Trump drops MOAB on ISIS!
- Thread starter Grey Colson
- Start date
lotstodo
aka "The Jackal"
Blast overpressure of the nukes used on Japan: about 35PSI
Blast overpressure of MOAB: about 1000 PSI
Of course it isn't as totally destructive as the first nukes, but if you are right under it, you are going to wish you were nuked. It's designed to completely clean the surface of the earth for up to a mile in all directions as well as collapse any underground fortifications within a few hundred feet. The bomb is quite accurate as long as the drop is made precisely. Small corrections in the course of the fall can be made using on board GPS navigation and variable vanes on the tail of the bomb.
I don't think it has ever been used in combat before. They must have wanted to dig a big hole.
Blast overpressure of MOAB: about 1000 PSI
Of course it isn't as totally destructive as the first nukes, but if you are right under it, you are going to wish you were nuked. It's designed to completely clean the surface of the earth for up to a mile in all directions as well as collapse any underground fortifications within a few hundred feet. The bomb is quite accurate as long as the drop is made precisely. Small corrections in the course of the fall can be made using on board GPS navigation and variable vanes on the tail of the bomb.
I don't think it has ever been used in combat before. They must have wanted to dig a big hole.
They said it was to cut off tunnels used by ISIS to launch attacks on US Troops. Jolly good show! 
honeybunny
Pursuit Driver
Why have them if you cannot use them for a righteous purpose ? ? ?
I have always said that we should put the fear of God into them.
May he have mercy upon their tortured souls...
I have always said that we should put the fear of God into them.
May he have mercy upon their tortured souls...
The Sound Guy
Pursuit Driver
There is lots of copies of the test video, but nothing that shows ground zero after the test. That would be interesting to see. I'm assuming the "Air burst" part means it has a Radar fuse that triggers it just before impact.
lotstodo
aka "The Jackal"
Some folks are going to say that it was all for show and trump wanted to "push a button". Others will say that it was an absolute military necessity. The truth is probably somewhere between those, but I would think that it served a valid military purpose or it wouldn't have been used. We need to wait for the damage report and more information on where exactly it was used. We have told the government it was time to s#(t or get off the pot for about ten years now. This is some s#it alright. Lets see where the chips fall.
Probably mostly in the form of "dust" than "chips", but I'm not picky
Boss 302
Pursuit Driver
The caves and tunnels in Afghanistan are very dangerous to clear as they have many choke points great for ambushes and they are often booby-trapped. Bunker busters are not very effective as they cannot penetrate into mountains like they can bunkers. It would be interesting to see pictures showing the aftermath of the MOAB to see just how effective it may be.
I read an article a few minutes ago how Kharzi spoke out against the use of the MOAB. I never thought he was that loyal to Afghani people; especially now that he lives in India.
I think it served two purposes.....one to send a message to ISIS and two to send a message to North Korea as they have a vast underground network.
lotstodo
aka "The Jackal"
Not that it really makes much difference, but analysts believe that ISKP/ISIS in the eastern provinces is largely made up of criminals, Pastun nomads, and disaffected Taliban acting more as outlaw gangs than ideological fighters. Their actual ties to ISIS are tenuous at best. In February and March of last year, Afghan and US forces concentrated on ridding the area of these parasites, and believed that they had indeed done so. Apparently they were incorrect. In October last year, the same or similar group carried out a brutal attack in Ghor Province, killing dozens of civilians and kidnapping others in a battle that perhaps started over the grazing of sheep.
The point here is twofold. First, in the overall scheme of things, is attacking a group of basically criminal copy cats the best way to damage the ISIS machine? Secondly, given that these were not hardened ISIS fighters, and their brand of raid is more than common throughout the outlying provinces, was this bombing militarily necessary, or revenge for the killing of a US soldier and a signal to others?
Nobody is going to lose any sleep over the justified killing of these bastards, but the deeper one digs, the more this appears to be a signal more than a military operation. That would be for better or worse, time will tell.
The point here is twofold. First, in the overall scheme of things, is attacking a group of basically criminal copy cats the best way to damage the ISIS machine? Secondly, given that these were not hardened ISIS fighters, and their brand of raid is more than common throughout the outlying provinces, was this bombing militarily necessary, or revenge for the killing of a US soldier and a signal to others?
Nobody is going to lose any sleep over the justified killing of these bastards, but the deeper one digs, the more this appears to be a signal more than a military operation. That would be for better or worse, time will tell.
honeybunny
Pursuit Driver
This was a strategic strike designed to destroy their hidey holes,
from which they were attacking US and Afghan forces. Better to
use a bomb than to risk our brave troops trying to clear the area...
Yes, but I suspect they chose the MOAD for the "oh crap" value.
lotstodo
aka "The Jackal"
Nobody is saying that it had no military use. They didn't drop it in an empty field somewhere, but there were according to reports a very small number of bad guys there, and their sort of raid only happens about twenty times a day all over Afghanistan. What makes them special? Nothing really, except they were in a valley that was well suited for dropping a very expensive and very visual piece of ordinance. Good riddance to them, but should we expect 26,000 pound bombs to be dropped on every spider hole in Afghanistan? I seriously doubt it. this was a signal, and a very visual one.
honeybunny
Pursuit Driver
The official, who spoke on conditional of anonymity to discuss military plans,
said Gen. John "Mick" Nicholson had brought the weapon into Afghanistan
well before the inauguration of President Trump with an eye toward using it
against this very target, a system of tunnels that ISIS-Khorasan fighters were
using to move back and forth across the border undetected.
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/article/2620309/
said Gen. John "Mick" Nicholson had brought the weapon into Afghanistan
well before the inauguration of President Trump with an eye toward using it
against this very target, a system of tunnels that ISIS-Khorasan fighters were
using to move back and forth across the border undetected.
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/article/2620309/
Boss 302
Pursuit Driver
Afghanistan is a big producer of opium, which the US would like to completely shut down. While Kharzi was president, he too wanted to shut down those growing poppies. Most of the opium production is controlled by tribal chiefs, as it was prior to the Taliban taking power after the Russians were ousted. The Taliban government almost eradicated the poppy fields.
Many of these tribes growing poppies are like the Mafia of the 1920's and 30's. They have no problem eliminating those who interfere with their illegal businesses, to include the Taliban and coalition forces. The Afghani governments at every level are very corrupt. Many of the local governments are controlled by the tribal chief. Many tribal chiefs are also called "warlords" and also serve in the national government, hence much of the corruption.