US plans to sell Israel 1,000 bunker-buster bombs

The U.S. plans to sell Israel 1,000 buster-bunker bombs which Israeli military experts said Monday could provide a powerful new weapon against underground arsenals in Lebanon or Gaza.

The experts said they doubted, however, that the bombs could be used to deliver a crippling blow against Iran's nuclear program.

In announcing the proposed $77 million deal, which still needs Congressional approval, the U.S. Defense Department said the sale of the Boeing GBU-39 smart bombs would be consistent with the U.S. interest of assisting Israel "to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability." The Pentagon issued a release on the planned sale on Sept. 9.

Because it is a precision weapon that generates far less collateral damage than heavier munitions, "this bomb is going to be the general-purpose bomb of the next generation," said Yiftah Shapir, a military analyst at Tel Aviv's Institute of National Security Studies. He said possible targets would include "Katyusha launchers in Lebanon or Qassam (rocket) launchers in Gaza." Roadmap for peace?

Hey sfgatecrap you don't need 1,000 buster-bunker bombs against underground arsenals in Lebanon or Gaza, it's against Iran