Non-IT News Thread

scottalanmiller

@Kelly said in Non-IT News Thread:

@coliver said in Non-IT News Thread:

@Kelly said in Non-IT News Thread:

@coliver said in Non-IT News Thread:

@travisdh1 said in Non-IT News Thread:

@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:

@travisdh1 said in Non-IT News Thread:

@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:

US just dropped the third largest bomb (not including tests of course) ever.

The MOAB?

Yes

Aren't those supposed to be more destructive than the nukes the USA used in WWII? Less radiation, but still.

Not that I'm aware of. They are still conventional, although very powerful. The issue I see here is that this is an airbust bomb against a cave. It's not really what it was designed for. I guess show of force?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GBU-43/B_Massive_Ordnance_Air_Blast

That is the only thing I can think of, but it doesn't really seem effective if your "shock and awe" doesn't really do anything than shake the ground.

Right, there is speculation that this was in reaction to a soldier that was recently killed? But that's only speculation. My guess is a show of force. "We have this and we're not afraid to use it!" mentality.

I work with the government. If a top general had to request the use of this bomb, I find it hard to believe they were able to get it approved and deployed that quickly.

Don't these have to be dropped by a C-130?

No, they are designed for that, but it is one of a few potential deployment vehicles.

Kelly

@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:

@Kelly said in Non-IT News Thread:

@coliver said in Non-IT News Thread:

@Kelly said in Non-IT News Thread:

@coliver said in Non-IT News Thread:

@travisdh1 said in Non-IT News Thread:

@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:

@travisdh1 said in Non-IT News Thread:

@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:

US just dropped the third largest bomb (not including tests of course) ever.

The MOAB?

Yes

Aren't those supposed to be more destructive than the nukes the USA used in WWII? Less radiation, but still.

Not that I'm aware of. They are still conventional, although very powerful. The issue I see here is that this is an airbust bomb against a cave. It's not really what it was designed for. I guess show of force?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GBU-43/B_Massive_Ordnance_Air_Blast

That is the only thing I can think of, but it doesn't really seem effective if your "shock and awe" doesn't really do anything than shake the ground.

Right, there is speculation that this was in reaction to a soldier that was recently killed? But that's only speculation. My guess is a show of force. "We have this and we're not afraid to use it!" mentality.

I work with the government. If a top general had to request the use of this bomb, I find it hard to believe they were able to get it approved and deployed that quickly.

Was that in one of the articles? My guess is that a top general was told to deploy it, not that he requested to use it. But those bombs are, TTBOMK, only assigned to the Air Force, so no general could use it except by requesting the Air Force to deploy it.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-drops-mother-of-all-bombs-in-afghanistan-marking-weapons-first-use/

"General John Nicholson, the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, needed permission to use the weapon, but it’s unclear how far up the chain of command his request traveled, CBS News’ David Martin reports."

coliver

@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:

@coliver said in Non-IT News Thread:

@Kelly said in Non-IT News Thread:

@coliver said in Non-IT News Thread:

@Kelly said in Non-IT News Thread:

@coliver said in Non-IT News Thread:

@travisdh1 said in Non-IT News Thread:

@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:

@travisdh1 said in Non-IT News Thread:

@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:

US just dropped the third largest bomb (not including tests of course) ever.

The MOAB?

Yes

Aren't those supposed to be more destructive than the nukes the USA used in WWII? Less radiation, but still.

Not that I'm aware of. They are still conventional, although very powerful. The issue I see here is that this is an airbust bomb against a cave. It's not really what it was designed for. I guess show of force?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GBU-43/B_Massive_Ordnance_Air_Blast

That is the only thing I can think of, but it doesn't really seem effective if your "shock and awe" doesn't really do anything than shake the ground.

Right, there is speculation that this was in reaction to a soldier that was recently killed? But that's only speculation. My guess is a show of force. "We have this and we're not afraid to use it!" mentality.

I work with the government. If a top general had to request the use of this bomb, I find it hard to believe they were able to get it approved and deployed that quickly.

Don't these have to be dropped by a C-130?

No, they are designed for that, but it is one of a few potential deployment vehicles.

Right, it was dropped from an MC-130.

coliver

And The Onion, as usual, is right on top of it.

http://www.theonion.com/graphic/new-bomb-capable-of-creating-1500-new-terrorists-i-8778?

scottalanmiller

@Kelly said in Non-IT News Thread:

@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:

@Kelly said in Non-IT News Thread:

@coliver said in Non-IT News Thread:

@Kelly said in Non-IT News Thread:

@coliver said in Non-IT News Thread:

@travisdh1 said in Non-IT News Thread:

@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:

@travisdh1 said in Non-IT News Thread:

@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:

US just dropped the third largest bomb (not including tests of course) ever.

The MOAB?

Yes

Aren't those supposed to be more destructive than the nukes the USA used in WWII? Less radiation, but still.

Not that I'm aware of. They are still conventional, although very powerful. The issue I see here is that this is an airbust bomb against a cave. It's not really what it was designed for. I guess show of force?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GBU-43/B_Massive_Ordnance_Air_Blast

That is the only thing I can think of, but it doesn't really seem effective if your "shock and awe" doesn't really do anything than shake the ground.

Right, there is speculation that this was in reaction to a soldier that was recently killed? But that's only speculation. My guess is a show of force. "We have this and we're not afraid to use it!" mentality.

I work with the government. If a top general had to request the use of this bomb, I find it hard to believe they were able to get it approved and deployed that quickly.

Was that in one of the articles? My guess is that a top general was told to deploy it, not that he requested to use it. But those bombs are, TTBOMK, only assigned to the Air Force, so no general could use it except by requesting the Air Force to deploy it.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-drops-mother-of-all-bombs-in-afghanistan-marking-weapons-first-use/

"General John Nicholson, the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, needed permission to use the weapon, but it’s unclear how far up the chain of command his request traveled, CBS News’ David Martin reports."

Gotcha, maybe he needed permission from the USAF.

Texkonc

@coliver said in Non-IT News Thread:

@travisdh1 said in Non-IT News Thread:

@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:

@travisdh1 said in Non-IT News Thread:

@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:

US just dropped the third largest bomb (not including tests of course) ever.

The MOAB?

Yes

Aren't those supposed to be more destructive than the nukes the USA used in WWII? Less radiation, but still.

Not that I'm aware of. They are still conventional, although very powerful. The issue I see here is that this is an airbust bomb against a cave. It's not really what it was designed for. I guess show of force?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GBU-43/B_Massive_Ordnance_Air_Blast

Wikipedia has already been updated for today's drop.

scottalanmiller

@Texkonc said in Non-IT News Thread:

@coliver said in Non-IT News Thread:

@travisdh1 said in Non-IT News Thread:

@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:

@travisdh1 said in Non-IT News Thread:

@scottalanmiller said in Non-IT News Thread:

US just dropped the third largest bomb (not including tests of course) ever.

The MOAB?

Yes

Aren't those supposed to be more destructive than the nukes the USA used in WWII? Less radiation, but still.

Not that I'm aware of. They are still conventional, although very powerful. The issue I see here is that this is an airbust bomb against a cave. It's not really what it was designed for. I guess show of force?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GBU-43/B_Massive_Ordnance_Air_Blast

Wikipedia has already been updated for today's drop.