The MOP doesn’t work by excavation. It penetrates to a great depth before detonating. There is no series of explosions to ‘dig’ down. There may be little indication of the bombs penetration at the surface. And the MOP is mentioned in that thread.
They could attack bases and they could disrupt Hormuz. The Houthis were supposed to get wiped off the map with these bunker busters and they’re still around and could disrupt the Red Sea.
It’s entirely possible that Iran decides to deescalate and look for an off-ramp, but I’m skeptical precisely because they don’t know what to believe anymore. They were negotiating with the US and prepared to sign another 2015-type deal, and as it turns out, the US, as it was negotiating, knew Israel was going to clobber Iran.
There’s really no telling what Iran’s thinking right now other than that they’re probably ready to lash out but afraid to because they don’t want to take on Israel and the United States at the same time.
It’s a gigantic bomb. It will blow stuff out of the hole.
What is left will now be loose dirt and not compacted soil. The next bomb can go deeper since it has softer soil to deal with at the start. And it will blow more out too.
Is there a way we wouldn’t know by now if nuclear weapons were used?
That impacts access to/from the facility but it doesn’t necessarily end their enrichment. They can move it. I think, as usual, we’re overestimating our capabilities.
Obviously not. If nuclear weapons were used, the whole world would obviously know by now.
With this bombing mission won’t Iran have more incentive than ever to develop a nuclear weapon? They will want to strike back as hard as they can.
Without a doubt.
Which is why I think Israel (and now the US) really need a regime change.
I will say this tells every country in the world that if they do not have nukes they are in danger.
Ukraine gave up its nukes when the Soviet state ended and got a promise not to be attacked. Look what that got them? I am sure if Zelensky could go back in time he’d tell them to keep their nukes.
I guess that depends on whether you think Iran already was or not.
And the stuff will fall back in the hole and be more difficult to remove with further bombs. The idea of the MOP is to penetrate near to the depth of the bunker and detonate there causing the bunkers to collapse deep down.
According to Hannity, he spoke to Trump and got some details about the strike.
Six of the bunker busters were dropped on Fordow.
The other two sites were hit by Tomahawks launched from submarines, thirty in all.
Which would have required 3 B2s. The bombs (sorry, BOMBS) are so big you can only fit 2 in a B2.
I’m surprised. I thought they could only carry one. Those are really big bombs! (I believe you, just surprised)
Yes, if this is true all 3 B2s hit Fordow and only missiles hit the other sites
That’s an… Interesting summary of the situation.
If the Iranians were innocently negotiating in good faith, why did they enrich hundreds of kilograms of uranium to 60%, a level that has no peaceful purpose? Most curious.
And even bigger planes.
Maybe? This is uncharted territory. What kind of boom does a tactical nuke make? And if it’s on a nuclear facility, how clearly would the radioactive byproducts be identifiable as from a weapon and not the facility?
Of course we’d know eventually. But immediately? How?
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Because there was no longer an agreement. You’re not one to talk: you all have probably hundreds of nukes that aren’t officially declared. You commit genocide. Not even Iran does that.
I think seismometers are sufficient. A nuke will make seismometers register the boom and the signature is unique enough to know it was not an earthquake.
Then there are satellites and I am sure more than one country is watching that area now. Maybe they all decided to be silent if it was a nuke but I doubt that would last even if it ever happened.
Eventually the fallout would register but that might take a few days (as happened with Chernobyl when it exploded).
It is mentioned in the Wikipedia link you posted:
The MOP can currently be dropped only by the B-2 Spirit, which can carry up to two of the bombs.