[lbo-talk] the Nuclear Hand Grenade - Review of Imaginary Weapons: at the Bulletin

[Jerry Monaco]

The story of hafnium has all the makings of a good joke were it not
for the historical context in which the events played out. Sharon
Weinberger's Imaginary Weapons is an in-depth exploration of how
various U.S. government agencies were convinced, based on a
combination of discredited theoretical results and a dubious
experiment involving a dental X-ray machine, to spend millions of
dollars to support work on this "nuclear hand grenade." Much of the
action took place against the backdrop of the Iraq War, which
tragically appears to have some common features with the story of
hafnium weapons, namely government self-deception and a willingness to
believe in nonexistent threats.

Indeed, Weinberger succinctly sums up the purpose of her book in the
epilogue: "This book should not be read as a clarion call to rally
forces against fringe science, but rather, a warning that without a
government willing and able to turn to scientific advisers, there is
little chance for sound public policy, particularly in the realms of
national security."

http://www.thebulletin.org/article.php?art_ofn=nd06krauss