Is the Cloud in the Soldier Photo an Explosion or Something Else?

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The discussion revolves around a picture of US soldiers awaiting the bodies of five American casualties from the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). The main question is whether a cloud on the horizon is indicative of an explosion from a bomb. Participants express skepticism about this interpretation, suggesting that the cloud resembles a smokestack rather than an explosion. They note that the smoke appears directed and originates from the ground, possibly indicating an oil well fire. Comparisons are made to images of smokestacks, emphasizing that the characteristics of the smoke do not align with typical explosion clouds, which are usually thinner and more diffuse. Overall, the consensus leans towards the cloud being a smokestack or steam release rather than evidence of an explosion.
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This is kind of random, but I am wondering if this picture of US soldiers standing ready to receive the bodies of 5 American casualties in the GWOT (I'm not sure OIF or OEF) shows an explosion in the background.

My question is "Is that cloud on the right side of the horizon an explosion (like from a big bomb)"?

I cannot say for sure so I was going to ask yalls opinion. If so, the picture is a very somber contrast of the distant and close-up costs of war. If not, it is still a very sobering picture.

My apologies if I have difficulties loading the picture.

Thanks!
--- Here's the picture-only link while the file pends approval. (Not graphic)

http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB152/000166.jpg
 

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I'm not expert at any of this, but it looks much more like a smokestack to me than an explosion. The smoke looks far too directed to be either an explosion or a cloud.

~Lyuokdea
 
I agree with Lyu, it looks much more like a smoke stack then an explosion.
 
It doesn't look like an explosion but it's hard to say what it is instead. There seems to be a tower that could be a smoke stack. The smoke itself, though, seems to be originating from the ground, as in an oil well fire.
 
Explosion mushroom clouds are thinner and wispier at the stalk.
 
http://www.sorabji.net/2001/february/20.jpg
http://www.geartekcorporation.com/dailyphoto/2005images/smokestack1.jpg
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/files/Climate/BC/SmokeStack.jpg
 
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Like what Dave's pictures show. It's either a smoke stack or steam release. You can see the bottom has a narrow band where the exhast is being accelerated out of the stack. Once it hits open air it starts to diffuse.
 

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