Recently, The United States military authorized the use of its largest non-nuclear weapon, the GBU-43/B, otherwise known as the Massive Ordnance Air Blast, or most commonly known as the Mother of All Bombs (MOAB). The use of this weapon stunned the world for approximately two days before the effects of it were largely consumed by the subsequent lack of substance in its wake. The military utilized the bomb to attack a critical tunnel network used by terrorists in Afghanistan. However this differs significantly from how the bomb was developed and intended to be used.

Originally, the MOAB was designed to be a psychological tactic employed by the military to confuse and stun enemy combatants while diminishing morale. In combat, the Massive Ordnance Air Blast would be used as the name suggests - as a blast. The resounding shockwave would be more damaging to the enemy in terms of reorganization and destroying the will to fight. In essence, the MOAB is a complex, guided mega bomb intended to kill targets, clear a combat zone and inflict major psychological damage to the enemy. The MOAB is an updated version of the "Daisy Cutter" bomb used during the Vietnam War era, which has a smaller blast radius and impact, no guidance system and is more dangerous to pilots flying the bomb in.

The question of the use of this weapon then becomes did we use it effectively? I argue that the military did not utilize this weapon in its intended field nor did it use it in the most efficient manner. The area impacted by the MOAB was a large tunnel network used by ISIL in Afghanistan that killed 36 ISIL fighters and no civilians. However, the intended psychological effects of the blast were underutilized and dismissed entirely, almost delegitimizing the MOAB's impact and presence. While killing 36 fighters, many of the weapons and drones within the United States military can neutralize just as many if not more enemy combatants and infantry. For example, a bunker buster would have been significantly more effective and efficient at neutralizing a significant number of targets while eliminating the entire tunnel network or at the very least crippling its way of performing. Any weapon, no matter its potential, can only be effective in the practice of its use. The MOAB is a magnificent weapon that can be extremely effective in battle, however only used in the right instance. In this instance, the psychological effects of the MOAB were lackluster as a result of its shoddy implementation. Instead, a more cost-effective weapon should have been used to accomplish the same goal.

The Trump administration has taken credit for the authorization of the MOAB and its use, however this is just a political stunt to try and exercise the United States' military will over the fight against terrorism. While a decent show of force, the use of the MOAB could have been handled in a much better context. In this regard, in order to maximize the use of this expensive weapon, it should have been deployed when a much larger enemy force is present on the battlefield. Even if the initial blast does not neutralize more targets, the resounding blast will destroy enemy morale and make it easier to neutralize the rest. There isn't much to take credit for if you're utlizing a weapon capable of so much more to accomplish something a lot of other weaponry can accomplish at such a high monetary cost.