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W. J. Hennigan reports at the LA Times that as diplomats rush to reach an agreement to curb Iran's nuclear program, the US military is stockpiling conventional bombs so powerful that strategists say they could cripple Tehran's most heavily fortified nuclear complexes. The bunker-busting bombs are America's most destructive munitions short of atomic weapons and at 15 tons, each is 5 tons heavier than any other bomb in the US arsenal. "The Pentagon continues to be focused on being able to provide military options for Iran if needed," says a senior US official. "We have not taken our eyes off the ball."
Obama has made it clear that he has no desire to order an attack, warning that US airstrikes on Iran's air defense network and nuclear facilities would spark a destabilizing new war in the Middle East, and would only delay Iran by several years should it choose to build a bomb. "A military solution will not fix it," says Obama. An attack "would temporarily slow down an Iranian nuclear program, but it will not eliminate it." That being said the latest iteration of the massive ordnance penetrator (MOP) was successfully tested on a deeply buried target in January at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The test followed upgrades to the bomb's guidance system and electronics to stop jammers from sending it off course. B-2 stealth bombers would be required to drop the MOP, which is designed to burrow 200 feet underground before it detonates. Multiple MOPs probably would be aimed at the same target to bore deeper and achieve maximum destruction. A US attack could spark a broader war in the world's most volatile region. Iran has hundreds of medium-range missiles capable of hitting Israel, Jordan and other American allies, according to defense intelligence estimates. "It would create huge problems," says Michael E. O'Hanlon. "That said, it's hard to rule out if talks fail."
Original Submission
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 11 2015, @02:50AM
What? What has Halliburton got to do with it, it's just a energy services company, not even an energy company, and not even the biggest, Schlumberger is.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by redneckmother on Saturday July 11 2015, @04:26AM
Halliburton, and all the multinational oil companies and oil services companies (for many decades), have EVERYTHING to do with it.
Check out history - the oil companies have been funding (through "western" intelligence agencies and military actions, using OUR [western] tax dollars) subversion and manipulation of governments and peoples around the world.
Why do you think there have been so many insurgencies in the middle east that target the "west"? I believe it is because they are tired of the "powers that be" f'ing them over for so long.
On another note - I believe that those territories are occupied by people with an ingrained "tribal" mindset. They have been fighting among themselves since the beginning of recorded history; in my opinion, they will continue to do so until after the END of recorded history.
Mas cerveza por favor.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Saturday July 11 2015, @02:11PM
Points, points, and more points. Now, for the final bonus point, how did Iran come to BE a theistic government? HINT: Operation Ajax. And, for the final bonus point, what form of government did Iran enjoy prior to Operation Ajax?
(Score: 2) by Joe Desertrat on Saturday July 11 2015, @07:26PM
Unfortunately there is a long list of democracies that were overthrown or at the least destabilized when they democratically made choices that offended corporate or other powerful interests. That seems to get ignored when you hear the talking heads spouting off about bringing "democracy" to some unfortunate region.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday July 12 2015, @12:22AM
You've left out that they were overthrown by the CIA, the foreign intelligence, sabotage, and espionage agency working for the supposed good guys who are trying to bring democracy and freedom to the world.