What’s everyone’s take on the new conflict that is at hand? Stay conflict? Become a war? Other people get involved?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 21:46:55 -0500

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jan 8 at 2020 1:16 AM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 01:16:08 -0500

It’s hard to predict considering rash military decisions are made without thinking about the consequences. It is a macho contest now, and neither side wants to back down. Iran does not want a conventional war with us and will use terror tactics against us. I think the US and Iran are crazy enough to escalate the situation to a war.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 8 at 2020 4:46 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 04:46:45 -0500

The missiles fired last night will probably scratch Iran's itch for revenge and we'll go back to our regular cold war.

Response by SSG Jose M. Hernandezsanchez made Jan 8 at 2020 9:08 AM

SSG Jose M. Hernandezsanchez — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 09:08:43 -0500

SPC Hart,
I think is more like who can push back the hardest at this time. With that said, I don't think anyone wants to go in there with guns blazing, that would be crazy. God I hope not.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Jan 8 at 2020 9:59 AM

SGT Dave Tracy — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 09:59:23 -0500

My opinion-for whatever it's worth--is that the festering geopolitical wound that is Iran, will periodically flare up as it has occasionally for the past 40 years. I don't expect this to devolve into a full-blown war; a series of saber-rattling and low level tit-for-tat strikes that may involve proxies perhaps, but we're already seeing some of the rhetoric simmering down.

Ask us a year from now. ;-)

Response by PO1 Orlando Miller made Jan 8 at 2020 10:05 AM

PO1 Orlando Miller — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 10:05:44 -0500

If we take out Iran's offshore/onshore platforms, refineries and oil terminals, they are financially crippled. Couple this with the existing sanctions and Iran will call a cease fire after day one. Iran is fortunate no American servicemembers were killed or injured.

Response by SGT Kevin Hughes made Jan 8 at 2020 6:59 PM

SGT Kevin Hughes — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 18:59:44 -0500

Way back in 1948 a couple of smart folks (one was a Rockefeller Heir) went to what was then called: SouthEast Asia . They wrote a long letter back home to the Banks they backed. Briefly they described the future: "Regional unwinnable wars" - most will savage the host country, scar the earth and soldiers, and be negotiated out when the Population gets tired of war. " Doggone if that hasn't held true every decade of my life- almost seven of them , so far.

What I will say about this latest "clash of egoes", is this, it is what my Dad told me when I got engaged:

"Son, when you get married, don't ever bring up the word "Divorce." I don't care how angry, or hurt, or rejected you feel. Talk it out. Once you say the word "Divorce" out loud, it has substance. It is on the table. And only time, you two , and God can predict how it will play out. "

I feel the same way about the word "War." Even mentioning it brings it to the table, and as we have learned in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Bosnia, Beirut, Afghanistan, Panama, and Grenada...once the stuff hits the fan...nobody really knows how it will play out. Saber rattling, or horrible conflict. Bosnia started with just neighbor ladies not talking to each other at the fence. Five months later, atrocities only matched in the end years of WW II- including mass graves, ethnic cleansing, and concentration camps.

Once that word is out, only time, history, and God knows how it will play out. Just like my Dad said.

Response by SGT Kevin Hughes made Jan 8 at 2020 7:03 PM

SGT Kevin Hughes — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 19:03:09 -0500

SPC Keith Hart,
You kicked off a lively discussion with your astute questions. There are some very valid comments in this thread... and most come with a sh*tload of experience and knowledge behind them. I added my two cents- which is worth about what you pay for it. But a lot of the guys on this thread actually plan for these things, and have done them too. So read the thread with a mindset of learning, I did.