Hope this isn't a repost.
Marines Quiet About Brutal New Weapon
War is hell. But it’s worse when the Marines bring out their new urban combat weapon, the SMAW-NE. Which may be why they’re not talking about it, much.
This is a version of the standard USMC Shoulder Mounted Assault Weapon but with a new warhead. Described as NE - "Novel Explosive"- it is a thermobaric mixture which ignites the air, producing a shockwave of unparalleled destructive power, especially against buildings.
A post-action report from Iraq describes the effect of the new weapon: "One unit disintegrated a large one-storey masonry type building with one round from 100 meters. They were extremely impressed." Elsewhere it is described by one Marine as "an awesome piece of ordnance."
For the remainder of the article:
http://www.defensetech.org/archives/001944.html
"Marines Quiet About Brutal New Weapon"
Good.
http://www.intellectualconservative.com/article4764.html
"The Plame Game (or Can’t Anyone in DC Keep Their Mouths Shut)"
by Michael P. Tremoglie
28 November 2005
COMMENTARY SNIPPET: "Why is it that an ordinary person can show more integrity and common sense then those to whom we have given tremendous responsibilities? More importantly, why are we not strictly enforcing the policies and procedures regarding covert operations?"
Very interesting, thank you.
I followed one of the links from that page and ended up here:
Thermobaric Foes: Explosive Threat
Thermobaric warheads put the power to demolish buildings into the hands of the average U.S. marine. But Americans aren’t the only ones with the weapons. The Chinese, the Russians -- even guerilla groups -- now have thermobarics' shockingly destructive power in their grasps.(snip)
http://www.defensetech.org/archives/001969.html