Experts Say Suitcase Nukes Likely A Myth

Sunday, November 11th 2007, 2:47 pm

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Hollywood has made movies and TV shows about them. And the government has issued warnings about them. But experts say the threat of suitcase nuclear weapons is probably a myth.

The U.S. developed a backpack nuke in the 1950s and 60s, and later questioned Russia on whether it had such devices.

But now experts say a true suitcase nuke would be too expensive to produce, too heavy to lug around and too dangerous to last.

Still, intelligence officials aren't ready to dismiss the possibility. One official says the U.S. still isn't 100% sure it has a handle on the Russian arsenal.

One expert says a bigger threat would be an improvised device made by a terrorist cell. But Laura Holgate of the Nuclear Threat Initiative says it would be way bigger than a suitcase, more like an SUV.