I would, but you're not making it easy, you're in complete denial. Let me just finish by saying that i'm really glad that Europe isn't lead by people who share your sentiments.

Be that as it may, as long as I present my opinions, whatever they are, in a civil way, I'd appreciate it if you returned the favour.

Additionally, one thing I'd like to add is that people are exaggerating the nuclear threat of Iran. A man-smuggled and carried nuclear weapon may just level a single city block or two, a horrific amount of damage and loss of human life, to be sure, but hardly the end of the world. Iran does not have ICBM's and no country that has them is going to aim them at the US unless it's a final retaliation before they go down.

Terrorists will not get something the power of the weapons used against Hiroshima/Nagasaki within the US, and even those failed to completely obliterate their targets. I suggest we keep a bit of perspective before we declare Armageddon to be on our doorstep. More people die from cancer and AIDS every day than one terrorist nuclear attack on the US would kill.

The US has the power to destroy the entire Chinese infrastructure by deploying one carrier battle group, both options are not likely to ever happen, because it's suicide either way. Try again.

Btw dude, you're easily offended, let me ease the pressure a little by saying that it's not personal on my behalf. I told you this before, but i thought i'd remind you, since you're becoming overly defensive again. I'm not your enemy dude. ;)

So your argument that China is weak is that it would be a MAD scenario if it used it's power against the US? What about the fact that the same holds true in the opposite direction? US attack on China is MAD as well?

Don't forget that China does have a military, in particular, they've been picking up a lot of sophistiated anti-ship missiles, probably just in case of that whole carrier group thing.

And destroying China would destroy the US, China produces so many things that the US needs and buys, the US does not have the production capacity to make up for the loss. Not to mention that with a competitor out of the way, the countries WITH that capacity would be able to ramp up their prices to whatever they pleased.

That's not even considering the fact that attacking China would get the US sanctioned to the stone age by the rest of the world, while China would just have been doing business and collecting on it's debts.

And please, knock it off with the condescending behavior. Telling me to pull my head out of my ass is an insult which suggests that my opinion is not born of actual opinion, but of ignorance. Just knock it off and we'll get along fine, I don't care if it's your wacky "hating everyone" attitude or because you're so hilariously irreverent, but if you want to have a debate with me, don't bring out the insults. This is not a matter of easily offended, it's a matter of principle. Trust me, if I was actually offended by your attitude, I'd simply leave, I don't have much anger to waste on internet arguments.

[ 02-11-2007, 01:11 AM: Message edited by: PurpleXVI ]

I take it my last post and yours crossed eachother, once again...don't take it so personal, heated topics produce heated arguments. I wasn't trying to insult you, merely attempting to spice up my point of view a little, i apologize for the way i did that, but i can't promise you i won't do it again in the future. Nothing personal mate, please forgive me.

<font color=8fbc8f>That additional call-up is what I'm pointing you towards. These are not "call-ups", these are seasoned active duty heavy brigades that are currently in re-fit. We have lost three of our soldiers, and one of our marines to join units that will re-deploy early. In support terms, the school house is critical short while supporting the force. In comparison, when I was a green-suiter here, we had 36 instructors,(32 soldiers, 2 marines, 1 British, 1 Canadian). Now, we have 16 soldiers, 1 marine, and 5 DA-contract-Instructors.

The tip of the spear is on the ground with "their" equipment. To complete the circuit, counter battery artillery, and artillery are on the ground as well.

There are three things the world does not and will not know which is kept US secret policy.

Where are the "Seawolfs and the Ohios"?

Who can issue them the orders?

What really happened to the "Kursk"?

As far as a heavy fight goes, we have had the opportunity to disassemble just about every version of equipment ever produced from Russia, and figure out what takes to make it stop.

As far as training goes, I have worked with Muslim armies, and they truly fail to comprehend the necessity of operations, and maintenance. The US has been training for a few years in the desert, and has a well seasoned DOD that has yet to be fully evaluated on the battlefield. I honestly hope the day of reckoning never comes, because the words of the Japanese still hold true, and the "Sleeping Giant" can be awoken easily enough.

I don't foresee a world at war, I foresee a US three echelon battle drill. The CAV will screen, the heavy armor divisions will destroy from afar, and the artillery will support. Counter battery will eliminate entire grid squares from the face of the earth, and the dreaded A-10s will wreak havoc on anything that moves. The Coalition will defend the rear guard, and the UN can take over 6 days, 5 hours, and 43 minutes after wards. The EU can run the blockade, and dilly out the sanctions. Once Iran is de-horned, the rest of that part of the world will be quite for a few years, and we all can get back to worrying about Korea.</font>

Oh yeah! The A-10 was a favorite of mine since I was little! Its got teeth and can take a beating too!

BTW, We saw a Raptor in flight at an airshow last year.. totally amazing. It did a 'stop' in the air, and just floated there hovering it looked like. SO cool. It has rotating thrusters, right? I have some video of it somewhere.. gave me goosebumps! :D

I salute you general Felix, spoken like a true commander once again.

About your Seawolves...since they keep moving around it's kinda hard to tell their exact locations, but their theater of operations is not such a big secret, so whatever i'm going to guess, i'm sure the answer is not far off. However, i'm not about to piss off SPECWARCOM and SUBLANT both at the same time, so i wisely keep my big mouth shut from here on. :D

I don't really throw my hat into the ring very often on big issues like this, mostly due to my timid nature, but there's a first time for everything I guess. First, in response to the questions posed in the original post.

1) No, Iran doesn't need to be stopped. It seems highly unlikely that, should they develop nuclear weapons, they would begin handing them out like candy to various terror groups. Plus, Pakistan has nuclear weapons as well, and it's not like they're the most peaceful nation in the world.

Also, as Iran is a signee of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, this is relevant: However, the treaty gives every state the inalienable right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, and as the commercially popular light water reactor nuclear power station designs use enriched uranium fuel, it follows that states must be allowed to enrich uranium or purchase it on an international market.

2) If the US or Israel did that, I couldn't see anything good resulting from it. I can't predict what Iran's response would be, though I imagine it would involve a reduction in oil and natural gas sales, nor could I fully imagine China's, though I also guess it would be something with an economic impact, and a big one at that. Russia would certainly be none too pleased, and would also reduce their shipments of raw materials, as well as crank up their rhetoric. I could also see them covertly helping the Iranian nuclear program.

3) Iran would resist fiercely. Yes, their conventional army would get beaten in a somewhat quick manner, a month, maybe two of conventional warfare. After that though, there would be an insurgency that would make Iraq look like a stroll in the park. This is one of the few things I'm sure about on the whole issue, but if there is an occupation it would be bloody.

4) Whether or not we're close to a World War depends entirely on the leaders of our nations and whether they use all available channels and options. I believe that, when it comes down to it, most of them are sane people willing to listen.

5) I don't see how a full civil war is different from what they have now.

And now, to reply to various posters.
RTB: So, you think Iran would be dangerous with nuclear power stations, as they've asserted time and again that's what they're after? I'm also interested in how we could "assert ourselves a bit more" than we are now, especially in a military confrontation with other powerful nations. Also, as a note, selling weapons to a country disliked by the US, as Purple proposed the EU should do, is not going to spark off a conflict. Otherwise we'd have invaded Russia long ago (and Putin would begin laughing the minute he heard it).

johnny: Your faith in the US judgment is... worrying. The answer is in our hands as it always is? Please. Is that the same good judgment that's led to things like Vietnam? I also take issue with your dismissal of Russia and China. Are you forgetting about their nuclear arsenals? Or, if we're going to keep this conventional, the fact that a fight on their home soil would not only be a boon to the Russian military, but a disaster for the US military?

Felix: Yeah, I've heard about these "seasoned active duty heavy brigade." Like administration units of the Oklahoma National Guard, that's one of the ones I've heard about. So, does your fantasy battle drill account for the Iranian military having commanders with conventional war experience, as well as very dedicated and high-morale soldiers. And where will these Coalition troops come from? The countries that contributed to Iraq are, in general, not too happy about that now, and a majority are of the opinion that attacking Iran would be a BAD idea. Love the optimism though. And as an aside, are you insinuating that the US Navy somehow destroyed the Kursk? Because if so... wow.

[ 02-11-2007, 04:13 AM: Message edited by: Man Who Fights Like Woman ]