[Red October1984]

Originally Posted by Betonov

That's the one thing you need. A common enemy that is an actual enemy.
If you can raise 5 million USD I can invade you in a week

Well shoot. Ran out of that several trillion dollars ago. How about an IOU?

Originally Posted by Oberon

How easy it is for one to generalise a population for their viewpoints. A Hispter or a gangster could make just a good a soldier as any other man, heck for some gangbangers it might well be the only way out of the circle of violence of the streets for them. If one of them with a gun is the only thing between you and a horrible death then you will be glad of them no matter what race, sex or ideological viewpoint they hold. Remember, many conscientious objectors in the First World War would wade through the mud in the frontlines to carry back wounded soldiers from no-mans land as they acted as medical orderlies.

In regards to US opinion on war, it would depend a lot on how long the war lasted and how much it effected the mainland. Aside from periodic terrorist attacks and the one that started it all on 9/11, the 'War on Terror' (which is the worst designation for a war ever) hasn't really touched American soil, and in fact since the Civil War the American mainland has remained relatively untouched, the odd Japanese raid or balloon here and there, but nothing at all like the destruction that fell upon the whole of Europe during the Second World War. If a war happened that devastated American cities, killed thousands of American people, you bet that America would be right behind that war, in a manner similar to how public opinion was initially behind the invasion of Afghanistan. It's not too difficult to get public opinion behind a war when you've already been attacked, but maintaining it in the face of a lack of progress is difficult, and it will be very disheartening for all involved in Afghanistan when the final withdrawal takes place and the Karzai government lasts as long as a Furby in a microwave. Already in Iraq we're seeing the nation split into two and the creation of a new Al'Qaeda state in the Al'Qaeda controlled areas of Iraq and Syria, so it's a real kick in the teeth to have blood spilled for seemingly no real return, sure Saddam is gone, mission accomplished there, but what is going to replace him may lead to the old story of 'better the devil you know'.

Would the American public support a war on Iran...honestly I doubt it, even if Iran attacked Israel I think that public opinion would be extremely split between pro and anti-Israel sentiments, and most people would see a war on Iran as being a fruitless endeavour...which is partially true to be honest, because the only way you're going to completely stop Iran from developing its nuclear program is to get boots on the ground, air attacks just won't hack it, and I would be extremely surprised if the American public would support a boots on the ground war with Iran.

+1

I just have so little faith in our population...I know there'd still be a group of people (maybe like....California, Florida, etc ) protesting the war no matter what happened.

Iran might not have been a good example....but how about Russia?

Or some Asian aggressor?

Would it take another Pearl Harbor to unite the country?

Originally Posted by Dread Knot

I don't want an army of square-jawed, lock-step automatons who obey every order without compunction defending me either. At the end of the day every Army is a reflection of the nation that sends it into battle.

Seems like the US Military is getting softer though....with all the political correctness. That's what I'm basically getting at. "Nobody can be offended and whatever you do, it's okay" kind of society really makes me mad.

I guess we could always go back to conscription. That was popular.

If we get into it with an Asian country, we just might have to.