War with Iran?
 

"There's only one thing worse than the United States exercising the military option; that's a nuclear-armed Iran. The military option is the last option but cannot be taken off the table."

. - Senator John McCain

Never have seen Bill Nichols starting a political thread in all my years here. :o

I would say, that regardless of how bad the Iran situation gets, the US will probably not go to war with the islamic republic, at least not in a full scale fashion (involving ground forces). I might see the U.S. pumping some tomahawks into Iran's nuclear research facilities if things got worse, but the US appears to be in no condition to handle a full scale war in Persia. Anyone could've beaten Iraq, whose military was already ground into a pulp by the Gulf War and sanctions, but I think that Iran would be a much tougher fight. First off there's all the nice stuff that we sold them prior to the revolution like the 89 Tomcats we sold them along with Phoenix missiles, and other equipment like F-4's. Plus the Iranians have been doing buisiness with the Russians for a long time, buying MiG-29's as well as a handful of kilos. Add to that the fact that our forces in Iraq and Afghanistan are not set up to repel an invasion from Iran (A possible response to airstrikes). Bush has already played his best cards in Iraq and Afghanistan, who knows if he has enough left to take on the Ayatollahs? I say no, plus he still has to worry about North Korea and China (Although I don't think he worrys enough about them). If anyone ever deserved to be attacked its North Korea and Iran, but Bushy just had to invade Iraq...
http://www.iiaf.net/archive/aircraft...omcat1_jpg.jpg

All the stuff we got in Iraq is army gear and ACs for close air support and surveillance. We got plenty of Warships and Fighter Jets to handle Iran as long as we don't plan on occupying the place.

This makes me afraid..... :dead:

*goes and turns on the news*

I was thinking the exact same thing. :up:

I think that Senator J McCain is definately shaping up to run as President in 2008. He would get my vote. :up:

I don't think that's an intelligent outlook, but I suppose you know where I'm coming from politically.

You're still in Iraq, folks. And Iran looks exponentially scarier than that. Mr. McCain is sure eager for someone with his wartime experience.

Personally, I don't think it's worth it and I think the cost of it would be horrific. On the other hand, if it were to happen, I think it'd trim the bald eagle's feathers at last. Like Vietnam, which Mr. McCain is so eager not to learn from, did 30 years ago.

http://www.welt.de/data/2006/01/11/829567.html
Sorry, German language.
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Having just finished reading the war memories by Kuhn, and Swofford, what they went through before, during, and after the 91 war, I also cannot avoid to remember the other side of the coin. And that is no abstract political strategy games and bluffs, but real faces and real souls beeing mutilated and distorted by real horror and real violance.

It's always the same kind of poisenous, egocentric idiots getting others into suffering. Loud voice replaces mind, missionizing spirit replaces heart, they say "soul" and mean "ego".

God, give us trust, but save us from faith. (Aldous Huxley)

Hey, I'm just starting my Masters degree in Defense and Strategic Studies. Everyone should be VERY afraid! :lol:

Master's Degree? Awesome! :know: :know: :know: :know:

Bill Nichols, Master of Defense.

That certainly does have a scary ring to it :lol:

>>War with Iran?


Damn i hope not.

Honestly, i don't think even Jr is THAT stupid given the US's current situation regarding its armed forces being spread a little thin.

I do think Iran is just a little piece of the overall picture with that part of the world. An ugly picture it is.

I think we have a replacement for his 'Deep Blue Warrior' title! :up:

Here's some links of interest...

http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/iran/facility/index.html

http://www.scramble.nl/ir.htm

http://www.tau.ac.il/jcss/balance/Iran.pdf

Yours, Mike

Can't believe that Skybird had a one sentence post. Hey Sky, am hitting a German restaurant tomorrow night, will let ya know how the jagerschnitzel is...

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

You'll have to talk to Neal about that!