...concerning munitions and effects. First of all, Vietnam was over 26 years ago...Trust me, we are way beyond C-130 dropped Daisy Cutters, which were in essence merely pallets of explosives dropped and detonated.Cluster munitions come in a variety of flavors - not all of them are anti-personnel. There are many types of cluster munitions in the U.S. inventory, suitable for use against various types of targets, including tanks. These little jewels descend via a small parachute, have a limited abiltity to steer towards a target, and penetrate the overhead armor by means of a shaped charge.
Anti-personnel cluster munitions can be set to explode on impact, or lie unexploded until a pre-set timer causes them to explode.
They are yellow in color, and about the size of a baseball, with fins. They caused a number of friendly casualties in Irag, including a buddy of mine, who stepped on one as we were clearing an airfield.
It would be difficult to mistake them for the yellow food packet, which will be about 2" x 8" x 5" - sort of like a slightly flattened shoebox, but made of heavy duty (biodegradeable!) plastic.
However, children, aware that "yellow" means food, would be particularly vulnerable to confusion.
Finally, cluster munitions delivered specifically as either short or long duration minefields are more correctly known as FASCAM - for FAMily of SCAtterable Mines.
I know, the distinction is subtle, for all but us military types. Essentially, the choice of munitions and the duration of the latent mines or submunitions, is determined by the specific intent and type of target.
FASCAM would be used to deny an avenue of approach, cluster munitions would be used to attrit troops or vehicles, speaking very generally.
As far as the mushroom cloud goes; a mushroom is the physical effect produced by an explosion of a given size - A large enough explosion blows a vacuum in a hemispherical area (for a ground burst) that then is refilled by a returning rush of air. As the pocket of low air density collapses into the middle of the explosion (ground zero), the in-rushing air and debris is forced upward. As it achieves a certain height, the pressure is lessened, allowing the hot gasses and debris to spread horizontally, producing the characteristic mushroom shape.
In point of fact, most explosions, even very small ones, will produce a mushroom-cloud like effect, but, if there is not sufficient debris in the air mass to render the air movement visible, this effect will likely pass unnoticed.
Recall, if you will, reports of a mushrooom-like cloud over Manhattan following the collapse of the Towers - same effect, for similar reasons.
We have absolutely no need to use nukes. I sincerely doubt even bush would be stupid enough to do so, when there are other, equally effective weapons at our disposal.
Finally, on fuel-air bombs, if you have ever added lighter fluid to a hot bed of charcoal with no flames, and tossed in a match, you get a mini fuel air bomb. Illuminatus (I think it was him) gave a great description. Dynamic overpressure is the key to this weapons effectiveness.
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