Is Bush Nuking Afghanistan Now?

[Reese]

At 08:53 PM 10/12/01 -0700, Eric Cordian wrote:
 >Reese writes:
 >
 >>> Conventional bunker busters weight 5,000 lbs, and have to be delivered
 >>> by structurally modified B-52s.
 >
 >> The GBU-28 (BLU-113 Penetrator) weighs 4,414 lbs, and can be delivered
 >> by F-15s and F-111s.
 >
 >> http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/smart/gbu-28.htm
 >
 >http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/smart/gbu-28.htm says in part:
 >
 >"The GBU-28 is a 5,000-pound laser-guided conventional munition..."
 >
 >Later in the spec sheet, it cites the size of the bomb as 4,414 lbs.
 >Perhaps the 5,000 lbs was a rough estimate.  Perhaps the spec sheet is in
 >error.
 >
 >Current news stories are referring to it as the <5,000-pound GBU-28
 >"bunker buster" bomb>.

No argument on that.  On the structurally modified B-52 though,,,

 >http://europe.cnn.com/2001/US/10/10/ret.bunker.buster/
 >http://www.canoe.ca/CNEWSAttack011010/10_us-ap.html
 >
 >The B61-11 tactical nuke was a replacement for the B53, an 8,900 lb 9
 >megaton warhead, which could only be delivered by a B52.  I apparently
 >confused this with the B61-11 being an alternative to the GBU-28, which
 >can, as you point out, be delivered by a variety of aircraft.

Ah.  Okay, no worries then.

Reese