Clyde Burleson

 

Clyde W. Burleson, son of an Army officer, was born at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Living on-station with his parents, he attended school in various parts of the United States and in Asia.

On completion of his studies at the University of North Carolina, he flew in the U.S. Air Force and returned to Texas after release from active duty.

Entering business, he was a founding partner and president of an advertising agency which grew to be one of the largest in the Southwest. After selling his firm to The InterPublic Group of Companies, then the world's biggest advertising agency organization, he served as president of their Marschalk Houston division.

Active in the community, he has been a director of several organizations including the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, the Memorial Park Conservancy, and the Houston Area Urban League.

Burleson is a marketing consultant and writer. He has authored fifteen published books and novels. His work has been produced as specials for Showtime, Discovery Channel, and the History Channel. Currently, he has had screen treatments optioned for a major motion picture and made-for-TV movies. He is a member of the Authors Guild, Mystery Writers of America, and the American Academy for the Advancement of Science, along with other organizations. His interests include running, travel, and Mayan archaeology. Visit Clyde online at http://www.clydewburleson.com

 

 

PageOneLit.com:  Where did you grow up and was reading and writing a part of your life? Who were your earliest influences and why?

Clyde Burleson: I was born at Ft. Sam Houston, a U.S. Army Post in San Antonio, Texas. As the son of an Army officer, I lived in a number of different places, including time in various far eastern locations. So I attended a variety of schools. Television did not exist. Radio dramas and reading were major entertainments.

 

 

PageOneLit.com:  Why did you write Nuclear Afternoon: True Stories of Atomic Disasters?

Clyde Burleson: Our society depends upon energy for its existence. The major source of that energy has been produced by burning fossil fuels. When the price of these fuel stocks was low, interest in a nuclear alternative was low. Now that fuel stock prices are attaining all time highs, atomic energy is an economically viable alternative. We are therefore in a period of nuclear resurgence. After years of no new domestic nuclear power plant construction, several units are through the permitting stage and will be built. Other countries are establishing additional facilities and many of these are located in third world nations. The technology of using atomic energy to generate electricity has been refined to the point where many believe today’s nuclear reactors are totally safe. Hubris can be a dangerous condition. So it is good sense to examine past mistakes that have lead to nuclear disasters and try to learn from those errors.

 

 

PageOneLit.com:  How much time and research went into writing Nuclear Afternoon: True Stories of Atomic Disasters?

Clyde Burleson: Several years.

 

PageOneLit.com: "Nuclear Afternoon: True Stories of Atomic Disasters" is a powerful book based on three significant observations, First, our knowledge of the atom was not as complete as our experts believed. Second, any complex system cannot be deemed failure-proof. Third, release of radioactive materials into the atmosphere - Please elaborate on each of these.

Clyde Burleson: On December 2, 1945, scientists conducted the "Trinity Test" and detonated the world's first nuclear explosion. Hardly six years later, in 1951, the first reactor used heat produced by controlled nuclear fission to generate electricity. Thirty months after that, the Russians opened the first nuclear power station. And by 1956, the British Calder Hall facility came online and delivered commercial amounts of electricity into that nation's energy grid.
So within a short period of time nuclear power went from theory to reality. And we had the world's first nuclear disasters. These events include the Soviet mishaps which rank among the worst manmade calamities in human history. This was followed by the British Windscale accident that poisoned crops and livestock in several countries.
Those two occurrences, along with more than a dozen others, happened because we simply did not know enough about dealing with nuclear energy to prevent them. Our understanding has advanced since then. But who can say there are no more "knowledge gaps" like those which led to past disasters. As with many technologies, the old adage, You don't know what you don't know until something happens and you find out," is very apt.
The second premise, that no highly complex electro-mechanical system can be deemed failure-proof, hinges on two facts. First, breakdowns occur in even the simplest systems. Added complexity, including redundant backups, produces additional opportunities for failures. No engineering analysis can determine every possible deficiency or anticipate every potential malfunction. Second, the weakest link in many cases has proven to be the personnel operating the system. So because of human error and design limitations, a failure-proof system does not exist.
 

 

PageOneLit.com:  In “Nuclear Afternoon: True Stories of Atomic Disasters” you have a chapter titled ‘Skyjacking’ in regard to commercial airliners used to hit vulnerable American targets --- Do you believe there was a nuclear plant targeted on 9-11 that was not accomplished? Explain your opinion and perspective. Why were large office towers/buildings hit rather than a nuclear power plant?

Clyde Burleson: I have no reason to believe a nuclear plant was an intended target for the 9-11 terrorists. To me, the targets were selected because they were seen as American icons. In a very real sense, destroying the icon was destroying America and would be seen so in the Moslem world. A successful crash into the Indian River nuclear plant, which is less than 50 miles from Central Park on Manhattan Island, would have resulted in a disaster of a magnitude that is difficult to even contemplate. It therefore seems possible that a future attack of the same nature, with the goal of terrorizing the populace, could well be directed toward a nuclear installation.

 

 

PageOneLit.com:  In “Nuclear Afternoon: True Stories of Atomic Disasters” you discuss and explain that plutonium and enriched uranium have been stolen from nuclear processing plants in the United States -- In your opinion why is this happening? Is our security that penetrable? What can/should be done about this?

Clyde Burleson: As outlined in the book, there are a number of causes for missing and/or unaccounted for radioactive materials. The calculations for through-put in the manufacturing process are partially responsible. There is also good evidence that some unaccounted for materials were secretly diverted to friendly nations in support of their atomic goals.

Has material been stolen? Theft is easier to contemplate than accomplish. Can it be done? Yes, it can. Has it been done? In the first two decades of our nuclear age, this is a strong possibility.

Currently, though, experience has allowed the development of more stringent procedures and techniques for measuring losses due to processing. And improved security has reduced the threat of theft.

 

 

PageOneLit.com:  How many countries do you believe have nuclear capabilities right now? Please list the countries and the dangers and responsibilities that each has in a world perspective.

Clyde Burleson:  In the late 1940s, only the United States had an atomic weapon and the ability to harness the atom for peaceful uses. In the 1950s, two other countries joined the band of nuclear sisters. Then, in the 1960s, several more gained the necessary technology. Today, many nations have, or will shortly have, some form of atomic explosive device. The U.S., Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Israel, South Africa, Taiwan, and Pakistan have weapons stockpiled. Australia, Belgium, Canada, Italy, Japan, and West Germany possess a nuclear weapons capability but so far have no pressing need to manufacture one. North Korea claims to have exploded a nuclear device. Iran is in the headlines for its efforts toward the same goal. Worldwide, more than 40 nations can produce some form of nuclear fuel, which is an early step in weapons development.

It is difficult to predict the dangers inherent in this situation—especially when atomic warheads range in capability from small tactical projectiles to devastating strategic weaponry. Based on past history, however, it is a safe assumption that the greater the weapons proliferation, the greater the chance of one being used.

 

PageOneLit.com:  What did you learn from writing “Nuclear Afternoon: True Stories of Atomic Disasters”? What do we need to do? What actions need to be taken immediately?

Clyde Burleson: The book’s message can be summed up in a single statement: Our greatest danger from nuclear energy is complacency. If we press forward with a doing-business-as-usual, atomic-power-is-as-safe-as-a-powder-puff attitude, we are courting disaster.

The atom has a place in our society, and the generation of electricity through the use of nuclear energy is going to become far more widespread in the next decade. More plants, and the disposal needs of those plants, intensify the need for improved operating procedures, proper training for all personnel, and heightened plant security.

While the safety record of the nuclear power industry is commendable, accidents have happened. Learning from past mistakes by reviewing the causes of those accidents is a crucial step in preventing future mishaps.

New types of reactors that promise even safer operations are on the horizon. But we must be careful as we embrace these fresh technologies to make certain we do not allow our caution to be diminished.

The benefits of atomic power are myriad. The dangers from this source of energy are real but manageable if we, as a society, and those who design as well as operate the facilities do not become complacent.

 

 

PageOneLit.com:  How has your life changed since writing “Nuclear Afternoon: True Stories of Atomic Disasters”?

Clyde Burleson: It has not changed.

 

 

PageOneLit.com:  What’s next?  

Clyde Burleson: I’m working on a new novel. One of the possible plots deals with nuclear fusion, that safer cousin to nuclear fission.

 

 

PageOneLit.com:  What was the last book you read?

Clyde Burleson: Short Straw by Stuart Woods. Woods is a master at creating and developing characters.

 

PageOneLit.com:  Do you have any hobbies? What are they? How do they enhance your writing?

Clyde Burleson: I’m a jogger. My interests lie in Mayan archeology, marketing, music, and travel. I’ve got a great wife, who is my editor and a fine photographer. We have one son and a neat daughter-in-law. Every new experience adds to my writing ability.