Pentagon Seeks Mightier Bomb Vs. Iran

The Wall Street Journal:

WASHINGTON--Pentagon war planners have concluded that their largest conventional bomb isn't yet capable of destroying Iran's most heavily fortified underground facilities, and are stepping up efforts to make it more powerful, according to U.S. officials briefed on the plan.

Read the whole story: The Wall Street Journal

Comments

[Gui Montag]

03:30 PM on 01/30/2012

There's always a mightier bomb.

[canpete]

02:28 PM on 01/30/2012

wishing americans would solve the problems in america rather than interfering with other nations...

[muck-raker]

09:51 AM on 01/30/2012

In 2000, Iraq converted all its oil transactio­ns under the Oil for Food program to euros.[2] When U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003, it returned oil sales from the euro to the USD.[3]

The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran takes this theory as fact. As retaliatio­n to this policy seen as neoimperia­lism, Iran has made an effort to create its own Iranian Oil Bourse which has sold oil in Euros, Dollars, and Japanese Yen since its opening. The theory is supported historical­ly by Iranian intellectu­als as a move made by the American elites after World War II with the Bretton Woods Act, taking away Gold backing from the Pound Sterling and discretely starting the eventual pegging of Gulf Arab Oil producers' currencies after Britain gave them independen­ce in 1961 and 1971. These countries were further secured militarily after the Gulf War in 1990. This pegging of the currencies along with the exchanges being exclusivel­y in USD in only two places, the IPE in London and NYMEX in New York City, has given the United States a near monopoly, with growing economies such as India and China waiting in line for orders. Critics say this revolution­ary move by Iran in creating a rival market may also be one of the reasons for the ongoing energy related US competitio­n with Iran.

http://en.­wikipedia.­org/wiki/P­etrodollar­_warfare”

[KIVPossum]

01:03 AM on 01/30/2012

Pity no one in DC has the guts to tell Israel we won't wage war for them.

[Gui Montag]

03:30 PM on 01/30/2012

When in doubt, blame the Jews.

[Tony Andrews]

04:17 PM on 01/30/2012

S/he didn't even mention "the Jews"

[MDean]

07:42 PM on 01/29/2012

What a waste of money... Oh, wait a minute... How many jobs will the $82 million create?

[MIKEinNYC]

03:01 PM on 01/29/2012

If they're going to go after Iran what they really need to do is get rid of their leadership, namely The Supreme Leader, (the ayatola), the panel of experts, (his moolas), and Ahma the pipsqueak loudmouth.

No point if harming regular Iranians most of whom would regard getting rid of these illegitimate, unelected dictator-thugs with titles right out of "Duck Soup" and which make even the North Koreans laugh as a favor.

[emigholzjr]

11:16 PM on 01/29/2012

When Iran’s people were contemplating revolt last election America supported the Iranian hierarchy because of stability in the region.

[MarcEdward]

10:05 AM on 01/30/2012

I have no use for their leadership, but killing them is wrong for a number of reasons, legal and moral.
However there is a real practical reason not to target him - see that Black turban? It means he's a descendant of the Prophet, not wise to think you can kill somebody like that and everybody will thank you for it.

[Richard Pearce banned]

02:10 PM on 01/29/2012

So, the $20 million dollar bomb is not powerful enough to destroy Iran's IAEA inspected, civilian nuclear site that almost certainly cost less than that to build, so the US government is going to spend several million more to develop one that costs more so that if the US decides to risk becoming the new Germany (with Israel joining them in the Axis, and pretty much every country south of 45 degrees north playing the part of the Allies) and try and destroy a legal and inspected nuclear program it will have the bombs, though then the problem will be how many planes carrying them will be shot down before one gets through.

And all that so that Israel can continue to have an uninspected, unregulated, military nuclear program. (If the Israeli government wanted to end the paranoia about Iran having some sort of superhero/supervillian hideout with a second nuclear program, this one military in nature, they could do what the Argentinian government did when they wanted to end the paranoia of their population about Brazil's IAEA inspected nuclear program and agree to a Nuclear Weapons Free Zone treaty that includes an inspection regime that they are sure would reveal such a thing if it existed, but even though the majority of their population is in favour of such a thing, the Israeli government refuses to do so because it would mean the end of their nuclear weapons program)

[muck-raker]

09:17 AM on 01/30/2012

excellent post: Today we find Brazil, India & China do not recognize US Sanctions. And because the USA has even imposed would be banks from doing business with them some are now paying in GOLD. more:
India to Continue Oil Imports from Iran despite West's Sanctions

TEHRAN (FNA)- India's Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee underlined New Delhi's resolve to continue oil imports from Iran despite the sanctions imposed on Iranian oil by the US and the European Union.

"It is not possible for India to take any decision to reduce imports from Iran drastically, because among countries which can provide the requirement of the emerging economies, Iran is an important one," Mukherjee told reporters in Chicago at the end of a two-day visit.

India, world's fourth-largest petroleum consumer, is Iran's second largest oil customer after China and purchases around $12 billion worth of Iranian crude every year, about 12 percent of its consumption.

After months of debates, the EU member states eventually reached an agreement in their meeting on January 23 to sanction oil imports from Iran and freeze the assets of Iran's Central Bank within EU.

Meantime, demand is growing for Iranian crude oil in Asian and African markets after EU's fresh decision.

Iran is currently supplying 100% of Sri Lanka's oil needs, 51% of Turkey, 25% of South Africa, 14% of Greece, 13% of Italy and Spain, 11% of India and China and 10% of Japan and South Korea's oil demands.

http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=9010172961

[fapescia]

12:32 PM on 01/29/2012

The US has tried it's best to eliminate the existential threat to Israel by using only conventional weapons. "All options on the table" means just that. It may become necessary to use the force that all sensible leaders have refused to use for over 60 years. If all efforts at producing a conventionial bomb, whether 15 tons or 50 tons, cannot eliminate the threat then massive thermonuclear weapons will be used.

Obama has never said that US options were constrained by International Law or any moral law. If preserving Israel no matter what is an unshakeable pledge much stronger that Britain's pledge to defend Poland in 1938 then the subject should be broached by our President.

[fapescia]

12:17 PM on 01/29/2012

Destroying something to save it is the basic tenet of American foreign policy since Vietnam. Israel has now embraced the nonsense doctrine that started with Golda Meir sadly lamenting how Israel was being forced against its will to kill the Palestinian women and children.

In the Ben Tre village in Vietnam an American officer told the press that the village had to be destroyed to prevent it from being overrun by Communists.

In Afghanistan's Argnandab valley the village of Tarok Kolache was infested with Taliban. It had to be destroyed to eliminate the threat and it was by massive air strikes and artillery.

In Iraq, Fallujah had to be destroyed twice. What the "monsters" did to the Blackwater mercenaries demanded vengance and it was delivered.

I can picture a tearful Avital Leibovitch or Mark Regev explaining why Iraq had to be destroyed to save it from the horrors imposed on the population by the Ayatollah's and Ahmadinejad.

[fapescia]

11:57 AM on 01/29/2012

The information provided by the IAEA team currently inspecting Iran's facilities will be important in designing the bombs needed. If the spy in the entourage is capable of remembering every detail of his inspection of Fordo he or she will know how thick the access doors are, how deep underground it is, and where the ventilation ducts are.

[wom122]

10:31 AM on 01/29/2012

We are the ones already armed to our teeth, we are the ones still seeking a "mightier bomb", and yet we have no scruple calling Iran a threat without batting an eye.

[muck-raker]

09:51 AM on 01/29/2012

Greek Left Parties Blast West's Silence on Israel's N. Arsenal

TEHRAN (FNA)- The coalition of left parties in Greece, in a statement, criticized West's growing pressure on Iran over the country's nuclear program and lashed out at the westerners for their silence on the nuclear arsenal of the Zionist regime of Israel.

Israel is believed to be the sole possessor of nuclear arms in the Middle East with over 200 ready-to-launch warheads in its stockpile.

In their statement, coalition of left parties protested that new sanctions seek to pressure Iran to halt its nuclear program despite Tehran's emphasis that its program is not aimed at production of nuclear weapons.

The coalition also highlighted that it is against possession of nuclear arms by any country, and that recent action of the European Union serves as part of bloc's dangerous anti-Iranian policies, press tv reported.

The statement stated that bringing up issue of Iran's nuclear program is hypocritical since countries which already wield atomic weapons have kept silent about Israel's nuclear arsenal.

The coalition also denounced the European Union's decision to ban oil imports from Iran as being in line with US and Israeli warmongering policies in Middle-East.

After the US, European Union (EU) held a summit meeting on Monday to discuss a proposed embargo on Iran's oil exports.

At the meeting, EU Foreign ministers reached an agreement on sanctioning oil imports from Iran and freezing the assets of Iran's

http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=9010172821

[mommamia526]

01:36 PM on 01/29/2012

I read yesterday that Iran has stated that it already has an atomic bomb, that the U.S. has lost its *slaves* in the ME with the Upheavals in Egypt, Yemen and elsewhere, etc. Be that as it may, I can not confirm it; I just read the articles.

Iran sponsors terrorism, and supports a.o. Hamas and Hezbullah. Hams is moving out of Damascus. Mashaal is reportedly considering running for the elections this year, IF elections will be held, and compete for the leadership of the PA. Hamas in Gaza is reportedly joining Islamic Jihad in Gaza (a movement, for those who are no fimilar with it, and fall over the word Jihad). Haniyeh (hamas) has been extremely active and vocal about wiping Israel off the map. Iran's Ahmadinejad wants to wipe Israel off the map. Jordan had evicted Hamas in 1999. Today there is a rapprochement between Jordan and Hamas. Mashaal may even move there. Hamas headquarters may move to either Cairo or Qatar. Iran has had an alliance with Syria, and Syria is in flames, with civil war either already existing or due any minute. Israel is not threatening to wipe anayone off the map. It is, however, vigilant about defense. However, Barak has already said, that military action in Iran will just postpone the issue. Iran is a larger issue than their atomic bomb, taking the nuclear arsenal there out,. Iran is an existential threat to all of the ME, to Europe and beyond.

[mommamia526]

01:51 PM on 01/29/2012

In other related news, Abbas, apparently, sees the handwriting on the wall. Mashaal probably running to take over his post. Hamas going together with Islamic Jihad in Gaza, and trying to consolidate with the Muslim Brotherhood, out of which they originated, but which they broke with. Abbas is *considering* cancelling this years' elections, as he can not win. Hamas earlier stated that elections would be *difficult* in view of the attempt to form an *Unity Government*. It is clear that an Unity Government will NOT take place with the PLO/PA since before the Unilateral Declaration in September 2011. It is also clear that Abbas, however, would NEVER ACCEPT The Jewish State, and that negotiations are again aborted, for now. Abbas is going to confer with The Arab League early next month on that issue. Does anyone expect any change after that conference? So, what do we have? Iran with a nuclear bomb and *improved* missiles, intent on wiping Israel off the map. A PanArabic Army and Party, possibly led by Mashaal, intent on wiping Israel off the map being considered. Remember, that Iran considers the U.S. the Big Satan, and Israel the little Satan only. Oil is just one of the means manipulated right now, with Iran threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz, and the rest of the world reacting to that. Earlier, last year, we had both Iran and Turkey *patrolling* the Mediterranean with respect to the drilling finds off the Israeli coast.

[american-dolt]

08:52 AM on 01/29/2012

Play with the toys you have, actually, put them in your toy box and secure the lid.

[analyse this]

08:00 AM on 01/29/2012

When someone makes threats, funds terror groups against your country and custom-builds a gigantic bomb specifically for you, is there still doubt about who the aggressor is?

That would be like me measuring you out for a casket while saying it is you who have bad intentions against me.

[94613]

05:55 AM on 01/29/2012

GingRich, Sect. Of State, John Bolton reveals Bunker Buster Bomb to light the fire under Romney's, kerosene faith and Prosleytzing bonfire of inequity, inequality and false prophecies. Fahrenheit 454 .... Loot4Newt!