This is the second in a many part series based on my article with Peter Zimmerman in Foreign Policy entitled “Bomb in the backyard.” For previous posts click on the phrase terror farm .
I wanted to share my favorite moment from writing “Bomb in the Backyard” (aka Terror Farm).
Our scenario, like the novel Gadget calls for the terrorists to refurbish a recoilless rifle to slam the two masses of uranium together (hence “gun-type” device):
To detonate a nuclear bomb, terrorists do not need to fashion the right type of gun. “Team Gun” would likely consist of three or four people, at least one of whom is familiar with the interior ballistics of guns in the appropriate size range. Their principal task would be to find a surplus artillery piece of the correct size and to build a projectile. Such recoilless rifles are widely available in the United States and Canada as military surplus, though they require a license to purchase. A hobbyist could easily refurbish a recoilless rifle for just a few thousand dollars.
We needed, of course, a proof of principle for this statement.
Enter Destiny Densley.
Yes, that is her real name. In fact, that is a picture of her truck, with a refurbished 57 mm recoilless rifle sitting in the back.
She details the whole process in an online forum titled—what else?—My 57mm Recoilless Rifle Project.
A self-described “little old handicapped Lady in Utah,” Ms. Densley also refurbished a 77 mm recoilless rifle and signs her posts: I’m not really into needlepoint or quilting but I can do a nice Grenade Launcher..
Glad she’s on our side.
Apologies for mispelling Densley and misidentifying her occupation in the Beijing version of the post.