Bone - the weapon of choice?

[tartare]

Have noted the B-1 seems to feature when `sending a message' to North Korea via overflights and bombing practise nearby.
Is this purely because they're based at Guam and are the most geographically convenient strategic air-power asset to use - or would they actually be a weapon of choice in an air campaign?
Would have thought that it'd be B-2s and TLAMs that would play the major role in a strike?
I note B-2s deploy to Guam as well.

[etudiant]

Originally Posted by tartare

Have noted the B-1 seems to feature when `sending a message' to North Korea via overflights and bombing practise nearby.
Is this purely because they're based at Guam and are the most geographically convenient strategic air-power asset to use - or would they actually be a weapon of choice in an air campaign?
Would have thought that it'd be B-2s and TLAMs that would play the major role in a strike?
I note B-2s deploy to Guam as well.

With only 20 B-2s in the world, they will not be the first choice for a show of force mission. The B-1 is ideal, cheaper, there are more of them, plus they don't have as many age spots as the B-52s.

[West Coast]

They dont have a nuclear role, so it allows a message to be sent without escalating it too far.

[andytug]

Would guess if you're "sending a message" you want it as visible as possible, so something big and noisy, but not nuclear capable like a B52 is in case you spook the natives too much,?