[siekmanj]

From some cursory googling:

Afghanistan peak US troops: 102,000 (2011)

Gulf war peak US troops: 700,000 (1990-1991)

Iraq peak US troops: range from 168,000 - 192,000 (2007)

Vietnam peak US troops: 543,000 (1969)

Korea peak US troops: 320,000, unclear what year

edit: obviously, Russia's involvement in Ukraine over the last few days would be by far the biggest operation in Europe since WW2. Just not globally (by a long shot).

[iso1631]

Thanks, useful to compare, Putin has a similar amount of troops as Iraq II then, although with shorter supply lines. Given how difficult the US had it in occupying both Iraq and Afghanistan, and the damage it did the country, this could well end Russia, at least for another 30 years.

I was too young to really get the scale of the first gulf war. Just transporting 700,000 troops seems astounding, let alone keeping them equipped in enemy territory.