McNamara fallacy here? (overreliance on the "numbers" to make an argument when there are other important factors, SUCH AS, the fact that despite having "5000" high end aircrafts, they still arent willing to sacrifice 1 pilot's life to fight IRan, so in essence, those 5000 aircraft are as good as the ones we have in our war video games. Even when it was time to patrol the Persian gulf against Iran, Trump still went to beg europeans to build a coalition,and they could only muster 3 puny ships to enter the gulf....but you will anyone can then tell us " but these countriese economies are in the $gazillions from their combined GDP"...then why so afraid of a broke country like North Korea or Iran? just sayin!! military equipment and bravery are 2 completely different issues.
My brother, you are correct to a certain degree.
However, I have sat on a dinner table since I was about 7 years old (my early consciousness of war talk at dinner table with my family) next to individuals in the AF or Army Aviation or training for either. Yes, we can be brave, and we are brave, and I hope at the same time, we are not careless.
Two of my favorite people on this forum, which I love reading their posts and knowing their perspectives, are now BANNED. For what? For being brave and making comments against others, which may or may not have deserved it. Brave alone doesn't make a country strong. A strong country needs to make the right decisions, through crystal clarity of thinking. Can you imagine if Iran has worked with Mongols and not had cut off the heads of their ambassador and companion what Iran could have been - and still to this day?
Our adversaries have 5000+ high end fighter/bombers and STILL they are very careful how they display their power projection, and excessively plan their adventurism. Also, preparing coalitions and allies prior to a war is a very smart idea, considering what resources you MAY NEED at a later stages of the war, as it progresses.
One of my favorite books is Martin Dempsey's "Radical Inclusion". But not just this one, but many others, talk about U.S. power being effective ONLY due to its ability to use economical coercion/intimidation/seduction to BUILD AND USE ALLIES for U.S.'s needs/demands.
Remember how France & Germany asked U.S. to wait 3 month for the inspectors in Iraq to do their work in 2002, so U.S. called them OLD EUROPE, then went to Czech Republic and Poland, (and others) offered them economic packages and got them to support U.S. invasion of Iraq on March 15th, 2003. It even got the congress together in 4 hours to pass a bill to change FRENCH FRIES to FREEDOM FRIES. Why would U.S. consider having a coalition/allies as being so important when they can alone pummel Iraq?
Iran should be smart with purchasing AF equipment, not just for war preparations. Military is an insurance service, as was once said by Eric Shinseki, 4-star general that stood against a President and the entire military command backed him up.
All these weapons are ONLY a small part of a defense doctrine. Every military chief preparing for war, FIRST asks for 2 things: 1) food supplies, and 2) ammunition supplies. Then they go down the list of all the strategies, logistics, strike missions, protection of its troops, access ways, etc. etc.
Just because Iran is brave, WE SHOULD NOT IGNORE ALL THE ESSENTIAL THINGS THAT PROTECT IRAN, NOR SHOULD WE BE CAVALIER WITH THE LIVES OF IRANIANS, ESPECIALLY THE BRAVE ONES THAT YOU MENTION. WE SHOULD ONLY EXPEND THEIR LIVES IF WE KNOW WITH A CERTAIN DEGREE OF CERTAINTY THAT THE END RESULTS WAS WORTHY OF THEIR VALOR AND SACRIFICE.
We should not be careless with the lives of our most precious resource: our brave defenders of our land.
With respect.
Having xx number of aircrafts on papper,and number of aircrafts they can deploy without prompting China to invade Taiwan or Russia to enter Ukraine..those are completly 2 different things..US is withrawing from Middle east to counter China,exactlly because they knew they need so many troops to fight Iran,if deployed they would loose two strategic area. Even their latest report about US capabilities,admit US can fight war with one advesaries but not two major wars..For crappy Iraq in 2003,they spent more than 6 months to build military assets to invade Iraq,I remeber like it was yesterday..they started with build up around September and entered Iraq like in April next year...Also..I suppose they need something left at home..just in case..they are deployed around the world..so their capabilities are spread ...and also their military is completly different in nature,offensive capabilities are something it is much expensive to build than defansive.
Good point. I have suggested that before. U.S. is weary of Russia's move in Ukraine and China's move in Taiwan, in case of a U.S. war with Iran.
However, my point was that conflicts should be taken into consideration (no matter how unlikely) when making a strategic AF acquisition.
If Israel and UAE and Turkey started a war with Iran, how many aircrafts will they have at their disposal when all of NATO will be forced to come to help them? When Iran threatens the economic lifeline of the world, why will the rest of the world support?
Iran military command think about these issues very carefully, that is why it took them a few days to respond to Soleimani's assassination, and yet with very limited response.
