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From: military@cbnews.ATT.COM (William B. Thacker)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Kissinger on Micronukes
Message-ID: <5470@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 7 Apr 89 03:04:48 GMT
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 16
Approved: military@att.att.com



From: sun!portal!cup.portal.com!mmm
As I recall, Henry Kissinger in one of his books used as an example of
how technology can suddenly change the political environment, a speculation
of the effect of the development of a nuclear bullet.  In particular, 
sponge californium.  Californium has a critical mass of a few grams, so
in principle a bullet might be developed which would produce a nuclear
explosion on impact.

Of course, the actual example used by HK is absurd.  Californium is so
radioactive and has such a short half-life that it could not be an effective
weapon, even for asassination.

But what if a highly-saturated slug of palladium can be forced into sudden
fusion by impact.  Might be a nice time to move to the Mariana Islands.