XPost: uk.politics.misc, uk.legal, alt.politics.uk   
   From: nedlatham@woden.valhalla.oz   
      
   Nightjar wrote:   
   > Ned Latham wrote:   
   > > Nightjar wrote:   
   > > > Ned Latham wrote:   
   > > > ....   
   > > > > Supposedly, MOAB is an acronym, standing for   
   > > > > "Massive Ordinace Air Blast".   
   > > >   
   > > > Which is what the weapon is. There is discussion over which is the best   
   > > > way to deal with a cave system - an air blast weapon, blanket bombing,   
   > > > or guided bunker buster bombs. However, if you want to give POTUS a   
   > > > publicity opportunity, choose the MOAB, which has never been used in   
   > > > action before.   
   > >   
   > > Nowhere near massive enough to be effective as an air blast weapon   
   > > against underground assets that are anything like well built. That's   
   > > why the Tallboy and Grand Slam were designed to penetrate deep into   
   > > the ground before exploding. It causes a local earthquake.   
   > >   
   > > A big enough air blast will punch a cavern flat if it and the target   
   > > are both near enough to ground zero, but the power required is   
   > > disproportionate: with all but nuclear weapons, the target needs   
   > > to be only a few tens of metres away, because the blast deflects   
   > > along the ground. As I said, a gas bomb delivers much more bang for   
   > > the buck (as an air blast weapon).   
   > >   
   > > MOAB is a misnomer. It should be called what it is. Maybe then it   
   > > would get used correctly.   
   >   
   > I think you are missing my point. The weapon was almost certainly chosen   
   > not for its effectiveness, but for its publicity value. Donald Trump is   
   > sending a message both to the world and to his supporters.   
      
   Mmm, okay. Point taken. I remain surprised that a target more in   
   keeping wuth the bomb's nature wasn't selected, but then I don't   
   even know whether there *is* one in Aghanistan.   
      
   Ned   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)