nuke 'em till they glow

[tbud]

neutron bomb

"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.

http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9055407/neutron-bomb

My background is in radiation science and I can tell you that while metal is actually hazardous in neutron fields, other materials such as boron and wax are useful shields as are petroleum based materials which have a high hydrocarbon content. One would have to move the tanks / materials which contain DU out of range of the neutron field or they become radioactive uranium again. Which according to the article is all completely feasible, for those who know how neutron bombs really work

 

[darkbeaver]

Thankyou TBud, it's nice when someone with brains comments.

 

[darkbeaver]

I watched a documentary on the dropping of Atomic bombs on Japan and a Japanese proffesor was interviewed. He put it perfectly.

"Every so often when we talk about how the Americans dropped the bomb on Japan a lot of my colleagues disapprove of it and say that they should not have done that. I tell them it was a war. I pose to them the question that if we had the bomb first would we have used it on America? Absolutley. Japan would have most certainly used it against the United States."

The United States did use the bomb. I have no doubt that other scumbags would also have used it, if they had the oportunity. You're point is what?

 

[EagleSmack]

There's evidence to show that the Japanese were actively trying to surrender in the last two months leading up to the dropping of the A-bombs, but they were being ignored by the US administration that was now hell-bent on displaying to the world their new Nazi-designed weapon. Especially the effect that this would have on the soviets.

There is a really cool book on Japan in the last months of the war that speaks to both schools of thought. What you speak of is just the PC version that once again blames the US. but lets ignore that for a moment.

There were elements in the Japanese Diet (Diet was their equivalent to cabinet) that wanted to negotiate a peace settlement and there were elements that wanted to continue the fight to the end. The Emperor was on the fence and was not sure what to do when it was clear that the war was not going well. One thing is clear and that is the Japanese did not want to accept the terms of the Potsdam Conference which is what the allies demanded... INCLUDING the Soviets.

The Japanese Diet did NOT want to surrender. They wanted a conditional peace treaty. They wanted a modification of the Potsdam document and the allies said no. Therefore the Japanese vowed to continue to the end. The Japanese biggest concern was that the Emperor would be put on trial and/or removed as their ruler.

After the second bombing at Nagasaki the Emperor for once made a ruling on his own and said that his life or seat of power is not worth preserving while his people are being killed. He would not listen to the Japanese Warring faction any longer and told the Diet to accept the Potsdam Treaty and accept Unconditional Surrender.

Even then on the night of surrender elements of the Japanese military seized the Imperial Palace by force to basically convince the Emperor to change his mind as they thought he was being mislead. Members of the Imperial Guard, Diet members (not all) were killed until the Emperor went to the rebels and basically said

"You have disobeyed my orders and have insulted me." (in so many words... I can't remember exactly) The short lived seige was over and many of the ring leaders ended up killing themselves in disgrace.

I think the book was called "Japan's Final Days". It was a great book.

 

[EagleSmack]

neutron bomb

"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.

http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9055407/neutron-bomb

My background is in radiation science and I can tell you that while metal is actually hazardous in neutron fields, other materials such as boron and wax are useful shields as are petroleum based materials which have a high hydrocarbon content. One would have to move the tanks / materials which contain DU out of range of the neutron field or they become radioactive uranium again. Which according to the article is all completely feasible, for those who know how neutron bombs really work

DB you act as if this supports your silly theory. The US Tank crews would have been sizzled at the airport. The center of Baghdad is only 5 miles away so their certainly would have been horrendus civillian radiation casualties.

Also tank and infantry formations are spread out over many miles.

 

[EagleSmack]

The United States did use the bomb. I have no doubt that other scumbags would also have used it, if they had the oportunity. You're point is what?

My point is I am having a discussion/debate with another intelligent person and you are pretty much incapable of having one of those. It's not your fault, you're just not capable of keeping up. Why don't you go cut and paste something. :lol:

 

[darkbeaver]

My point is I am having a discussion/debate with another intelligent person and you are pretty much incapable of having one of those. It's not your fault, you're just not capable of keeping up. Why don't you go cut and paste something. :lol:

Oh you're having a discussion, pardon me for interrupting your genius while it's at work.I'm sorry that I can't match your wealth of information Smack.

 

[MikeyDB]

Certainly of course we can exonerate everything and anything the United States has done in Iraq...after all...They invaded Iraq becuase of those piles of WMDs.....Where are they? They (America) has yet to acknowledge their culpability in an invasion out of which conspiracy theories and all manner of nonsense have arisen...
The fact remains that America is responsible for everything conspiracy theories et al. that have been given attention because the larger conspiracy theory of America needlessly and against the wishes and opinion of millions of people around the world brought terrorism to the pinnacle of attention it now is...
Nukes or not....the United States is responsible ...when will the people of America admit to their stupidity and acknowledge they were lied to by their government?

Never. It would be profoundly UN-American to accept either responsibility or acknowledge the truth.

 

[EagleSmack]

Oh you're having a discussion, pardon me for interrupting your genius while it's at work.I'm sorry that I can't match your wealth of information Smack.

No problem. Like I said... it's not your fault.

 

[darkbeaver]

No problem. Like I said... it's not your fault.

Thank-you Smack, that's so kind of you.

 

[folcar]

The list of theoretical weapons that the U.S. has been working on is quite impressive, Laser's from Space and Ground, Flying Disks based on the early and Marginally succesful experiments here in Canada by AVRO. Mind Control, Neutron Bombs, Super Fighters, Fighters that can go Orbital, Stealth Technology. I am sure alot more could be added, and the military application of all of them are easily foreseeable. This coupled with the fact that military in it's quest to get one up on the competition around the globe has generated numerous innovations as a result of their research. I am betting that what we all know about is only a small fraction, any of the real goood stuff is sure to extremely top secret and like most of it will only be revealed when it is used in war.

 

[Curiosity]

Question: When did the U.S. ever use the atomic bombs on another nation after the horrors of Nagasaki and Hiroshima? Having the weaponry and not using it shows reponsibility and defensive mode - and yet nobody recognizes this when going after the U.S. I guess most people don't give a damn and prefer to get the intel from Good Housekeeping.

 

[folcar]

Question: When did the U.S. ever use the atomic bombs on another nation after the horrors of Nagasaki and Hiroshima? Having the weaponry and not using it shows reponsibility and defensive mode - and yet nobody recognizes this when going after the U.S. I guess most people don't give a damn and prefer to get the intel from Good Housekeeping.

To date it has not happened, provided Al-Queda doesn't go nuclear it most likely won't be any time soon. If they did!
Whatever nation was harbouring them would be wise to cough up every last one, lest they themselves gain a nice soft green glow.