Labs Compete to Build New Nuclear Bomb

An anonymous reader writes "Yahoo! News is reporting that two labs are currently competing to design the first new nuclear bomb in twenty years. The new bomb was approved as a part of the 2006 defense spending bill. From the article: 'Proponents of the project say the U.S. would lose its so-called "strategic deterrent" unless it replaces its aging arsenal of about 6,000 bombs, which will become potentially unreliable within 15 years. A new, more reliable weapon, they say, would help the nation reduce its stockpile.'"

Comments

Re:Remember Iran:

[CrazyJim1]

The way Iran churns out terrorists, hate and bombs that they actually use, it'd take less than one episode of 24 before they try and blow up Israel with it.

Re:Remember Iran:

[DigiShaman]

That would be idiotic.

Of course it would be. No need to tell me that. However, try telling that to those that want to blow themselves up for the 72 virgins offered in the afterlife.

The world is no longer sane when you're dealing with the insane. Best to keep that in mind ;)

Re:I wonder who is the target

[Tom]

I'm shocked that you actually used the words "less collateral damage" in relation to fucking nuclear bombs. We are not talking bullets or missiles here, which could - at least in theory - strike a small target and do limited damage.

You can not contain a nuclear explosion once you started it. There is no "collateral damage" because anything within the blast radius is very much going to be torched. The heat, radition and fallout are not "oops, accident" effects. Especially not in a nuke detonated at ground level.

Damn americans

[SuperDre]

I find this really sick.. Saying to others they can't build nuclear weapons, but keep on making those weapons yourself.. Unless the U.S.A. themselves stop making those weapons they can't say to other countries to stop making them (in this case Iran, a while back it was north korea)..
I'm not for anyone creating nuclear weapons, but if the U.S.A. builds/keeps them any other country is also allowed to create/have them..
At the moment the biggest threat to the world is the U.S.A., and that's sad, as the U.S.A. is a very beautifull country, only to be run by complete morrons who only thing about themselves (and with that I mean really themselves, not their people)...

Beyond Good and Irony.

[delire]

America is the only country to use nuclear weapons, inflicting total misery on hundreds of thousands of people. The same country to invade another looking for nuclear weapons that aren't there. The same nation that chastises, to the point of threatening war, other countries for enriching uranium... and now they publically anounce they are working on a new and improved life annihilating weapon of their own.

Now you can't argue with the totally fscking absurd, but you can argue that the world is alot less safe with America in it.

Reccommended reading.

Re:I hope I'm not over simplifying here but...

[Kalinago]

Actually, these actions conform to US cold war period agenda of mutual assured destruction (check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutually_assured_dest ruction/ ) which is basically a form of Nash Equilibrium.

However, It is quite revolting that the US, being the only country to ever use atomics as real weapons against people, assumes by itself the status of "World Police". I dont feel a bit comfortable with fundamentalists getting hold and controlling this kind of technology (arguably useless by itself - as no victory is assured) let them be from whatever sect or religion. Even those "intelligent design" nuts that proliferate in the US.

And just to add a little steam: remember that the right name is USA - "America" includes us guys too, your neighbors from Rio Grande to Patagonia.

Re:So now it's official

[crabpeople]

"What, pray tell, COULD we be doing to people that would make sawing off a man's head with a knife "minor"?!"

Have you seen any video from iraq at all? The americans destroy an entire country, mentally as well as physically, but one american gets beheaded and they are the major agressors?

"then come back here and tell me that a guard wiping his ass with the Koran is staggeringly brutal and horrible compared to that."

I doubt he was talking about religious insults and more about the rape, torture and mistreatment that the prisoners face in what looks more and more like _every_ terrorist prison/concentration camp that the usa runs. And yes i do believe that beheading is minor compared to months of torture and psychological abuse but maybe ive watched the deer hunter one too many times.