[dforrestwilson]

Things are about to get real.

If launched from Iranian territory there is a pretty clear case for the US to go to war.

I know the “WW3” meme is popular right now but Iran is only a regional power and would likely lose a conventional war quickly against the US (matter of days or weeks).

[elihu]

> Iran is only a regional power and would likely lose a conventional war quickly against the US (matter of days or weeks).

Iran would lose control of their airspace pretty quickly and we'd be able to drop bombs on whoever we want, but there's no quick way the United States could occupy and control the country in that time (at least, not without resorting to weapons and tactics that would cause massive loss of civilian life, and which most soldiers would I hope refuse to carry out).

Some of the logistical issues are explained here: https://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2020/Pres/Maps/Jan06.html

[dforrestwilson]

Correct.

Conventional War =/= Guerrilla War

Guerrilla Wars can go on for decades even with lots of boots on the ground.

[fnord77]

there's no way at all we (the US) could win a boots-on-the-ground war with Iran.

[SaxonRobber]

Winning is bad for business anyway.

[AnimalMuppet]

If the article is correct, they were not only launched from Iran, but Iran admits it.

This is going to get very interesting in terms of internal US politics. The Democrats don't trust Trump, including in terms of his motives and judgment in dealing with Iran. They also, in general, oppose war. They're trying to use the War Powers Act to reign him in. But if they do so, and prevent a response to this latest attack, that could cost a number of them dearly in the next election - especially since Iran is not likely to stop at firing a few missiles at two US bases.

[mc32]

Neocons are in both parties and have influenced both Bush and Obama to “architect” the ME. These are globalists who want to accelerate their global political vision ("democratize" everyone and we’ll all get along). [so they can make their money]

[jrs235]

I was under the impression that the globalist vision wasn't about democracy, even though that's the[ir] claim, and that it's really about controlling money and oil.

[burfog]

Democrat voters may oppose war, but the same can not be said for democrat politicians.

[coolanymous]

Are you serious right now? Iraq war started in 2003 and hasn't ended. What makes you think matter of days or weeks or the timeline?

[lazyasciiart]

When one country's government openly assassinates a senior member of another country's government, the second country might reasonably feel that war had already begun.

[SaxonRobber]

Republican bobble heads gave up reason, along with morality and honesty, a long long time ago.

[hanniabu]

For it to be WW3 Iran would need to get absolutely destroyed to where China would then come in to defend them, and then US allies would also need to get involved and so on. I'm no expert at foreign affairs, but I just don't see that happening.

[lurker2823]

Maybe US should just leave the region where it isn't welcome. Also, if this were to turn into a conventional war, I predict the US would suffer massive losses, unless they resort to using tactical nukes. The US hasn't been on the winning side of a war since WW2.

[burfog]

The US has won every war as much as was desired, and it will continue to do so. Every supposed "loss" occurs in DC politics, not as a result of inability on the battlefield.

[lurker2823]

sure, Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Korea (not to mention the countless 'anti-terrorism' strikes throughout Africa), all shining examples of 'winning'. Much like Charlie Sheen.....

I feel sorry for the poor fools who blindly follow the drumbeat of war and think they are doing a patriotic duty to their nation / meat grinder, which chews them up and spits them out once they are done with them.

But hey, Raytheon stocks are up!

[burfog]

"as much as was desired"

We decided how much winning we wanted, and we did it. Unfortunately for the soldiers and the taxpayers, the politicians have a limited appetite for winning.

Vietnam is a fine example. We limited the amount of ammo! We didn't mine the harbor until very late in the war. The politicians ran the war as they desired, winning as much as they wanted to win.

In all those wars, the USA very obviously had the option for a quick and complete victory. It just wasn't done. Thank politics.