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2009-08-03 Science & Technology
Pentagon eyes accelerated "bunker buster" bomb
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Posted by GolfBravoUSMC 2009-08-03 04:54|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [11130 views ]  Top

#1 BIGGEST BOMB

I thought that was Ishtar with Warren Beatty.
Posted by GORT 2009-08-03 07:20||   2009-08-03 07:20|| Front Page Top

#2 The WW" Grand Slam is bigger than the MOAB.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Slam_bomb
Posted by Bright Pebbles 2009-08-03 07:59||   2009-08-03 07:59|| Front Page Top

#3 Bomb could be ready for B-2 bomber by July 2010

...IF the B-2 is still there. You'd be surprised how fast a plane can be decommissioned....

Mike
Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2009-08-03 09:03||   2009-08-03 09:03|| Front Page Top

#4 
Posted by GolfBravoUSMC 2009-08-03 09:36||   2009-08-03 09:36|| Front Page Top

#5 Heavy. 21,000-pound (9.5 million kg)

(9.5 million kg = 20'900'000 lbs)
Posted by Willy 2009-08-03 11:33||   2009-08-03 11:33|| Front Page Top

#6 "Both the U.S. Pacific Command, which takes the lead in U.S. military planning for North Korea, and the Central Command, which prepares for contingencies with Iran, appeared to be backing the acceleration request, said Kenneth Katzman, an expert on Iran at the Congressional Research Service, the research arm of Congress"

this could also be a message to Israel, about the importance of patience, at least till July 2010
Posted by liberal hawk 2009-08-03 12:50||   2009-08-03 12:50|| Front Page Top

#7 OKAY LibHawk - What's so special about July 2010?
all midterm primary elections done?
Posted by 3dc 2009-08-03 13:20||   2009-08-03 13:20|| Front Page Top

#8 about that time thingy...
Posted by 3dc 2009-08-03 13:24||   2009-08-03 13:24|| Front Page Top

#9 So first drop MOAB to clear the surface, then the Bunker Buster to blow up those underground? Or vice versa?
Posted by Lagom 2009-08-03 13:31||   2009-08-03 13:31|| Front Page Top

#10 Chicago-based Boeing, the Pentagon's No. 2 supplier by sales,...

I guess it's a go, then, assuming campaign contribution cheques clear.
Posted by Skunky Glins 5***">Skunky Glins 5***  2009-08-03 14:37||   2009-08-03 14:37|| Front Page Top

#11 Israel does not have any B-2's, and this administration will never bomb Iran. No point waiting, and this bomb would not be required to do it.
Posted by Iblis 2009-08-03 14:47||   2009-08-03 14:47|| Front Page Top

#12 #7

Did you not read the first sentence of the posted item?
Posted by liberal hawk 2009-08-03 15:24||   2009-08-03 15:24|| Front Page Top

#13 3dc, the most recent message to Israel -- and Iran -- was that America's deadline for Iran to discontinue working toward a nuclear weapon is November, 2009. So the July, 2010 deadline is an eight-month move in the wrong direction, as far as Israel's needs are concerned.
Posted by trailing wife">trailing wife  2009-08-03 16:28||   2009-08-03 16:28|| Front Page Top

#14 TW - the Nov 2009 deadline is for a switch from engagement to sanctions. IE a return to the pre January 2009 glide path. That glide path had to move through a sanctions/coalition building phase before military action.

and this administration will never bomb Iran

I cant say whether that is true or not. The point is though, if you are Khameni, are you willing to base a position on the idea that there is a Zero chance of that attack happening. Certainly one of the more prominent rationales presented for NOT attacking has been the technical infeasibility. To announce this new bomb, and its expected data, cant be reassuring in Teheran.
Posted by liberal hawk 2009-08-03 16:34||   2009-08-03 16:34|| Front Page Top

#15 LiberalHawk..
I know it's not PC to say so... but we do have stuff in our bag of tricks that does a lot more than this conventional bomb....
This is a PC answer of sorts.
Posted by 3dc 2009-08-03 17:19||   2009-08-03 17:19|| Front Page Top

#16 LH:

Your first post suggested this announcement was directed toward Israel. Now you argue it is directed toward Iran. Fine. I'll play along.

If this is directed to Iran, it is weak tea indeed. You don't fear the gun. You fear the man holding it, and Iran has nothing to fear from this administration. The world press has already picked up on Bammo's foreign policy weakness. It's no secret. No one could believe for an instant that a pretty new bomb would suddenly cause Bammo to grow a pair.

Further to this point, an attack by Israel may be enhanced by a better bunker buster, as they would only get one shot at hitting all their targets. An attack by the US would be from closer range, employ significantly more assets and be more sustained. Buried nuclear assets could be targeted in many ways likely to produce better results and which do not require this weapon. It is not a game changer, as Iran no doubt understands.
Posted by Iblis 2009-08-03 17:45||   2009-08-03 17:45|| Front Page Top

#17 TW - the Nov 2009 deadline is for a switch from engagement to sanctions. IE a return to the pre January 2009 glide path. That glide path had to move through a sanctions/coalition building phase before military action.

True, liberal hawk. But from Israel's perspective, to interrupt engagement with violence against the engagee risks rupture with the US in a way that interrupting the glidepath does not. I don't think PM Netanyahu is likely to wait until next July -- or that indeterminate later time when President Obama or his successor decides to sell them to Israel -- to deal with Iran's little nuclear device production problem.
Posted by trailing wife">trailing wife  2009-08-03 23:04||   2009-08-03 23:04|| Front Page Top

23:25 tu3031
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