You gotta assume that this was approved at the top, but not necessarily. If so it could represent the first time that Obama has shown he understands how to play high stakes poker. First, some background: Back in October 2007, ABC News reported that the Pentagon had asked Congress for $88 million in the emergency Iraq/Afghanistan war funding request to develop a gargantuan bunker-busting bomb called the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP). It's a 30,000-pound bomb designed to hit targets buried 200 feet below ground. Back then, the Pentagon cited an "urgent operational need" for the new weapon...... The comptroller said the Pentagon planned to spend $19.1 million to procure four of the bombs, $28.3 million to accelerate the bomb's "development and testing", and $21 million to accelerate the integration of the bomb onto B-2 stealth bombers. 'Urgent Operational Need' The notification was tucked inside a 93-page "reprogramming" request that included a couple hundred other more mundane items. Why now? The notification says simply, "The Department has an Urgent Operational Need (UON) for the capability to strike hard and deeply buried targets in high threat environments. The MOP is the weapon of choice to meet the requirements of the UON." It further states that the request is endorsed by Pacific Command (which has responsibility over North Korea) and Central Command (which has responsibility over Iran). Given the complete disdain the Iranians have shown to any outreach efforts it makes perfect sense to remind them that we are not incapable of bringing the scunion powder to them. Nicely struck.
Read the complete post at http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Blackfive/~3/HBkFHPelMX0/pentagon-buys-4-i-wouldnt-build-that-if-i-were-you-bombs.html
Posted
Oct 07 2009, 07:30 AM
by
BLACKFIVE