Posted on 08/13/2002 11:15:40 PM PDT by kattracks
Edited on 07/12/2004 3:56:15 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
"Tactical neutron bombs are primarily intended to kill soldiers who are protected by armor. Armored vehicles are very resistant to blast and heat produced by nuclear weapons, but steel armor can reduce neutron radiation only by a modest amount so the lethal range from neutrons greatly exceeds that of other weapon effects. The lethal range for tactical neutron bombs can exceed the lethal range for blast and heat even for unprotected troops. Armor can absorb neutrons and neutron energy, thus reducing the neutron radiation to which the tank crew is exposed, but this offset to some extent by the fact that armor can also react harmfully with neutrons. Alloy steels for example can develop induced radioactivity that remains dangerous for some time. When fast neutrons are slowed down, the energy lost can show up as x-rays. Some types of armor, like that of the M-1 tank, employ depleted uranium which can undergo fast fission, generating additional neutrons and becoming radioactive. Special neutron absorbing armor techniques have also been developed, such as armors containing boronated plastics and the use of vehicle fuel as a shield."
"Also called ENHANCED RADIATION WARHEAD, specialized type of small thermonuclear weapon that produces minimal blast and heat but which releases large amounts of lethal radiation. The neutron bomb delivers blast and heat effects that are confined to an area of only a few hundred yards in radius. But within a somewhat larger area it throws off a massive wave of neutron and gamma radiation, which can penetrate armour or several feet of earth. This radiation is extremely destructive to living tissue. Because of its short-range destructiveness and the absence of long-range effect, the neutron bomb would be highly effective against tank and infantry formations on the battlefield but would not endanger cities or other population centres only a few miles away. It can be carried in a Lance missile or delivered by an 8-inch (200-millimetre) howitzer, or possibly by attack aircraft.
In strategic terms, the neutron bomb has a theoretical deterrent effect: discouraging an armoured ground assault by arousing the fear of neutron bomb counterattack. The bomb would disable enemy tank crews in minutes, and those exposed would die within days. U.S. production of the bomb was postponed in 1978 and resumed in 1981."
The CDC is working hard to make sure Americans are aware of the dangers of obesity and firearms.
They certainly aren't going to allow Americans to have a smallpox jab: that would be an intolerable display of self-ownership.
The preparations to keep America safe from bioweapons are the ones you see everyday in your own town. I.E. we haven't done squat.
If we lose a couple hundred thousands citizens, I doubt people will be laughing.
Ah, but you are assuming this is true. Bush has been trying to drum up support for his invasion of Iraq for quite some time. He wants to finish the job his old man left undone, and then we'll be stuck in the middle of hell for decades to come. We can't even establish peace and reasonable order in Afghanistan. How many more countries are we going to invade and "rebuild"?
Possibly sixty trucks carrying germ warfare payloads ! What the heck is he trying to do, destroy the world ! His blackmail of the US failed (as in 'we have this anthrax') so now he is going to blackmail the world ?
Not that he'll care if his back is against the wall, but still, it'll likely have a considerable "Chilling Effect" on their ardor for "Islamic Jihad" (particularly considering the advanced state of their third-world bug-country "Medical Facilities"...).
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