Do you think that eliminating the US President and all principle cabinet members would lead to the total collapse of the US Government along with all of its policies and strategic goals?

I'm willing to give it a try with regards to our current set of clowns.

That was a rhetorical question designed to provoke thought on the idea of decapitation as it pertains to the Iranian question.

If you want to advocate the murder of the President and the heads of the Executive Branch you can go elsewhere, there is no place here for that here. There are many people both in and out of uniform that disagree with the policies of the current administration. If you don't like them, vote.

Go somewhere else and babble about killing the President, and have fun at your Secret Service Interview.

Yours was a good rhetorical question. And your response to my "babble" was also babble. Unless you seriously think that what I said constitutes advocacy of murder, then you should consider misconstruing your "rhetorical" question.

I may have misread or misunderstood your comment and responded harshly. If thats the case....sorry.

I would just caution against any statements (joking or not) that can further feed into the narrative of the right wing military verteran whack job out to perpetuate violence against the government. If I over-reacted, my bad.

That one's always a proverbial crap shoot - and especially in that part of the world - although the 1:6 odds with craps are far better than what you're proposing. Think about it...seriously.

Richard :munchin

TR:

Sir, the description you provide in the air assault is the play book used quite effectively in the Desert Storm Air Campaign. To a "T". It required, as you mention, incredible air assets both in skill and number.

A mission we and our allies are familiar with and capable of doing. If I might add that the distances used for carrier (and some ground) flight missions were short and sweet. Tanker stations were placed at just about the right locations to ensure a chance at a landing or two after burning thousands of gallons on station or over target.

Given the added distance, this IMO would require longer mission flight times (pushing pilots and equipment and crews) and additionally might require a second point for refueling, and hence additional missions for security (CAP or other) for the added stations, and time spent refueling in, out, or both.

I will have to give more thought on your questions about mission statement, sir, as I am not at all familiar with the geo/political climate in Iran. I have heard that with Iran cutting off oil to Japan and the U.K. that gas prices will be going much, much higher. The Iranians have been squeezed with many years of sanctions, hardly effective in my opinion.

Here in the US, if gas prices are to continue to edge up again past $4 or even past $6 I think that might be a form of sanction imposed upon us here stateside.

I do feel I would wish to know more of Iran's military capabilities, training, equipment, numbers, readiness, morale, and so on. Kind of a Sun Tzu approach that I'm sure those closer to the situation than I are already taking into account, sir.

v/r
Sarski

Gas where I live is almost $5.

I know what you're gonna say . . .

To add, sir, one way around some of these extended flight operations might be to launch out of forward bases in places like Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait...

The Israelis?

We have not signed on to this, yet, AFAIK.

TR

Well, sir, yes the Israelis, but I'm certain we won't be far behind. Or at least providing support/intel/runways, as always.

Here's the 'Big Picture'...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHUUBc35oA8

And as far as the IDF goes, they've been working on - among other things - their extended range capabilities for decades. They play their national defense cards close to their chests but we'll act surprised, anyway, whenever they do something we claim we knew nothing about - it's how the game is played. ;)

In polls:

http://campaign2012.washingtonexamin...eat-usa/252361

http://www.wnd.com/2003/10/21566/

And then there's :eek:...usw.

And so it goes...

Richard :munchin

No worry's. We hit the line and you made sure I didn't cross it. Thanks.

The nuclear question
 

The genii is not going back into the bottle. We lived for a long time with the Soviet nuclear threat. Then the Chinese. The world has survived and we currently still have détente. But they may be ready and willing to pounce should they see opportunity. We now have Korea and Pakistan in the mix who are very unstable and dangerous. Iran is certainly looking to join that group.

The nuclear question. They don't have one yet, but they will. They don't have a delivery method, but they will.

Current methods being contemplated (diplomacy, sanctions, military strikes) can only delay the inevitable. Short term methods at best.

Several reasons for this. We cannot hurt them enough to make them stop. And many of these techniques are only going to goad those in Iran pushing for nuclear weapons even more. Sanctions have either been ineffective or goaded them into war (Japan, WW2). UW is a long term proposition and we've seen the American public and their politicians don't have the stomach for anything that "takes too long".

We need to convince them they don't need a nuclear program - like we did to Qadhafi. Or if they don't get the hint, then like Saddam.

Short term methods may buy time for longer term methods to get up to speed and employed. Someone around here is using an excellent quote: Diplomacy - the art of saying `Nice doggie' 'til you can find a stick. - Wynn Catlin.

The only method to really stop this program long term is utilization of all forms of diplomacy. A strong united diplomatic front by all superpowers and regional governments to convince them it is not worth their time (lives). Strong punishing sanctions. Credible UW efforts at regime change. The occasional military strike (the only gas refinery, oil smuggling activities, decapitation, SEAD). Failing that, then invasion.



Not an easy wicket to sticket. But like the old man says, until there is a mission statement - this is just fantasy football.