Pentagon Seeks Mightier Bomb vs. Iran

[Cali_Democrat]

By ADAM ENTOUS And JULIAN E. BARNES

WASHINGTON—Pentagon war planners have concluded that their largest conventional bomb isn't yet capable of destroying Iran's most heavily fortified underground facilities, and are stepping up efforts to make it more powerful, according to U.S. officials briefed on the plan.

The 30,000-pound "bunker-buster" bomb, known as the Massive Ordnance Penetrator, was specifically designed to take out the hardened fortifications built by Iran and North Korea to cloak their nuclear programs.

But initial tests indicated that the bomb, as currently configured, wouldn't be capable of destroying some of Iran's facilities, either because of their depth or because Tehran has added new fortifications to protect them.

Doubts about the MOP's effectiveness prompted the Pentagon this month to secretly submit a request to Congress for funding to enhance the bomb's ability to penetrate deeper into rock, concrete and steel before exploding, the officials said.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203363504577187420287098692.html?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTTopStories

[tularetom]

1. And so the international dick measuring contest goes on

I have no objections if they want to build a bigger bomb to make themselves feel more important, I just don't want them spending my fucking tax dollars to do it.

[Warren DeMontague]

2. "Massive Ordnance Penetrator"

[Scootaloo]

3. Life must be terribly dull at the Pentagon, now that the USSR is gone

[midnight armadillo]

4. Is this a ploy for nukes?

At some point the generals will lose their hard-ons for conventional bombs and declare that only nuclear bunker busters will do the trick. They've been wanting to nuke the shit out of someplace since 1945.