For the first time ever, the United States has used the GBU-43 Massive Ordinance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb, a 21,000 lb conventional bomb, in a non-test environment in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar Province. Officials say they are still assessing what the attack did.
The MOAB, which officials also call the “Mother of All Bombs,” is the largest conventional (non-nuclear) bomb in the US arsenal. Dropped in the Achin District, it was said to have been dropped on a system of caves and tunnels that are used by ISIS forces.
Whether that’s going to be effective or not remains to be seen, as the MOAB is not designed to penetrate underground positions. It is as yet unclear why they decided to use the MOAB in this case instead of something more commonly used.
The White House largely refused comment on the attack, with Sean Spicer confirming the attack and saying it was meant to deny ISIS “operating space.” They referred all questions on the matter to the Defense Department, however.
The attack comes just days after a US green beret was killed in this area of Afghanistan, and may be seen as the US trying to launch a high-profile retaliation. The proximity of villages to the huge explosion, however, raises concerns that civilians could be in danger from such a recklessly large blast, though CNN insisted the area was “remote” and probably didn’t have any people there. Fox News, by contrast, reported on nearby villages in the targeted area.
The device will suck the air out of the tunnels.
I think the idea was to suck the air out of anybody in the tunnels. Now the comes hard part: estimating the numbers killed, or sending somebody in there to find out.
Recon UAV
Gotta love it only country to ever use a nuke now the country to drop the biggest bomb!!!USA…Don’t poke the bear more like don’t awaken the sleeping giant…
For dead guys (and likely their families; DAESH sometimes keep them close) in closed/collapsed tunnels?
What’s this? A desperate attempt to make a statement by the psychopath?
A statement that’s supposed to tell the people that he’s making America great again?
I harbinger of bigger and better things to come?
It’s also sickening listening to the flag-waving morons
from the peanut gallery cheering on this latest act of
‘terrorism’ by their Slum Lord psychopath.
It’s easy for these idiots to rah-rah! USG so long as it’s
NOT their women and children on the receiving end of
a 21,600 pound bomb.
I know now remember that when you start defending Putin’s puppet Assad when his Air Force starts dropping bombs full of gas on his people.The difference between the two is we don’t invent alternative facts when we drop bombs we acknowledge what we do.That tired ole the Syrian people gassed themselves is about as tired as the we aren’t giving the Russian separatists in Ukraine with our state of the art weaponry they bought it on the black market…I guess if you believe North Korea’s leader was born on a mystical magical mountain you’ll believe anything.USA
We acknowledge what we do? Jesus, I almost spit out my coffee on that one. We deny anything and everything until we have no choice but to admit our wrongdoing. Usually several weeks go by before doing so. And don’t you mean al Qaeda gassed themselves? The chemical attack took place in a rebel(al Qaeda) stronghold. So assuming Assad did gas his “own people”(he didn’t)wasn’t he doing us a favor by doing it to our mortal enemy, al Qaeda?USA
You are lost in space. It is clear, obvious and not being even hidden — that “rebels” in the shape of Al-Qaeda and ISIS — and all of their related cults ALWAYS POSSESSED CHEMICAL WEAPONS. Period. They tested them on rabbits and posted the experiment on internet before sarin gas attack , then they used the same chemical in Mosul — and now again in Syria. Ehatever plans Trump had for fighting ISIS — they are dead. The Deep State apparatus does what it wants — and Hillary’s plans are all in place. Using Kurds for fighting ISIS in Raqqa is absurd — as ISIS will evaporate the moment it gets orders. Without sponsors, it would not function more then a week. Al-Qaeda is a bit more fortunate, as the Western propaganda machine cried when they got kicked out of Aleppo. And are still protected, with an Oscar to boot.
The only free people in Syria are those that are under Syrian army protection. Why not ask people — what is the “free media” afraid off?
We the prople cannot win ever. A lawyer without wealth, Obama, promised to change Washington, but soon after taking office he was taking orders from Hillary. Trump is taking them from McMasters. Who in turn is controlled by Petreaus. Neocons and Ziocons are back in saddle, and can be as reckless as they want and Trump has nothing to do but to keep on explaining the mess. But being rich — he is vulnerable to those that can destroy his life’s work easily world wide. It is clear that voting is a ritual by which the elite would get their person regardless of vote. This time around — both parties were scared — the candidate appeared to have slipped out of their control. But ghen the real, deep state stepped in, and Trump is in full retreat. It remains to be seen who will win in the end. Elite will not sit here when nukes start falling.
Bianca! Welcome back! Your ego must have taken quite a hit to keep you away that long?
Your post is so convoluted and mixed up that I have to ask you, is it more endorsement of your Trump or are you ready to go straight for a change? Facing the fact that Trump’s to blame or still trying to place the blame on somebody else?
I hear you loud and clear.
but as to the bomb, big fu–ing deal. It’s meaningless in all aspects except on the number of human lives it took.
Mexico could do the same if it has a plane big enough to carry the weight.
It likely has a lot to do with the size of Trump’s penis in the inverse sense.
god.i bet he has a nice penis I didn’t want to be the first to praise it but since you open the door I bet it’s wonderful but as common Folk may never know but I’ve got my fingers crossed for you please do the same for me⛷
Hmmm…maybe this will inspire the “Mother of All Blowback” (MOAB) here in the US, because ISIS and friends won’t take this lightly.
I think i heard he explosion from North America.
Zowie! that’s a war-winner.
“The area was remote and PROBABLY didn’t have any people there”.
This is not the largest non nuclear bomb in the world. Russias is 2 times larger
US MOAB is 22,000 lbs with a 150 ft radius and Russias is 88,000 lbs with 300ft radius
I am guessing that you are referring to the blast radius but a bomb like this is likely to have other destructive properties such as oxygen deprivation in closed spaces. I’m doing a lot of guessing here.
I do know that for a nuclear weapon, the burn radius for second degree burns is twice the blast radius.
This could get into a manhood contest. Whip them babies out!
Who’s got more bases to drop those bombs???Who’s the only country to have used one whose the only country to ever use a nuclear bomb….That’s what I thought comrade see how facts work…USA
Do you actually think that’s something to be proud of? We incinerated two cities. USA!!USA!!USA!
Why do we have the largest non-nuclear bomb if we do not use it? It just sits there and rots.
I’m glad we only have 15 or so of these. I never understood why we have a 1,000+ tactical nuclear weapons. I can’t see why we would ever need more than 30 in any lunatic scenario and I’d never want to use those either.
Another grotesque first for the insane clown president. I guarantee there were civilian victims. Probably simple goat herders that have lived peacefully in those mountains for centuries. We’ll probably never know their names.
It’s the US answer to the restraint put on it by MAD. It’s o.k. for that reason. Barrel bombs aren’t o.k. because they are, well, they’re barrel bombs?
But the American people buy into that narrative and so it’s a measure of our lack of progress. It’s the most simple example of propaganda we could use against the warmongering bastards but it’s been sold to the people as just not fair war.
Goat herders rarely live to be over 80 years old so I find that statement a little hard to believe are you sure about that?
I was talking about generations of families and communities you dumb-ass.
easy Eliza Dushku, I was making a joke but that is definitely an original insult “dumb-ass” where did you hear that or did you coin that yourself? well I never heard it before so I’m giving you credit good job!
This coming from the guy who took two f**king weeks just to come up with “Eliza Dushku”, which apparently flies as an insult in your neck of the woods. “Take that you gorgeous B-list actress with a vaguely funny sounding name!”. Color me burned.
Actually I’ve been working on that for 6 months thank you very much waiting on the right person to use it on I know I know but hey what are you going to do dumbass was taken anyways I was messing around you’re probably just as cool as the next guy guess I was just in a weird mood I guess everybody’s a little troll in them I’m over it now
Shit happens.
Who gives countries permission to use Weapons of Mass Destruction?
It’s what the U.S. does best. Stock prices are up for weapons manufacturers so money is being made. Making bombs are a complete waste of money unless you use them (not considering the moral aspect of killing for the war machine).
Last I checked the overall markets were down overall, but then its the week before the Easter long weekend and might be expected to be so.
The President’s deeds do not resemble the candidates words. If you supported Trump (as I did) and you’re interested in ‘America First’, these destructive actions do not bode well.
Deep State has him in their back pocket. Who knew Trump was this weak?
It’s not that he’s “weak.” It’s that he does whatever he damn well pleases and counts on people like you to make excuses for him instead of coming to grips with the fact that he lied to you.
He was the only candidate saying anything against endless ME wars, NATO expansion, etc. All other candidates were clearly puppets of the Deep State. Now that he is in there, he is doing their bidding. That is weakness. A bit unclear to me why you would think calling someone weak is making excuses for them. but, then again, I don’t dwell in Knapp land.
And he lied. And it was painfully obvious that he was lying at the time. But there was Hillary and the desperation of people just like you to find an anti-establishment cure for all that ails them.
The ailment that has still not been found and accepted as the problem. Greedy capitalism as opposed to capitalsim that is practiced successfully throughout the world.
Take your time, maybe the next Trump will work out better. If it’s another corporate billinaire it’s a sure thing! LOL
“And it was painfully obvious that he was lying at the time.” It was? The Israel first crowd apparently was not so sure as you given the 24/7 smears directed at him throughout the campaign and for the first few months of his presidency. Now the media is lavishing him with praise as he has gotten on board the endless wars for Israel train.
“The Israel first crowd apparently was not so sure as you given the 24/7 smears directed at him throughout the campaign and for the first few months of his presidency.”
Yeah, Sheldon Adelson spending $100 million to get him elected certainly proved how much the Israel First crowd hated him.
Adelson did not spend $100 million to get Trump elected.
If it were 25 million would that mean Adelson isn’t an Israeli firster with humongous influence?
Of course Adelson is an Israel Firster with huge influence. He gave nearly $100 million to super pacs in 2016.
Sorry. I misunderstood your earlier comment.
How much he spent is not clear since much of it was “dark money,” but he “committed up to” $100 million and spent at least $25 million.
He did so after Trump:
1) Made a tepid, but admittedly bold by American standards, statement that he thought the US should be “neutral” in the conflict between the Palestinian Arabs and the Palestinian Jews, aka Israelis; then
2) Turned 180 degrees when the firestorm hit, went on hands and knees to AIPAC, pronounced his intention to be “the most pro-Israel president in history,” move the US embassy to Jerusalem, publicly fellate Bibi Netanyahu, etc.
The idea that Trump was on anything less than close friendly terms with the Israel First crowd prior to the election is simply at variance with the known facts.
The why did the Israel friendly mainstream media expend so much time and energy trying to stop Trump?
For the same reason that any other entertainment complex does its best to make things seem dramatic.
Wow. I have heard that from others but did not think anyone really believed that. All the crap the establishment pulled to make sure Trump did not win…was all entertainment?
Interesting how you change your claim in mid-conversation, as if you think I won’t notice. You make a claim regarding “the Israel friendly mainstream media;” then after I answer it, the claims suddenly becomes about “the establishment.”
The Republican establishment certainly tried to keep Trump from getting the GOP nomination because he was, on conventional terms, a weak candidate.
The Democratic establishment hoped like hell he WOULD get the GOP nomination for the same reason.
The mainstream media promoted the hell out of him, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as a figure of ridicule because that’s how you sell newspapers, magazines and page views.
It’s true that they promoted him as — to steal terms from professional wrestling — a “heel” rather than a “face” — but that’s precisely the axis on which media coverage turns. The mainstream media thinks about what is entertaining. Only at the margins does it have any other agenda.
The establishment is pro Israel Jewry. Their “mainstream” media smeared him 24/7 in an attempt to stop his candidacy. This is afar different thing than promoting him, than selling entertainment. That anyone can sit there with a straight face promoting the narrative that they were in anyway promoting him speaks to their inability to admit it when they are wrong.
Well, no, it speaks to me living in the real world instead of in your fantasy universe.
Perhaps someone so thin skinned and passive aggressive should not be a moderator of antiwar.com
Feel free to apply for the job if you want it. The executive director can be reached at akeaton [at] antiwar.com.
But, of course, what you really mean is “how DARE Antiwar.com employ someone who, in a non-moderator role, DARES to notice how tenuous my grip on the real world is?”
I know I am not the only regular reader of antiwar that has complained about your juvenile behavior to Justin Raimondo. As well as some other contributors. I am surprised that he has not done something about it
I wouldn’t know, since he and I do not speak.
I guess I have to acknowledge your expertise in juvenile behavior.
I guess it’s time for the occasional disclaimer:
When I am moderating, I am moderating.
When I am commenting, I am commenting.
The two are not the same thing.
MOST of the time if I am moderating you won’t even know or notice, because I am just cleaning up spam and hate speech behind the scenes.
OCCASIONALLY, I will comment in a way that clearly alludes to the rules here, in which case I am moderating and it is clear that that’s what I’m doing.
99.9% of my comments are just me expressing my opinion, to which I am just as entitled as you are to yours.
I guess I can understand the temptation to pretend otherwise and claim that I have some special obligation to not have, or express, an opinion just because I also do some janitorial work for Antiwar.com. Whining about mean ol’ Tom Knapp probably IS a tempting way to avoid having to make a rational argument. Tempting … but not effective.
“I wouldn’t know, since he and I do not speak.’
Hardly surprising.
It’s likely that no Amlerican is living in the real world now, as the stand-off approaches.
You miss the point and that’s because you are an American who only buys into American propaganda. China and Russia can do California and if the US tries to do N.Korea then the end result is escalation to a real war. It’s highly unlike because the US knows it treads carefully and slowly, and has done so since the fall of the Soviet Union. It just ain’t gonnan happen in a hurry Tomas.
“He was the only candidate saying anything against endless ME wars, NATO expansion, etc.”
Nope. Jill Stein and Gary Johnson were both talking against those things too — and not turning around five minutes later and talking FOR those things.
How many Green party and libertarians have been elected president?
When you read my comment above, you’ll find that point is made again. Raimondo is providing the lead that these people are willingly hanging their hats on. I would suggest that putting more pressure on Raimondo to drop that bullshit is job one. It would take a lot of wind out of Brockland and his ilk’s sails.
I’m not sure how to put “more” pressure on him, since I don’t put any pressure on him at all. Which part of “I am not even on speaking terms with Justin Raimondo, let alone in any position to influence him in any way” is it that you don’t understand?
You’ve mentioned his name lots of times and you’ve also stated that you disagree with him. Even now you are saying that you aren’t on speaking terms with him. That’s putting pressure on a person even if you don’t consider it so. You may think that others are immune to pressure but you would be wrong.
Trump was described even by supporters as a loose cannon that sometimes rolled and fired it the right direction. Obvioulsy he could not be counted upon to do so.
That said, this was inevitable given the popular and legislative gridlock facing the Adminstration. Obamacare, the Debt Ceiling, tax reform and all sorts of other domestic programs were going nowhere.
Keep in mind that Trump is just some guy in the Presidency; what was voted for, America First and so on, were legit things to vote that no other candidate was championing effectively during the election.
HAHAHAHAHAHA, TRUMP OWNS YOU MUSLIM FILTH! HAHAHAHAHA!
MOAB cost=$16 million;
Afghan MOD says 36 Daesh killed but no civilians;
Jeez, my head is starting to hurt again.
Why? Not enough blood for your money?
Try not to be an a..hole, I know it is difficult if you are natural born but you missed the point of the comment!
This is what happens when you say to the Generals, “I am open to your advice. I’m not like the other guy. I support you.”
What you get is boys playing with toys.
Like the Moab, which is nothing more than an attempt to build as big a bome as possible, and is useless militarily.
We can look forward to more.
Looks like a sad repeat of shock and awe. They ran out of BLU-82 Daisy Cutters and terrorist cult personalities.
We didn’t worry about civilians in N. Vietnam when we bombed Henoi park when they parked their surface to air missles there did we?
They say 36 militants were killed in the blast. That’s about $450,000 per militant. I’m wondering how in the f**k they know they killed 36 militants.
Only an American calculates the cost of lives in foreign countries.
Only to illustrate the ridiculousness of it all. Stop trying to over analyze everything.
A message to N.Korea?
More than just a message to N.Korea?
Gee! Trump really does have the wind at his back now Raimondo!
duh????
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/14/moab-attack-isis-baffling-choice-cold-blooded-terms-cost-afghanistan?CMP=edit_2221
These critters fill the air with an explosive material that when detonated in the mouth of a tunnel makes a shock wave that is propagated throughout the tunnel system at the same time the instantaneous combustion of the explosive sucks all the air out of the tunnel. We used similar smaller weapons to run Al Queda out of ToraBora. Probably just testing it to see if it might be the answer to digging all those North Korean cannoncockers out of their caves before they can demo Seoul. Wouldn’t want to crew that cargo plane though when the enemy is one that shoots back.
I guess Al-Qaeda has lost its boogeyman status so from now on those on the receiving end of such bombs would be declared ISIS terrorists. At about $450,000 per terrorists this weapon is a bargain. Why didn’t the US military just shot the terrorists when they were being counted? That would have been less than $2 per terrorist. But I guess no one wants to save tax payer’s money.
Killing flies with a sledge hammer. Neither effective or wise.