TVSquad

Several weapons experts told USA Today that a key story line in this season's 24 -- that terrorists have suitcase nuclear weapons -- is, as one arms control expert said, "so highly unlikely as to be approaching fantasy."

Despite pouring cold water all over a pivotal 24 plot point, they said there's more of a danger posed by the potential release of dirty bombs, adding that there have been legitimate concerns expressed about the custody of post-Soviet era nuclear materials that could be used in dirty bombs.

This season's 24 features a former Russian general, with access to Russian suitcase nukes that were slated for decommissioning, working with Islamic terrorists to detonate the weapons in the United States. A spokesman from a California-based non-proliferation studies center said of such a scenario, "God forbid it happens. But no, it's not very likely."

The Drudge Report had a lead story on its web site today citing anonymous sources who say that this season's 24 story line may involve the detonation of nuclear weapons. (Wait a second, didn't we already have a nuke detonation?)

Drudge, noting that a recent, real-life CIA report had "outlined a scenario of [a] possible 'series of explosions using low charge nuclear weapons,'" said that Fox studio sources want to push the nuclear story line in order to wake up the U.S. populace to the real dangers of terrorists setting off nuclear bombs