Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by no_wizard 6 days ago
They aren’t. Political will is faulting but the military is holding back on Iran. There is no follow on ground invasion or clear carpet bombing of the entire country. These strikes are all suppose to be strategic. If the US military was waging a true all out war, Iran would be piles of rubble and glass

I am not supportive of war with Iran by a long shot but to see the US military and be like “oh it’s strained” is just not talking from a place of knowing. The politics is straining the military and rightly so, but capability wise it’s as good as ever
2 comments
0cf8612b2e1e 5 days ago
The military loves to say how they are pulling their punches. Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan. When things get real, the US will totally be there and unstoppable.
link
pocksuppet 5 days ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China%27s_Final_Warning
link
Sabinus 6 days ago
>If the US military was waging a true all out war, Iran would be piles of rubble and glass

Then the Gulf oil infrastructure would be gone in retaliation and the impacts to the global economy would be severe. Trump's popularity and legacy would be utterly destroyed.

link
no_wizard 6 days ago
Doesn’t negate capability which is what is being mentioned.
link
Sabinus 6 days ago
The USA wouldn't be able to invade and carpet bomb China and end the war before logistical strain started to show either.

There's no point talking about USA's theoretical capabilities to end a war quickly if they can't use those capabilities to end a war quickly. Yes, the USA is holding back on invasion, carpet bombing, total war and nukes. It doesn't matter to the Chinese assessment for the capability of sustained high intensity US military operations.

link
no_wizard 5 days ago
Oh it most definitely does matter, to think it doesn’t makes no sense. The Chinese may be building up their military capabilities but they still spend a fraction of what the US does every year.

They’re different leagues, and in a gloves off war being on the receiving end of the US military would be devastating.

I think if China makes a move it’s because they perceive US political will to defend Taiwan to be weak enough that there won’t be a real protracted fight or escalation.

Which I half wonder if that is why they aren’t more defensive about Iran. Bleed out the political will of the US populace on a war and it’s unlikely we’ll want to support another one anytime soon.

link
pocksuppet 5 days ago
How well is this military doing against Iran right now? I think a few months ago a civilization was destroyed one night, right?
link