Question--on the 1.4 million lbs of explosives detonated 2 June in NV

[librarycard]

Randi Rhodes had mentioned it on Lou Dobbs.

Where can I find more information on this? Why is Bush doing this? Since there is no way to transport a bomb of that size, what is the point of detonating it? To compare the results to a nuclear explosion so that an assessment re: damage incurred can be made?

[wakeme2008]

1. Not being dropped. Set off from the ground

as I understand.

[librarycard]

5. Thanks. I knew that, too.

not used to discussing 1.4 million lb bombs. I believe the "Daisy Cutter" is our largest bomb, and that's a mere 15,000 pounds.

[madokie]

7. as I understand it and I may be wrong but when they say a 700 ton

ton bomb they are saying the explosive equivalent of 700 tons of TNT, not what the bomb weights. I believe that is the standard by what an explosion is measured by

[babylonsister]

2. Here's some info on Divine Strake for you:

Bush administration 'secretly plans air strikes' as it seeks regime change in Iran

By Raymond Whitaker

Published: 09 April 2006

One option under consideration, Mr Hersh reports, involves the possible use of a B61 nuclear "bunker-buster" bomb against Iran's main centrifuge plant, at Natanz. Last week the Federation of American Scientists alleged that a weapons test to be carried out in the Nevada desert in June was designed to simulate the effects of just such a bomb. Conventional explosives would be used, it said, for "a low-yield nuclear weapon ground shock simulation against an underground target".

The US Defence Threat Reduction Agency told The Independent on Sunday that the test, codenamed "Divine Strake", was intended "to assess the capability of computer codes" to predict the effects of the explosion. The experiment aimed to improve "warfighters' confidence in their ability to plan to defeat hardened and deeply buried targets". It did not refer to tactical nuclear weapons like the B61.

According to Mr Hersh, some officials are shocked at what they describe as "operational" planning which goes far beyond the usual work on hypothetical scenarios. One former defence official is quoted as saying the planning was based on a belief that "a sustained bombing campaign in Iran will humiliate the religious leadership and lead the public to rise up and overthrow the government".

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article...

Here is the original story about Reid:

Reid assured 'Divine Strake' will be safe

WASHINGTON (AP) - Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Thursday that he's satisfied with the Pentagon's explanation about an upcoming test at the Nevada Test Site, and has no fears about the health or safety of Nevadans.

Reid made the comments after meeting with the Pentagon official who stirred controversy last week by saying a test planned for June of a 700-ton explosive would create "a mushroom cloud over Las Vegas."

"The language in the media has unfortunately blown this issue out of proportion," said Reid after meeting with James Tegnelia, head of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.

"We discussed the details of this operation tonight, and I now feel comfortable that DTRA is taking all necessary precautions to make sure the test is done safely," Reid said.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nevada/2006/a...



Animation-- Effects of dropping a "Bunker Buster" Nuke/ Must See
From the Union of Concerned Scientists. Pass it on. Send the link to your Senators and Reps and tell them that using such weapons would be madness.

animation
The Nuclear Bunker Buster
Robust Nuclear Earth Pentrator

http://www.ucsusa.org/global_security/nuclear_weapons/n...

***************************************************************

Environmental officials halt test site explosion (Divine Strake!)
Nevada environmental officials have halted a massive, non-nuclear explosion scheduled for June 2 at the Nevada Test Site until the federal agency hosting the blast shows it will comply with air quality standards and that hazardous particles can be tracked, letters released Tuesday reveal.

The National Nuclear Security Administration "is prohibited from allowing this test to proceed until authorization from NDEP (the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection) has been received," the state division Administrator Leo Drozdoff wrote in a letter sent Friday to test site manager Kathleen Carlson.

The letter refers to an April 28, 2005, request to Carlson from the state Bureau of Air Pollution Control.

"To date, the NNSA has not responded to this information request. NNSA is reminded that no approval was received. ... In order to conduct this test, NNSA needs to provide all information and demonstrations required," Drozdoff wrote.

more...

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Apr-12-Wed-...

[librarycard]

6. Lots of info here. Thanks much.

[bananas]

8. Here's a really good webpage about it

http://www.nukestrat.com/us/stratcom/gs-divinestrake.htm

[catmandu57]

3. Yes, it's an assesment tool

I hope it's more propaganda than anything else.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. Non-expert opinions.

Why is Bush doing this? Saber rattling. Iran's been testing some torpedos, it's a threat to his manhood.

What is the point of detonating it? They say it's to simulate nuclear explosives without actually using nuclear explosives. Personally, I suspect what they're really testing is a small tactical nuke on a bunker busting missle, hoping the already radioactive soil will mask the fallout. Nuclear bunker busters were all the rage a couple of years ago, then dropped off the radar.