Sitting Ducks?

" The 2003 arrest of 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed mark one of the most important breakthroughs in the fight against Al Qaeda. Interrogators later uncovered even more about the terrorist groups plans to attack the US including. A scheme to fly commercial planes into nuclear power plants. But could the terrorists have pulled it off. Corespondent Julie Banderas examines the question and tonight's America's future report."

" Reports of sleeping security guards siren system failures and concern about. Pilots crashing planes into reactors -- sensational headlines after nine elevenths. Prompting many to call for several of our nation's 104 commercial nuclear power plants to be closed. Take the Indian point power plant for example it's just 35 miles from Manhattan and a possible intended target for the 9/11 hijackers. So what are the chances of terrorist. Crashing jetliner into this power plant and four others across the country and should nuclear power plants near metropolitan areas be shut down."

" If if I were god I would shut down Indian point I don't think that. That terrorists are going to go after a plant in the middle of Minnesota. But I do think they would go after one at war within here and nuclear -- you know under the area population center."

" Peter Stockton is a senior investigator with the project on government oversight group. And began investigating security at the nation's nuclear power plants after 9/11."

" The bad guys can either hit it with a platter charge you know lower platter chargers shape charitable hole in the bottom of it. Once that happens a water drains and then all of a sudden you have a cesium fire. And which can be deadly downwind I mean it thereby in our season calculations to me it would take out. Probably New York City and about a third of Connecticut -- a quarter of Connecticut may get uninhabitable."

" But studies conducted by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission show the chances of an aerial attack producing a major release of radioactivity. Are low. And the concrete and steel containment you see here would withstand being hit by an airplane."

" We've spent probably well over two billion dollars upgrading things like. Intrusion detection systems vehicle barriers and other protections. Nuclear power plants are the only. Part of the critical infrastructure the only civilian part that actually does force on force exercises. And navy wanted to more important things we've done is we've got a much better integrated response working with the federal local and state officials to protect plants."

" Adding to -- reactors at Indian point for example are below ground level in the building that stands almost 200 feet tall with walls up to four feet thick reinforced with eight rows of overlaps steel bars over three inches thick. Of course no one can guarantee whether -- 9/11 size terrorist force -- targeting US nuclear power plants."

" terrorist. I would tell everybody that I would like to attack nuclear plants I'd like to -- chemical plants water supply systems agricultural products. Because I'm a terrorist I want to terrorize people."

" But the nuclear industry assures the public any terrorists to studies these facilities -- seat they are hardened targets. In New York Julie Banderas Fox News. Federal."