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N-chink: US labs forget warhead design
AGENCIES via The Times of India ^ | 11 Mar 2009, 0159 hrs | AGENCIES

Posted on 03/10/2009 3:30:09 PM PDT by MyTwoCopperCoins

click here to read article


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To: Virginia Ridgerunner

No, it was Clinton era political promotions, affirmative action and an economy that paid more and appreciated the military brains.


21 posted on 03/10/2009 3:57:01 PM PDT by 1010RD (First Do No Harm)
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To: MyTwoCopperCoins

I thought this particular passage was most interesting:

“Just when we thought all was lost, it occurred to us that the Chinese might have kept a copy of the missing papers describing how to make the warhead. After a few somewhat embarrassing inquiries, we soon learned that our supposition was correct. Fortunately, the Chinese were willing to sell us these blueprints for the small sum of $59 billion. Otherwise, we would have been forced to reinvent them from scratch at tremendous expense.”


22 posted on 03/10/2009 3:57:27 PM PDT by Brilliant
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To: txroadkill

Even cops don’t trust 911. They all demand to carry.


23 posted on 03/10/2009 3:58:40 PM PDT by 1010RD (First Do No Harm)
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To: MyTwoCopperCoins

The W76 is a United States thermonuclear warhead. It was manufactured from 1978 - 1987, and is still in service as of early as of 2008[update].

The W-76 is carried inside a Mk-4 re-entry vehicle. U.S. Trident I and Trident II Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles may carry W76 warheads as one warhead option, along with W88 warheads in the Trident II.

FROM: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W76

24 posted on 03/10/2009 3:58:49 PM PDT by Texas Fossil
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To: Brilliant
You mean the scariest. All the retirees or ex-employees hated the bosses so much they would rather go to the Red Chinese and pay $59 billion. Of course, it is not their money they wasted.
25 posted on 03/10/2009 4:01:02 PM PDT by 1010RD (First Do No Harm)
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To: MyTwoCopperCoins

http://www.armscontrolwonk.com/1814/fogbank

Finally, there is a material that we currently use and it’s in a facility that we built … at Y-12. It’s a very complicated material that — call it the fog bank. That’s not classified, but it’s a material that’s very important to, you know, our life extension activity. And we are spending a lot of money as part of the [LEP] in making — trying to … produce that material, and we are not out of the woods yet. And it’s a material that uses a cleaning agent that is extremely flammable. And in fact, we had to build a separate spillway, external, because if this stuff ever caused a problem we would want — we would have to put it in this area. It’s expensive to operate and maintain that facility.


26 posted on 03/10/2009 4:09:28 PM PDT by HangnJudge
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To: PGR88

The Russians also seem to remember how to make nuclear weapons... So do the North Koreans...


27 posted on 03/10/2009 4:10:20 PM PDT by Thunder90
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To: MyTwoCopperCoins
yup and the goobermint wants to run the power grid.
28 posted on 03/10/2009 4:11:56 PM PDT by mad_as_he$$ (You want me to buy heavy metal? Metallica?)
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To: MyTwoCopperCoins

Regarding a classified material codenamed ‘Fogbank’


Bill of Materials:
1 Cup Broccoli
5 Brussels sprouts
3 Pickled eggs
1 Cup Fiber One, dry
1 Can generic “chili with beans”
72 oz.of “Meisterbrau” or equivalent not to exceed US$3.29/6

Combine all solid raw materials in macerator for ~60 seconds.

Swallow.

Gather “Fogbank” material into Mason jar positioned at posterior exhaust port (Approx 30-45min)


29 posted on 03/10/2009 4:27:39 PM PDT by Ribeye (Protective head wear courtesy of Reynolds Aluminum Products- Extra-cranial RF Suppression Division)
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To: MyTwoCopperCoins

This is why cuts in defense spending, basic research, and NASA should be considered very carefully, because knowledge that walks out the door can’t be replaced easily once times are good. Even if it is written down, don’t expect that when someone wants to get back to it, that they can find the information, interpret the information, or even read the electronic format the documents are in.


30 posted on 03/10/2009 4:48:34 PM PDT by Vince Ferrer
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To: ßuddaßudd
"I beleive the answer lies within the title. "

Yep!....{:-)

31 posted on 03/10/2009 7:04:52 PM PDT by SuperLuminal (Where is another agitator for republicanism like Sam Adams when we need him?)
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To: MyTwoCopperCoins
This fiasco illustrates the importance of what some call "institutional memory." A failure of continuity of institutional commitment leads to a break in the chain of information and practical knowledge in accessible form. This can happen by accident or by design. Given the malignant developments of the last twenty years, I would wager a fair sum that the loss of nuclear capability through loss of institutional memory has been deliberate.
32 posted on 03/10/2009 7:26:38 PM PDT by hinckley buzzard
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To: Vince Ferrer
This is why you encourage the entrepreneur class to keep pushing technological innovation. If you rely on ancient government controlled technology, eventually you will spend more money preserving unreliable antiques than you would if you keep pushing the technological envelope. Of course having a technologically educated workforce is critical too. If you have a stagnant industry, why would students want to pursuit a career in that field?

We did not build the atom bomb or fly to the Moon by resting on our laurels. Actually we had the fear of Nazi and Communist domination pressing us out of our complacency. Do we need another national “near-death experience” to kick us into the reality that 2nd place in War is last place? Sadly for too many the answer is “yes.”

33 posted on 03/10/2009 11:30:27 PM PDT by anymouse (God didn't write this sitcom we call life, he's just the critic.)
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