film / tv / substack / social media / lists / web / celeb / pajiba love / misc / about / cbr
film / tv / substack / web / celeb

Iron_Man_Explosio.jpg

How Social Media Reacted to the US Military's Decision to Drop the Mother of All Bombs in Afghanistan

By Dustin Rowles | Politics | April 13, 2017 |

By Dustin Rowles | Politics | April 13, 2017 |


Here’s what we know, so far: The United States has dropped a 21,000 pound bomb — dubbed the Mother of All Bombs — onto an ISIS cave and tunnel complex in Afghanistan. It’s the largest non-nuclear bomb the United States has in their arsenal. It’s the first time the bomb has ever been used on the battlefield.

We do not yet know the extent of the damage. We do not yet know the number of casualties, although my educated guess is: Very many. The bomb is designed so that the caves basically collapse in on themselves, killing anyone inside.

We also don’t know just how involved Donald Trump was in the decision to drop the bomb. He’s gone off to vacation again in Mar a Lago, and apparently, General John Nicholson, commander of US forces in Afghanistan, ordered the use of the bomb. Sean Spicer, during today’s press conference, was reluctant to say whether Trump authorized the use of the bomb. It’s not clear yet if Donald Trump even knew about the bombing. It also may be that Donald Trump is withholding comment until he better understands the reception to it, so he can take credit or assign blame, accordingly.

So, that’s a … ?

The bomb cost $300 million, and so far, among Trump’s critics (that’s us!), a lot has been made of the price tag.

Some in Congress are concerned that Trump and the military are ordering attacks without their blessing.

The right, expectedly, is stoked, standing at full erection over the deaths of potentially hundreds of people.

Others, still, are highlighting Trump’s hypocrisy using his old tweets, a game Twitter plays every time Trump acts.

Still others are questioning Donald Trump’s judgement.

That basically covers the spectrum of response, at least until we know more about the damage inflicted and what strategic purpose it served, if any. Personally, I don’t know why we’re suddenly dropping bombs in Afghanistan, but my guess is that this has something to do with it.