Huge explosion hits front lines north of Kabul

The Associated Press ^ | 10/30/2001 5:20 am ET | The Associated Press

[mdittmar]

JABAL SARAJ, Afghanistan (AP) A huge explosion hit the Bagram front lines about 25 miles north of Kabul on Tuesday, sending up a mushroom cloud that billowed at least 1,000 feet into the air.

The origin of the explosion was not immediately clear, since there were no airplanes immediately overhead. However, U.S. planes had roared in the skies over the front lines north of the capital throughout the morning and early afternoon Tuesday.

It was also not clear what positions had been hit by the blast and how extensive the damage was.

[sausageseller]

What type of aircraft would deliver this type of "bomb"?

[zandtar]

Wasn't it also reported to have caused some seismic activity when it was dropped in the Gulf War? I thought I remembered reading something about it, and how far away the troops were able to feel it via ground rumblings. Just curious, as I didn't see any mention of it during the original article. Figured if the press wanted to scream about it, they would have included that part.

[Movemout]

I'm not an expert but I believe just about any a/c that can carry it can deliver it. That would include helicopters.

[MistyCA]

The fox news reporter on the Northern Alliance front lines just reported having seen about 7 such explosions...described as very loud and air=cracking explosions followed by mushroom cloud. He said that area of the Taliban front lines has been hit very hard, and while he is unable to get close enough to see the damage, he is imagining that the landscape must have been very disturbed. I would think, at least! and....might I add....at last!

[redwolf00]

In Desert Storm, SPECOPS C-130s dropped 15K "Daisy Cutters". Mushroom cloud and blast were so big, Iraqis checked area with geiger counters, suspecting that it was a small nuke. Big psychological impact causing Iraqis to lite up a lot of equipment. They all had to talk about it. See following: "Days before the start of the ground war, the forces began dropping 15,000 pound 'Daisy Cutter' bombs on Iraqi troops from the back of C-130 transport planes.... Terrified Iraqis were certain that the devastating explosion signaled the beginning of the ground war, and turned on their air-defense radars all along the boarder. American pilots pinpointed many air-defense installations they never new existed. Says one Pentagon official, 'We were able to 'paint' every radar electronically and knock them out.'"

[Movemout]

You read my post at #3. The explosion was sufficiently impressive that a number of experienced military personnel were convinced that a tactical nuclear device had been detonated.

[SunnyUsa]

interesting!!!

[patriciaruth]

FAE fans, pinging.

[redwolf00]

I really hope the Taliban are not reading this.

[12B]

If the explosion was that impressive their eyeballs would have melted out of the sockets. If it was a nuclear explosion there would be no one standing around debating what it was. Nuclear explosions don't leave much room for doubt. You know right away what it is.

[unending thunder]

FAE = Fuel laden 767 slamming into WTC/Pentagon.

[dglang]

Eye witness report from on-site reporter 1 1/2 miles from point of impact who witnessed it stats that it was a series of 7 bombs, one closely following after another and in very close proximity to one another.

Indications are that they were dropped by a single plane flying so high that it couldn't be seen. This sounds like a series of FAE bombs so close together that they formed a massive cloud.

They were dropped right on the Taliban front line, apparently not on bunkers or buildings, but on the opposing troops themselves.

[error99]

"...Nuclear explosions don't leave much room for doubt. ..."
I feel the same way.
If you have to ask,"Hey, was that a nuke?"
Then it wasn't.
If it was a nuke, you would say, "HEY, THAT WAS A NUKE !"

[patriciaruth]

Reading that we have FAE fans in the U.S.?

or reading this?

"God help any one who lies under that."

[dglang]

If it was a nuke, there would be no one nearby able to ask what it was.

[Movemout]

Could be that you are right. I have never witnessed a nuclear explosion although I have talked to people who have. A tactical nuke detonated from a distance versus a FAE detonated somewhat closer may be a difficult call to make if you are caught by surprise. I wouldn't confuse a city buster with a tactical device. There is a world of difference.

[12B]

When I was young I used to hear things in the woods which I mistook for a rattle-snake. One day I heard the real thing in a timber-pile. There was no room for doubt!

[PokeyJoe]

Daisy Cutter = 15,000-25,000lbs bombs dropped out of the back of a AC-130U.
The DC was initially used in Vietnam to clear helicopter landing fields in the jungle. It also had the effect of making a BIG BAD BOOM.

FAE = fuel air explosive designed to kill/destroy by overpressure.
Interesting to note that the afterexplosive shock of a FAE will suck the air out your chest if you're close enough.
It'll do the same thing to a cave dweller.

[Henchman]

The nature of the blast cannot be determined. The latest styatement is that the blast was a suicide bomber instructing the rest of he cell on how to use the device. He said he was only going to show them ONCE.

[copycat]

Reading that we have FAE fans in the U.S.?

You misread these people.

There are no FAE fans here...there are only fans of American Victory.