news/http-www-stripes-com-news-pentagon-preparing-for-a-nuclear-worst-case-scenario-at-fukushima-1-1379-1.137969

[wtmusic]

1. The "worst cases" keep getting worser. nt

[CountAllVotes]

2. If the Pentagon is worried

You too better be very very worried! :scared:

:kick: & recommend.

[jeff47]

11. It's the pentagon. Their job is to be worried about everything

I'm sure there's contingency plans somewhere in the Pentagon to defend against an invasion from Canada.

They make plans for everything, so that they're not caught flat footed. Making plans here is not and indication that they are worried. Worried would be if they started re-basing the 7th fleet.

[SheilaT]

3. Actually, if the Pentagon is just now finally noticing

what's going on there, I feel somewhat reassured.

[JJW]

4. How about a round of golf or some b-ball?

[Peace Patriot]

5. How appropriate that the USS Ronnie Ray-gun is the responding ship. nt

[piedmont]

6. Not nearly as ironic as would be the USS Harry S, Truman. nt

[Night Crawler]

7. Odd, you have an FDR quote in your sig line

and yet he green lighted the atomic bomb that Truman later used on Japan.

[AtheistCrusader]

8. Technically the USS George Washington was there first.

Being in Yokosuka and all.

[musiclawyer]

9. Why do we have warriors in Japan ,

period ? To do humanitarian aid ? Hella expensive way to accomplish that .

[Aerows]

10. ABC news says it is okay.

.Well except for the part where it exploded and caught fire.

[nc4bo]

12. Our President says no big deal...

well sorta. It's actually an unfortunate occurrence requiring sympathy.