US launches fresh barrage of missiles at Tripoli

[Playinghardball]

Source: MSNBC

NATO bombs Gadhafi complex; Libyan troops drive back rebels

TRIPOLI, Libya — U.S. ships and submarines unleashed a barrage of cruise missiles at Libyan missile storage facilities in the Tripoli area late Monday and early Tuesday, an official said.

Later Tuesday, missiles targeted the tightly guarded residence of leader Moammar Gadhafi and military targets in the suburb of Tajura as NATO-led coalition aircraft were seen in the skies.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss U.S. military details, said 22 Tomahawk cruise missiles were launched from the Mediterranean — the most in at least several days.

Read more at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42317196/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/?GT1=43001

[NightWatcher]

1. I thought we were wrapping up our part?

turning control over to NATO?

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. This is pure evil.

This can't be justified no matter how far you stretch the truth.

[Catherina]

3. Sickening. Rec'd n/t

[Divernan]

4. Expensive/$22 million; 10% fail at launch; easily overshoot/miss target

So 22 one-million dollar, Tomahawk missiles were fired at the suburb of Tajura.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomahawk_%28missile%29

Production history
Manufacturer General Dynamics (initially)
Raytheon/McDonnell Douglas
Unit cost $1,066,465 (Block IV Variant, FY11 $) <1>


http://www.g2mil.com/SSGN%20Scandal.htm

In addition, Tomahawks are less accurate and often less effective than JDAM since they fly in horizontally at several hundred miles an hour. If they fail to explode at the exact microsecond, they will miss their target by hundreds of meters. After an errant cruise missile killed four UN workers in Kabul, they were sidelined. Another factor is that cruise missiles flying horizontally can't penetrate downward into bunkers like falling JDAM bombs. JDAM can also be attached to larger 2000lbs bombs, 1000lbs bombs, or 500lbs bombs (which are better in crowded urban areas), while cruise missile warheads are always 1000lbs. Finally, about 10% of Tomahawk cruise missiles fail at launch, and the rest can be shot down by ground fire, something the Iraqis often achieved. In short, Tomahawk cruise missiles are less accurate, less effective, more vulnerable, less reliable, and 25 times more expensive than JDAM bombs.

[Lasher]

8. Don't worry, they were already paid for and we were just going to throw them away anyhow.

:eyes:

"I can't tell you if the use of force in Iraq today would last five days, or five weeks, or five months, but it certainly isn't going to last any longer than that." - Donald Rumsfeld, November 14, 2002

[Divernan]

10. And now they'll have to be replaced of course! More big $$$ for MIC

[Divernan]

5. Tajura/target area - home of Nuclear Research Centre

The Tajoura Nuclear Research Centre was established by the secretariat of Atomic Energy of Great Socialists peoples Libyan Arab Jamahirya SPLAJ in 1983 to solve problems of economic significance to the country via peaceful application of atomic energy. The aim of establishing the center was to create a modern and well-equipped establishment and the necessary qualified and well-trained personnel to obtain a "Centre of excellence" for carrying out fundamental and applied research, advanced study and training in the field of nuclear science and engineering.

Basic research tools consist of a 10 MW research reactor, a critical facility, a neutron generator complex, and a TM-4 “ Tokomak” with the necessary process, control and measuring equipment and instrumentation for installations. Radiochemical laboratories produce radioactive isotopes for use in agriculture, medicine, geology, biology, and industry. A physical research facility comprising nuclear physics laboratory, solid state physics laboratory, neutron physics laboratory, material science and engineering laboratory, radiation biophysics laboratory, mass spectrometry laboratory, activation analysis laboratory, laboratories for physical research using the neutron generator and in fields having relevance to cover most nuclear technologies and science.

The main facility of the establishmet, is a 10 MW pool-type research reactor designed for isotope production and for fundamental and applied research in nuclear, physics, solid state physics, neutron physics, radiation chemistry, radiation biology, activation analysis, study of behaviour of structural materials under irradiation.The reactor uses ligh enriched uranium (80%) U235 as fuel, light water as coolant and moderator, and beryllium as a reflector.

The 10-megawatt nuclear research reactor supplied by the Soviet Union in 1979 was installed at the research center at Tajura near Tripoli, staffed by 750 Libyan specialists and technicians. Many students were sent abroad; a group of 200 was studying in the United States until early 1983 when the United States proscribed training Libyans in nuclear science.
http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/tajoura-nuclear-research-centre/

[daleo]

18. Sestroying a nuclear facility sounds reckless

If it is operational. I would think the Japanese crisis would demonstrate that.

[arcane1]

6. We're bombing his house?

It's a good thing we're not at war! :crazy:

[sarcasmo]

7. Get ready for another long conflict.

[Bandit]

9. And this enforces a "no-fly zone" ...how?

:shrug: This has nothing to do with "no-fly zones" but with targeting Libyan forces at their homes and barracks. This is "An Act of War"

[Shiver]

11. Well, attacking missile storage facilities makes sense in enforcing an NFZ.

Keeps the missiles from being launched, just in case the missile launchers haven't all been taken out.

[Divernan]

14. Collateral damage? Pfft! As George Carlin said, they're brown-skinned people.

And that's who the US always attacks, with the exception of Germans in WW II. And as Carlin pointed out, "We went after the Germans because they wanted to rule the world, and that's our god damned job! We're the rulers of the world!"

George had it right back in the early 90's -, and it holds true today, sadly.

RIP, George.

[Shiver]

15. I don't think I said anything about collateral damage.

But I do agree on Carlin. :toast:

[Bandit]

16. I suppose those missiles are in Kadaffi's bedroom

If not then why are we sending our missiles there?

[Starry Messenger]

12. Were these reaching their expiration date too? n/t

[Divernan]

13. Sherman's march thru Georgia had nothing on the US's destruction of multiple MidEast countries.

[daa]

17. More massacres to prevent - massacres nt

[Zanzoobar]

19. Awesome!

I can smell the humanitarianism from way over here!

[bluebuzzard]

20. truth or tin

http://21stcenturywire.com/2011/03/28/globalist-target-the-central-bank-of-libya-is-100-state-owned/