Harlan Ullman : The Voice of Reason

Harlan Ullman famous for his theories of Shock and Awe and enthusiastic customer of the louche and loose ladies of Madame Palfrey has contributed the UPI.com - Emerging Threats - Outside View: To the shores of Tripoli

Should al-Qaida decide that the oceans provide the means to turn ships into the equivalent of civilian airliners made into bombers on Sept. 11, 2001, one attack would be all that it might take to shut down a major port or impose huge damage. The prospect of a 300,000-deadweight-ton supertanker or container ship hurtling at 30 knots into a major port and then ramming into major structures such as New York City's Battery or the George Washington Bridge is a real nightmare scenario.

And if that ship were carrying 30,000 tons of liquid gas or another product that could be turned into an explosive, such as grain, the result could have the force of the nuclear weapons that demolished Hiroshima and Nagasaki. That would be an attack that surely would surpass Sept. 11 by any means of reckoning.

Now that really will give us all sleepless nights.

For more background on Mr Ullman's activities in Pakistan see post Saturday, December 20, 2008 Whoremonger Harlan Ullman brings more Shock 'n' Awe to Islamabad with Hilary Sinnott.