Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site amdahl.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ukma!psuvm.bitnet!psuvax1!burdvax!sdcrdcf!trwrb!scgvaxd!felix!oliveb!glacier!decwrl!pyramid!nsc!amdahl!ems
From: ems@amdahl.UUCP (ems)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: A High Tech Maginot Line
Message-ID: <2370@amdahl.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 11-Dec-85 17:44:31 EST
Article-I.D.: amdahl.2370
Posted: Wed Dec 11 17:44:31 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 14-Dec-85 03:43:06 EST
References: <8512020718.AA15110@s1-b.arpa> <8512031532.AA11191@ucbvax.berkeley.edu> <709@petrus.UUCP> <34395@lanl.ARPA> <216@sdcc7.U
Organization: Circle C Shellfish Ranch, Shores-of-the-Pacific, Ca
Lines: 25

> In article <34395@lanl.ARPA> jlg@a.UUCP (Jim Giles) writes:
> >The feasibility of SDI is still seriously in question, but the failure
> >to stop drug smuggling in not a counter-example.  These are two different
> >tasks with two completely different objectives.
>
> I recall that the war-head in a cruise missile weighs about 350 pounds.

I talked with a friend in the warhead business (about 7 *YEARS* ago).
At that time they were working on a cannon shell nuclear warhead.
About 8 *INCHES* in diameter and not very long.  I am sure the state of
the art has impoved since then.  He thought 4 inch shells were possible.
I wonder how much of that 350 pounds is not involved in the act of
explosion?

It would be relatively easy to *MAIL* packages to various cities all
timed to go off at the same time.  So a few of them are sitting in
customs at the time, and some are still in the air over the city,
and others are on trucks in downtown traffic.  The effect would be
spectacular.
(Will we start xraying every incoming package?  What about those
containing Lead Crystal?  Lead weights?  Refrigerators? ...)
--
E. Michael Smith  ...!{hplabs,ihnp4,amd,nsc}!amdahl!ems

This is the obligatory disclaimer of everything.