... in response to Re: bomb attack thrwarted in Cali, posted by Pete Eiguren on May 25, 2001That bomb was found in a pickup truck loaded with bananas. The bomb squad defused it and said it was impossible of blowing the way it was rigged. He also said that it would have to be dropped and have great velocity to have been detonated. The bomb size was a 500 pounder and had fins.
Makes me think that a rebel group had acquired an aircrft type "dumb" iron bomb and were transporting it somewhere to be reworked as a command detonated bomb.
Keep this in mind though about the media and their analysis. They reported that a bomb capable of leveling two city blocks was found and defused, blah,blah,blah. A 500lbs bomb loaded with RDX will make a very good explosion and do a lot of damage and could bring down a a whole building, but it won't level a city block, much less two. If they were planning to leave it at the present design of a "Falling Bomb," it would have blown the faces off some buildings probably an done some very good structual damage, taking into account the type and quality of architecture common in that region, that's proabably pretty realistic assessment. If it was placed under a building, say in a parking garage a building might even come down. I can't even guess about deaths. It would depend on location and time of day.
Anyways, what I'm getting at, is that the media are embellishing bombs right now, with the situations with Colombia and Israel. I will be watching myself when I am down there next month and don't misunderstand me, that bomb and the others have and are dangerous in the extreme, but the media's description is unrealistic. Anything to make a story more dramatic.
Anyways, that's my Bomb and explosive class of the day, being Memorial Day Weekend and all.
Everyone have a good one.
Keith
