May the bombs of 100000 B-52 sorties infest nutmenajob-land
Posted on 10/19/2007 1:34:02 PM PDT by blam
We can attack Iran, says US commander
By Alex Spillius in Washington
Last Updated: 8:14pm BST 19/10/2007
America's top military officer said the country does have the resources to attack Iran, despite the strain of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Adm Michael Mullen, who took over as chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff three weeks ago, said diplomacy remained the priority in dealing with Iran's suspected plans to develop a nuclear weapon and its support for anti-US insurgents in Iraq.
But at a press conference he said: "there is more than enough reserve to respond (militarily) if that, in fact, is what the national leadership wanted to do".
Defence Secretary Robert Gates warned that Iran's acquisition of nuclear weapons could set off an arms race in the Middle East. "The risk of an accident or a miscalculation or of those weapons or materials falling into the hands of terrorists seem to me to be substantially increased," he added.
The two leaders appeared together just days after George W Bush raised the spectre of "World War Three" if Iran went nuclear.
Adm Mullen did not elaborate on what size of assault would be feasible, but earlier reports have said the Pentagon had laid out contingency plans for a major aerial campaign against suspected nuclear targets in Iran.
Given that there are approximately 180,000 US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, the deployment of a significant ground force is improbable.
Early this year the US navy moved a second aircraft carrier with battleships into the Gulf, its biggest build up of military power there since the months leading to the invasion of Iraq in March 2003, leading to speculation that it was prepared to launch air strikes at any time.
Adm Mullen also said the US military was working hard to stem the flow from Iran into Afghanistan of high-tech materials for roadside bombs. The military has said that parts from the armor-piercing bombs, which have killed hundreds of troops in Iraq, are now getting into Afghanistan.
Iran's foreign minister said yesterday that his country is ready to establish nuclear energy cooperation with other countries, based on the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
"The Islamic Republic of Iran is prepared to cooperate with other countries in the nuclear field with a peaceful purpose," said Manouchehr Mottaki during a visit to the western Afghan city of Herat for a conference.
May as well do it now, since oil’s going to 100 whether we do or don’t.
I suspect that the USAF has a bit of reserve capacity that is not being currently used.
One can attack a tank with a rock. Winning a decisive military victory is the real question. And with our current state of politically correct paralysis brought about by the likes of the ACLU, the Soros/moveon crowd, the complicit liberal media, and all the other usual suspects, it becomes a very relevant consideration. Our greatest enemies are right here at home.
The logistics are simplified some by the fact that Iran is conveniently located between the two countries in which the US is already engaged.
We are supposed to be able to fight and win two wars at the same time. Of course we can destroy the illegal nuclear bomb factories of Iran.
May the bombs of 100000 B-52 sorties infest nutmenajob-land
Who writes this crap anyway? We have no active duty Battleships period (As far as I know) two decommissioned ships have been left battle ready if the military feels they need them.
I suspect the USAF has lots of reserve including Stealth bombers and fighter/bombers as well. ;-D
I suspect the USAF has lots of reserve including Stealth bombers and fighter/bombers as well. ;-D
Sorry for the double post, it should have read stealth Fighter/bombers as well.
All we have to do is take out the nuclear and bombmaking facilities and the ports used to import gasoline and other essential products, and maybe drop a few on the ruling elite’s and Qods Force’s palaces/barracks and supply depots.
The local Iranian freedom movement will take care of the overthrow of the regime.
Thank you for the confirmation, looks like the reporters in England are as inept as those here.
Last I heard the Missouri was anchored near the Arizona at Pearl and was open for tours.
I further suggest a repeat of PRAYING MANTIS. AND we tell the International Court of Justice to go pound sand - again.
We do not have the ground troops to occupy Iran. This does not mean that we cannot put their society in a pre-industrial state, as long as our intention is to just walk away afterward and make no attempt to help them rebuild
Exactly right (American's need to seriously think on this reality - Understand, going after our CinC, with ugly and heated rhetoric, over issues where there may be valid disagreements.....only helped both our foreign and more importantly domestic enemies).
Last I heard the Missouri was anchored near the Arizona at Pearl and was open for tours.
It's something isn't it? makes one wonder how much of the written word is made up or fact.
Had some basic research been done it never would have gone to press with such a glaring error. What happened to an editor reviewing copy for errors anyway?
Foolish mistakes like this lends zero credibility to the entire article.
Sounds good to me.
True. We have plenty of strategic capacity that hasn’t been used in years!
So why are we ending the current wars in Afghanistan and Iraq?
“The Iowa is at the reserve fleet in Suisun Bay”The Iowa could be recommissioned on 6 month notice. The others have had large amounts of gear removed”
From the last time I had a look at her, the Iowa would probably tke a bit more than 6 months to really be ready. Not to mention repairing the one turret that was out of commission even before Iowa was placed in reserve. Her decks are a MESS, among other things, as very little has been done in the way of maintenance while she’s been laid up at Suisun.
The Navy had planned to build five more battleships, the Montana Class, but canceled the order when it became apparent the aircraft carrier would be the capital ship of the war. One of them was to be a new Maine, which would have been nice symbolism, too.
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/usnshtp/bb/bb67.htm
My son loved the adventure so I guess it was worth it.
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Here he is in front of the 16 inch turrets.
BTW, any idea why FR is gagging as it has been all day?
Aftermath The #2 Turret was trained forward with its own mechanism after the explosion and superficial repairs were conducted. All the related repair pieces are stored inside the turret, but the turret has never been completely repaired. Iowa deployed to Europe and the Mediterranean Sea in mid-year. Iowa decommissioned in Norfolk, 26 October 1990. Iowa, as part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet, was berthed at the Naval Education and Training Center in Newport, from 24 September 1998 to 8 March 2001 when the ship began her journey, under tow, to California. The ship arrived in Suisun Bay near San Francisco on 21 April 2001 and is part of the Reserve Fleet there. Due to the damage in Turret 2, the Navy put New Jersey into the mothball fleet, even though the training mechanisms on New Jersey’s 16 inch guns had been welded down. The cost to fix New Jersey was considered less than the cost to fix Iowa; however, the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act of 1999 demanded that the Navy substitute Iowa for New Jersey; additionally, the Navy was to arrange for New Jersey’s donation for use as a museum ship. The Navy made the switch in January 1999, paving the way for Camden, New Jersey, to acquire USS New Jersey. Iowa was maintained in accordance with the National Defense Authorization Act of 1996 until 2006, when the Secretary of the Navy struck Iowa and placed the ship on donation hold to allow transfer for use as a museum ship.
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