An article (excerpt)from Knight Ridder Press...


"The US has begun attacking the Taliban's military with the biggest conventional bomb in their arsenal, the Commando Vault, a 15,000-lb behemoth used for it's incredible explosive power.

BLU-82's, which generate massive pressure that can kill or maim fighters hiding in caves and tunnels, were dropped on Taliban positions in northern Afghanistan for the first time over the weekend."

"The Commando Vault can only be dropped from the MC-130 Combat Talon, a military cargo plane adapted for special operations. It drops by parachute and detonates just above ground."

The reason this weapon hasn't been used before is because it is "basically" dropped from a low flying cargo plane, which would previously have been an easy target for Taliban AA.

No cluster bombings haven't stopped, but we are entering a new phase.

I have seen what those things can do. It is pretty friggin amazing.

It's a huge concussion bomb. They kill or maim by using a massive pressure wave, not fragmentation. If detonated close to the mouth of a cave, the cave will contain the pressure making it worse. They also have huge incindiary bombs. Aside from quick toasting everything in the detonation area, they use all the available oxygen. By the time air exchange brings in fresh oxygen hidden people could be suffocated. They would probably use this bomb on biological hazard facilities for its Sterilizing properties. Small tactical nukes fired by artillery or missile also work at neutralising Bio or Chem plants without spreading the contaminant.