Nuclear Dreams: Livermore’s ‘bunker buster’ a line in the political ...

[struggle4progress]

... sand for Bush policy

<snip> In those years, RNEP became a mythology: It’s a lowyield weapon. It is capable of digging 300 meters into rock for lethal but contained blows of little collateral damage. It is capable of destroying weapons of mass destruction deep underground. It will lower a president’s inhibitions about using a nuclear weapon in war. It will force a resumption of nuclear testing. It would start an arms race.

Each statement contains a kernel of truth, but all are largely false, unproven or unknowable.

The RNEP would contain the most powerful explosive in the deployed U.S. arsenal. Lawrence Livermore weapons scientists designed the B83 explosive in the mid1970s as an allpurpose, highyield strategic bomb. Its toughest mission was cratering large ground structures, such as military runways in the Soviet Union, requiring American pilots to deliver it fast and low, under the radar.

It detonates with an explosive yield estimated by nongovernmental experts at the equivalent of 1.2 million tons of TNT. <snip>

http://www.insidebayarea.com/sanmateocountytimes/localnews/ci_2613434

Some useful info with a rancid side of wingnut propaganda ...

[RaleighNCDUer]

1. link?

[struggle4progress]

2. Summa youse folk jest ain't nevah satisfied!

But thanks! I haver now added the link and here it is again:

http://www.insidebayarea.com/sanmateocountytimes/localnews/ci_2613434