Bush Admin. Drops 'Bunker-Buster' Plan

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

By H. JOSEF HEBERT, Associated Press Writer



WASHINGTON - The Bush administration has abandoned research into a nuclear "bunker-buster" warhead, deciding instead to pursue a similar device using conventional weaponry, a key Republican senator said Tuesday.

Sen. Pete Domenici (news, bio, voting record), R-N.M., said funding for the nuclear bunker-buster as part of the Energy Department's fiscal 2006 budget has been dropped at the department's request.

The nuclear bunker-buster had been the focus of intense debate in Congress, with opponents arguing that its development as a tactical nuclear weapon could add to nuclear proliferation.

An administration official, speaking on condition on anonymity because negotiations on the department's spending bill have not yet been completed, confirmed that a decision had been made to concentrate on a nonnuclear bunker-buster.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051026/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bunker_buster

[belle]

1. thank God for small mercies. I'd say v. large mercies if I were more sure

that this won't come up again; but, you know.

looks like those plummeting poll numbers do make a difference, even though his election days are behind him.

[Erika]

2. W's shock and awe campaign on innocent Iraqis

has cooled reception of nuclear weapons. If we can't get the war planning and intelligence right, how do we justify the use of nuclear weapons. Bomb a Syrian hospital because intelligence indicates the surgical rooms are really nuclear labs next time?

The people of the U.S. no longer trusts its government on foreign issues. A legacy of W.

[Rose Siding]

3. His whole agenda is falling apart

[pinto]

4. Good...n/t

[Thor_MN]

5. U.S. drops nuclear 'bunker-buster' plans

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/10/25/bunker.buster.ap/index.html

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Bush administration has abandoned research into a nuclear "bunker-buster" warhead, deciding instead to pursue a similar device using conventional weaponry, a key Republican senator said Tuesday.

Sen. Pete Domenici of New Mexico said funding for the nuclear bunker-buster as part of the Energy Department's fiscal 2006 budget has been dropped at the department's request.

They must be getting worried, retreating on missile defense AND bunker busting nukes? Either that or they have looted enough cash on this white elephant now as well...

[Hekate]

6. I think they're insane for having thought of it in the first place

And I mean, on some level, certifiable. They know better than to bring back the nuclear arms race -- but hey, they know better than to torture people too. I sincerely thank God that at least this one plan of these evil-doers has been dropped.

Hekate

[FVZA_Colonel]

7. Huh. The Bush administration managed to do the right thing for once.

Who would have thought?

[Miss Marmelstein]

8. Don't count on it....

they will just continue in secret. Remember all the money missing from the pentagon.

[wordout]

10. Indeed, i do remember. Never forget the name rabbi dov zakheim

fart when you say it.

[Journeyman]

9. But how are we going to blast through the 1/4 inch plywood. . .

covering the next Saddam's spidey hole? That was warped pine, if I remember correctly, with knotholes and blemishes, and the tunnel below was more than 10 feet deep. Without a compact nuclear bunker-buster, how will we ever get through the next trap door, especially if it's covered in dirt or worse, hidden beneath vegetation or covered by a lawn chair?

[sofa king]

11. So someone finally figured out that you could just dig a deeper hole, eh?

That's good, George. Now let's take the process one step further. When you have the capability to stop forty missiles launched at the United States, what is your enemy going to do?

That's right, George. Your enemy is going to launch more missiles than you can stop. And if your anti-missiles don't work at all, ahem, the damage will be all the worse. End of class. Here's a sucker.