April 13th, 2006
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“Peace is our Profession”
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| Vice President Dick Cheney says the United States is “keeping all options on the table. We will not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon.” |
| So the question is, would you support military action against Iran should all diplomatic options fail? Would you support the kind of bombing campaign President Clinton used against the Serbs? |
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| Iranian order of battle (estimate circa 1998) |
4 Armored Divisions
2 Mechanized Divisions
5 Infantry Divisions
5 Commando/Special Forces (1 Airmobile Division) Brigades & Division
5 Artillery Divisions
Several Brigades of Antiaircraft, Engineers, Logistics and SSMs (Scuds).
A modern airforce
A much more plausible CW capability |
Total on Ground: 350,000 regulars, 220,000 conscripts
Iran can also call on substantial numbers of reservists as most males must carry out a full two year military service at some point in their lives. It is generally acknowledged that the conscript element of the army is not trained nearly as well as the professional active duty army. |
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| US & Iraqi order of battle (circa 2006) |
1 overstretched Army Group
1 overstretched Marine Expeditionary Force
1 Iraqi battalion that can operate on it’s own
USN and USAF elements |
| Total on Ground: 130,000 - 140,000 regulars and IRR folks who wonder when they can finally come home. |
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| From the Movie “Thirteen Days” (2000) |
| President Kennedy: Now, General, what are the Soviets gonna do when we attack? |
| Curtis LeMay: (pause) Nothing. |
| President Kennedy: Nothing?? |
| Curtis LeMay: Nothing. Because the only alternative open to them is one they can’t choose. |
| President Kennedy: You know they are not just missiles we’re gonna be destroying, General. If we kill Soviet soldiers they’re going to respond. I mean how would we respond?.. if they kill ours… no they are gonna do something, General. I can promise you that. |
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Posted in The War Years | By Willie Buck Merle