hot document: Primary sources exposed and explained.

A Car-Bomb Primer

hot document
entries
123456
from: Bonnie Goldstein

Posted Tuesday, March 25, 2008, at 9:17 AM ET

In December 2005, the U.S. State Department published a color brochure about "vehicular-borne improvised explosive devices" (VBIEDs), or car bombs. The six-page document reported that the VBIED (known as "the poor man's cruise missile") is "far and away the weapon of choice" for terrorist attacks, "especially when operated by a suicide bomber" (see Page 4).

The pamphlet bore the catchy title "When Broken Down Vehicles Go Boom!" (below). It included photos of car-bomb remnants (Pages 2 and 6) and a chart measuring the "typical container" size (e.g., "school box," "small lunch pail," "deluxe special service bag") against the "possible weight of explosive contents" (Page 4). Conclusion: "Concealing a 200-500-pound bomb in a sedan is relatively easy." VBIEDs are also the most likely devices "to cause mass casualties," because of flying glass and structural collapse, but "healthy individuals can withstand blast forces" (Pages 4-5). Though a 500-pound car bomb "will demolish buildings well beyond a hundred feet," an exposed person "out in the open" will likely only "suffer eardrum rupture" (Page 5). Security-coded "sensitive but unclassified," the brochure was intended for security personnel who protect members of the diplomatic services and U.S. contractors overseas. Don't miss the anarchist's recipe book of explosives (Page 4) and the detailed explanation of the three "general methods of detonation" (Pages 5-6).

This document was first disseminated publicly this month by the Web site Wikileaks.

Send Hot Document ideas to . Please indicate whether you wish to remain anonymous.

hot document
entries
123456
from: Bonnie Goldstein

Posted Tuesday, March 25, 2008, at 9:17 AM ET
Print This ArticlePRINTDiscuss this in The FrayDISCUSSEmail to a FriendE-MAIL
Share on FacebookPost to MySpace!Share with MixxDigg ThisShare with RedditShare with del.icio.usShare with FurlShare with Ma.gnolia.comShare with SphereShare with Stumble Upon
Bonnie Goldstein is a former special investigator to the U.S. Senate and investigative producer for ABC News.
Join the Fray: our reader discussion forum
What did you think of this article?
POST A MESSAGE | READ MESSAGES
Washington Post
The Washington Post
OPINIONS
Let the Oil Deals Flow
Raad Alkadiri | Congress should not interfere in the oil industry's contract negotiations with the Iraqi government.