[randita]

FAE sounds likely if they were hitting open-field troop trenches. Covers a large area, and what it doen't kill... it terrifies.

Terrifies--yes. What I've been hearing is that so far we haven't successfully been able to terrify the Taliban troops to the point that they retreat, disperse or switch sides. I guess Rumsfeld has decided to force the issue--why now, I don't know. Perhaps everything is in place for an all-out assault on Mazar-sharif (sp?). The goal, as I understand it is to force the Taliban into the valley between Mazar-sharif and Kabul and cut off all their avenues of retreat. Maybe these bombs dropping today will have the effect of driving them northward, while the Northern Alliance takes Mazar-Sharif, thus cutting them off.

[patriciaruth]

Now this might be read by the Taliban. If it's disinformation then leave it, but if your suggested strategy is correct, you should have it pulled.

[ipaq2000]

I recently read about the use of BLU-82 (Big Blue) fuel-air bomb in Vietnam.(the Guardian 18/1/01) Apparently this monster was 7 tonnes in weight and could only be delivered by dumping it out of the back of a Hercules! The article I read makes some amazing claims:
1) Its effect in removing foliage made it useful in clearing land to make helicopter landing areas. 2) It was used in the Gulf War to clear minefields where it's the resulting hot air rose along with dust and sand to create a mushroom cloud effect. Apparently both SAS patrols and the Iraqi's thought it was a nuke! Then the USAF issued flyers to the Iraqis showing a picture of this explosion and the statement, "BLU-82, You're next - flee or die!"
3) Used in Vietnam to cover up use of chemical weapons because the rising air would remove traces of the chemicals in the air while the blast would remove the signs on the ground.

[Two Thirds Vote Aye]

I am not the least bit concerned as to whether we terrify the Taliban and al-Qaeda. I don't care whether they suffer, whether they enjoy it, whether they are scared, whether they are happy, whether they are sad, whether they are remorseful or whether they are reveling in their 'jihad'.

I want them KILLED.

I care not in the least as to how it comes about. I don't care how long it takes. They have threatened us all with death. They are our mortal enemies. We have got to destroy them, NOW, or they are certainly going to destroy us. It is about as clear-cut of a case of a country's self defense as there can be. It is, absolutely without a doubt, either them or us.