Air Force detonates 21,000-pound bomb

Washington Times ^ | 3/12/03 | Rowan Scarborough

[kattracks]

The Air Force yesterday tested for the first time the military's largest conventional bomb, the Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB). The Pentagon labeled as a success the explosion at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

The 21,000-pound bomb, creating a huge mushroom cloud, could be used in the Pentagon's "shock and awe" war strategy to bring a quick Iraqi surrender. The satellite-guided bomb was not dropped from a bomber, but from the back door of a four-engine C-130 cargo plane.

[spetznaz]

Some area residents felt the bomb's detonation but said the explosion was not as big as they had expected. "It was kind of weak," said Patricia Sariego, a receptionist at the Best Western hotel in Navarre, on the southern edge of Eglin. She said the blast shook doors

Sheesh! A rather 'weak' statement to say the least! The reason she did not get rocked by the blast was because she was far away. Now, if she were at the epicenter of the blast she may have a different inference about the strength of the blast.

It should be remembered even the blast of a star going super-nova may seem weak if you are sufficiently far away.

[RobRoy]

I am very unimpressed with this bomb. I looked out the window when they detonated it and didn't see a thing. I never heard the blast either. Here in Seattle it was a non event.


</sarcasm>

[KaiserofKrunch]

LOL. I guess only something like the Tunguska blast, or Krakatoa, would impress you. I think that the Krakatoa blast could have been sensed in Seattle. Maybe not the blast, but as I recall it did lead to the "year without summer" because of all the ash in the upper atmosphere.

[noutopia]

Man that was one big firecracker,loved it. Cant wait for the finally.

[jwh_Denver]

I am very unimpressed with this bomb. I looked out the window when they detonated it and didn't see a thing. I never heard the blast either. Here in Seattle it was a non event.

LOL! Yep, a dud. Didn't feel a thing here in Denver either. But they did say the MOAB does work better in less humidity so maybe that's the reason. Naw. It was a dud.

[Mr. Mojo]

I guess only something like the Tunguska blast, or Krakatoa, would impress you

Kratatoa was on the weak/moderate side. Tambora was a bit stronger. But Mazama....now that was truly an epic blast.

[kattracks]

More like

BOOM!

[CarmelValleyite]

Yeah, I'm unimpressed, too -- nothing felt here in So. Cal. :)

[mfulstone]

I've been secretly working on an implosion bomb.

Instead of

BOOM!

It will go

!MOOB

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

LMAOROTF