From: eoahmad@ntuix.ntu.ac.sg (Othman Ahmad)
Subject: Re: SCUDs and All that
Organization: Nanyang Technological University - Singapore
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL4
Date: Sun, 30 Aug 1992 15:56:46 GMT

daniels@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Daniel R. Sawyer) writes:
: The only thing SCUDs or any other ballistic missile is good for is offensive
: operations.  Usually very inaccurate as well, although one could hit any city

The accuracy depends on the range. Rockets generally are not as accurate as
cannons. There are so many cases when accuracy is not necessary.
	Mortar is not accurate but had been used very effectively in Bosnia.
This is not the only time it had been used. In Vietnam mortars and rockets
are widely used.
	The explosives in these short range rockets are small so destructive
power is much less. My estimate is that the destructive power is 20 meters,
wide. The scud missile has destructive power of 50 meters(1 ton explosive(?)).
My observation is based on films that I saw, documentary and news.
	Scud is designed to be tactical missiles similar to Jericho. Jericho
is more accurate and can be armed with tactical nuclear missiles. The
accuracy of Jericho, if I remember correctly, is 10m at 1000 km. It must
be using satellite navigation system. Old scuds uses only gyro-based 
control. However satellite navigation system gets more and more accurate,
and cheaper.  REmember that Indonesia has its own satellite.
	You were mistaken by the Scud used by Iraq. Those scuds are modified
heavily, without regard to accuracy. The original one is far more accurate.
At 50 km, it can be accurate to within 50m. Surely that is enough to cause
some destruction to supply lines and heavy troop concentration.
	If you think 50m is not accurate, how accurate is a bomb released
by an aircraft. You are lucky to get 50m, but you can visualise how
destructive they can be. A missile is much cheaper.
: Cooperation in getting nuclear warheads would require the help of Pakistan, 
: Iran or the ex-soviet republics.  Supposedly Iran has gotten hold of a few
: tactical nuclear weapons (hiroshima sized) from one of the Islamic Republics
: in Central Asia.

Christians and other people exposed to Western media tend to be afraid of
a Muslim nuclear weapon. However this fear may make people lapse into
ignoring other non-muslim but violent nations like greece, armenia,
argentina, peru etc. The majority of people in those countries are very
nice but remember that the Nazis are not the majority in Germany. The same
also true to  those responsible to atrocities by Japan, namely the army.
	The only protection is deterrent at the moment. True or not is
something else. We are almost sure that Israel has atomic weapons. Maybe
that is the reason why Iraq has not released it Mass-destructive weapons,
not even Chemical weapons against Israel. Since Iraq has not released its
chemical, and biological weapons, what makes you think that Iraq has not
got nuclear bombs already, even now. Why do you think that Iraq is still
confident despite being intimidated by U.S.A.?
	The best solution is actually the Star-Wars program. Russia and USA
must co-operate to develop those weapons. It may not be 100% accurate, but
at least there is a finite chance that it can stop something. Those Patriot
missiles are actually obsolete. We can do better now. Just look at those
486 in just 5 years. At least some engineers can be employed doing those
high-tech work.

--
Othman bin Ahmad, School of EEE,
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 2263.
Internet Email: eoahmad@ntuix.ntu.ac.sg
Bitnet Email: eoahmad@ntuvax.bitnet

Newsgroups: soc.culture.asean