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Title: US Modernizes Nuclear Arsenal With Smaller, Precision-Guided Atomic Weapons
Source:
NYTimes via Slashdot
URL Source: http://tech.slashdot.org/story/16/0 ... recision-guided-atomic-weapons
Published: Jan 14, 2016
Author: Â
Post Date: 2016-01-14 06:33:03 by Tooconservative
Keywords: None
Views: 1718
Comments: 33
And some say that's the problem. The Federation of American Scientists argues that the high accuracy and low destructive settings means military commanders might press to use the bomb in an attack, knowing the radioactive fallout and collateral damage would be limited. Increasing the accuracy also broadens the type of targets that the B61 can be used to attack. Some say that a new nuclear tipped cruise missile under development might sway a future president to contemplate "limited nuclear war." Worse yet, because the missile comes in nuclear and non-nuclear varieties, a foe under attack might assume the worst and overreact, initiating nuclear war. In a recent interview, General James Cartwright, a retired four-star general who last served as the eighth Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff says the overall modernization plan might change how military commanders looked at the risks of using nuclear weapons. "What if I bring real precision to these weapons?" says Cartwright. "Does it make them more usable? It could be." Poster Comment: A post based on a NYTimes article. NYTimes: As U.S. Modernizes Nuclear Weapons, ‘Smaller’ Leaves Some Uneasy The NY Times reports that the Pentagon has been developing the B61 Model 12, the nation's first precision-guided atom bomb. Adapted from an older weapon, the Model 12 was designed with problems like North Korea in mind: Its computer brain and four maneuverable fins let it zero in on deeply buried targets like testing tunnels and weapon sites and its yield can be dialed up or down depending on the target, to minimize collateral damage. The B61 Model 12 flight-tested last year in Nevada and is the first of five new warhead types planned as part of an atomic revitalization estimated to cost up to $1 trillion over three decades. As a family, the weapons and their delivery systems move toward the small, the stealthy and the precise.
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#1. To: TooConservative (#0)
You have to wonder if they didn't have Israel in mind when they designed it... Vegetarians eat vegetables. Beware of humanitarians!
It didn't seem like huge news to me that they retrofitted an old dumb-bomb with some guidance. We did it to plenty of other dumb-bomb designs already. The libs are worried that the Joint Chiefs will come to the prez and say, "Yeah, but it's just a micro-nuke. It's not a nuke-nuke. It's just kind of nukish, not a real nuke.".
Libs should be happy, because libs are supposed to support progress. Mini nukes, fast and self-maneuverable, perhaps installed on long range drones is the way of the future. As technology matures and becomes ubiquitous almost every country will be able to have them. The more the merrier and money well spent!
like North Korea or the refuge in Oregon, or Militia units in some states. I love the United States of America, I love the citizens of the United States of America, I love the constitution of the United States of America, But, I hate the political ruling class, those that have destroyed this nation, that have taken our Republic and turned it into an oligarchy, those who lie, cheat, and put money, power and mammon ahead of all. I will, fight, kill and if needs be die for my family, for my state, for the Republic, but I will not lift a finger to help political ruling class, those that have destroyed this nation, that have taken our Republic and turned it into an oligarchy, those who lie, cheat, and put money, power and mammon ahead of all. Eli, Eli, nai erchomai Kurios Iesous.
Wow, you could have worked for Atoms For Peace back in the day. We did start the proliferation in all the key countries like India, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, etc. Nukes for all!
War is fun and good for the military Job Creators. Terrorism helps to keep us safe by justifying rise of the security system.
How can you wonder that, when Israel owns 'em?
Are you serious? The arms race is one of the absolute worst things ever to happen on planet earth. What a way for America to "lead the world," its job description according to every prostitician! Now we're permanently ruining swaths of the Mideast with so-called DEPLETED uranium. Minor footnote to war never mentioned = it's hell on the environment. Birht defects forever, hurrah boys hurrah! Maybe you were being ironic.
The libs think we already use nukes because of our depleted uranium munitions
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Yeah, well, they're not wrong about the undesirability of spreading depleted uranium around the planet. Of course, the tank and artillery guys might feel differently. Fortunately, we have one handy so maybe he'll weigh in.
I live in a nuclear free zone. So I'm safe.
Military stimulates economy. Imagine what would happen if the money were spent on medical research and care? Many people would survive of the weaker, inferior sort. It would be a burden for everyone. Besides, conflicts make life more exciting. Ernst Junger's Storm of Steel: "War is all – fighting is all – everything else is cropped away." "Battle brings men together, whereas inactivity separates them." "These moments of nocturnal prowling have an incredible impression…the encounter will be short and murderous. You tremble with two contradictory impulses: the heightened awareness of the huntsman and the terror of the quarry. You are a world to yourself, saturated with the appalling aura of the savage landscape." "I had felt Death’s hand once before, on the road at Mory – but this time his grip was firmer and more determined. As I came down heavily on the bottom of the trench, I was convinced it was all over. Strangely, that moment is one of the very few in my life of which I am able to say they were utterly happy. I understood, as in a flash of lightening, the true inner purpose and form of my life. I felt surprise and disbelief that it was to end there and then, but this surprise had something untroubled and almost merry about it. Then I heard the firing grow less, as if I were a stone sinking under the surface of some turbulent water. Where I was going, there was neither war nor enmity."
Was worse in the Gulf War in 91. Since then not so much as we have advanced. Mainly the sabot round from the 120mm smoothbore on the M1 Abrams and 25mm and 30mm ground and air munitions. None in the Artillery. The old Copperhead round may have had DU but that is out of the inventory. The high risk from DU only comes on the receiving end of the round. For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8)
Maybe.
Peace is patriotic.
If that's the only thing that keeps the peace then thank God for the bomb. Ozzy Osbourne. It's a song from the 80's. Some truth in it imo.
Where, pray tell? If in the US, you're not safe as long as we're doing everything we can to enrage and provoke a billion towelheads. Nobody is, not even the one precent that think their money will always save them.
No, there are many other things that keep peace, like America minding its own business and fixing everything wrong here before ordering anybody else around, murdering their heads of state, dictating their form of government and dropping bombs on their wedding parties. It used to work fine here till the Jews blackmailed Wilson and FDR into breaking their solemn promises not to waste American blood on other people's problems. NOT isolationism -- reasonable neutrality. There's a big difference. They didn't attack Switzerland!
Progress!
Funny!
That one sailed over your head like an ICBM.
"In a church ceremony Sunday, Mayor Harold Washington signed an ordinance that makes Chicago the largest U.S. city to become a nuclear-free zone."
Thank you. I'm here all week.
That line is pure militant towelhead agitprop, -- and you've swallowed it, hook and sinker, poor sod..
No, it's exactly what we do. We had NO Ayrab problem before it started. NONE. Now its all you hear about. It's a totaly sick, needless, avoidable, STUPID situation.
Like before they took hostages. I know they are not Arab but it is Muslims that are the problem not Arabs.
Count your blessings while they last.
They never took hostages before we started bedeviling them. Never.
Well, 30 years and Chicago is still there. It works.
That line is pure militant towelhead agitprop, -- and you've swallowed it, hook and sinker, poor sod.. History proves you wrong. Militant Islam has been around since the religions founding. Our recent problems with it's religious fanatics are nothing new.
Those Americans kidnapped into slavery and held for ransom by the Barbary pirates might have a different point of view on the matter. Non auro, sed ferro, recuperando est patria
Slavery was a norm those days.
"The miniaturization of nukes is a trend that encourages what was previously considered monstrous: “preemptive” nuclear strikes by the US. Gen. James Cartwright, former vice chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, has raised the horrific scenario of military officials seeing smaller scale nukes in a new light, asking “Does it make them more usable?” Surely the answer is yes." Author: Justin Raimondo
Its computer brain and four maneuverable fins let it zero in on deeply buried targets like testing tunnels and weapon sites and its yield can be dialed up or down depending on the target, to minimize collateral damage.
#2. To: CZ82 (#1)
#3. To: TooConservative, CZ82 (#2)
The libs are worried that the Joint Chiefs will come to the prez and say, "Yeah, but it's just a micro-nuke. It's not a nuke-nuke. It's just kind of nukish, not a real nuke.".
#4. To: TooConservative (#0)
The NY Times reports that the Pentagon has been developing the B61 Model 12, the nation's first precision-guided atom bomb. Adapted from an older weapon, the Model 12 was designed with problems like North Korea in mind: Its computer brain and four maneuverable fins let it zero in on deeply buried targets like testing tunnels and weapon sites and its yield can be dialed up or down depending on the target, to minimize collateral damage.
#5. To: A Pole (#3)
As technology matures and becomes ubiquitous almost every country will be able to have them. The more the merrier and money well spent!
This proliferation is Really Bad except when we are doing it.
Atoms for Peace created the ideological background for the creation of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, but also gave political cover for the U.S. nuclear weapons build-up, and the backdrop to the Cold War arms race. Under Atoms for Peace related programs the U.S. exported over 25 tons of highly enriched uranium (HEU) to 30 countries, mostly to fuel research reactors, which is now regarded as a proliferation and terrorism risk. The Soviet Union also exported over 11 tons of HEU under a similar program.[8]
#6. To: TooConservative (#5)
Wow, you could have worked for Atoms For Peace back in the day. We did start the proliferation in all the key countries like India, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, etc. Nukes for all!
#7. To: CZ82 (#1)
#8. To: A Pole (#3)
#9. To: TooConservative (#2)
#10. To: tomder55, redleghunter (#9)
The libs think we already use nukes because of our depleted uranium munitions
#11. To: TooConservative (#5)
#12. To: NeoconsNailedAgain (#8)
Are you serious? The arms race is one of the absolute worst things ever to happen on planet earth.
#13. To: TooConservative, tomder55 (#10)
Yeah, well, they're not wrong about the undesirability of spreading depleted uranium around the planet. Of course, the tank and artillery guys might feel differently. Fortunately, we have one handy so maybe he'll weigh in.
#14. To: NeoconsNailedAgain (#8)
Maybe you were being ironic.
#15. To: A Pole (#12)
#16. To: NeoconsNailedAgain (#8)
Are you serious? The arms race is one of the absolute worst things ever to happen on planet earth.
#17. To: misterwhite (#11)
#18. To: A K A Stone (#16)
(Edited)
#19. To: A Pole (#14)
#20. To: misterwhite (#11)
I live in a nuclear free zone. So I'm safe.
#21. To: NeoconsNailedAgain (#17)
Where, pray tell?
#22. To: NeoconsNailedAgain (#17)
"Where, pray tell?"
-- Chicago Tribune, March 24, 1986
#23. To: Roscoe (#20)
"Funny!"
#24. To: NeoconsNailedAgain, Y'ALL (#17)
--- we're doing everything we can to enrage and provoke a billion towelheads. ----- NeoconsNailedAgain
#25. To: tpaine (#24)
#26. To: NeoconsNailedAgain (#25)
We had NO Ayrab problem before it started.
#27. To: misterwhite (#22)
#28. To: A K A Stone (#26)
#29. To: NeoconsNailedAgain (#27)
"Count your blessings while they last."
#30. To: NeoconsNailedAgain (#25)
--- we're doing everything we can to enrage and provoke a billion towelheads. - ---- NeoconsNailedAgain.
No, it's exactly what we do. -- We had NO Ayrab problem before it started. NONE.
#31. To: NeoconsNailedAgain (#28)
They never took hostages before we started bedeviling them. Never.
#32. To: nativist nationalist, NeoconsNailedAgain (#31)
Those Americans kidnapped into slavery
#33. To: TooConservative (#0)
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