Is USA way right? Part II

  • Thread starter Thread starter knowltok
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knowltok

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Posted By Comradedevo:

But the thing is all those countries you just named don't like Isreal too much, an incedent in lebanon and BOOOM, the Syrian government grants 'rights of passage' to the Iraquis!!!

While you are quite correct that none of these countries likes Israel in the slightest, the logistics behind an Iraqi ground assault on Israel are well beyond their means. You are talking about the vaunted Iraqi army trying to cross most of their nation and all of another to get to Israel. All the while the US would be bombing the piss out of them. The mobility of the enemy is one of the first things the US military goes after, and there is no way the Iraqis could attack Israel with ground units if the catalyst was an American attack on Iraq.

The Germans managed to shift a bunch of divisions to the Western front in late '44. They had the advantage of winter weather, moving across their own country, and hiding in a forrest. The Iraqis have none of that, and...they aren't the Whermacht.

If the US decides to go after Saddam and Iraq the other nations there might say anything, but they aren't going to do squat. Long term repracussions could be anything, and hindsight might indicate that attacking Iraq was a mistake, but it won't be because Syria, Jordon, Saudi Arabia, or any other Middle Eastern nation throws their lot in with the Iraqis. They know the score and are in diplomatic contact with the US. They would be given to understand that Iraq is our last major military stop unless some new terrorist threat comes up, and all they have to do to keep from finding out if they are as good as the US military is to keep their heads down. You know they will. They didn't back Saddam before, they aren't going to do it now.
 
Internationally, leaders have been saying that if we extend our campaign to Iraq, that there would be turmoil in the Middle East.

Of course, that's what they said during Desert Shield 1990 and Desert Storm 1991...
 
Originally posted by rmsharpe
Internationally, leaders have been saying that if we extend our campaign to Iraq, that there would be turmoil in the Middle East.

Yeah, all that turmoil we would cause...I mean, it would be just such a massive change from the way it is now. We certainly don't want the middle east to start fighting; it's such a peaceful neighborhood.:rolleyes:
 
Also important to remember that Syria is still ruled by the rival wwing of the Ba'ath party to that of Iraq. There is hate between the two regimes.

And in addition to what knowltok said, the Iraqi Army would have to contend with the Israeli Air Force, as well as the USAF operating out of Turkey and Saudi. They could not make it across the desert. That is why they tried what they did as Osirak, and why Israel reacted to it in the way it did.
 
Originally posted by BlueMonday


Yeah, all that turmoil we would cause...I mean, it would be just such a massive change from the way it is now. We certainly don't want the middle east to start fighting; it's such a peaceful neighborhood.:rolleyes:

I was going to type something to that effect...
 
Admitedly an ground attack on Isreal from the Iraquis wouldn't be likely but the chances are they got some scuds hid away somewhere, and if they employed the sama tatic as that of the Gulf War I can't say I see the Isrealis not reacting....and if Sharon bowed to what would be inevitable pressure from the hardliners amongst his Government and launched retaliatory attacks against Iraq it could spark a middle east crisis. This is all hypothetical, of course.
 
I don't think those countries will do squat regardless. Attacking Israel has never worked for them in the past, and doing it while the US is in the region dropping a bunch of bombs stands even less of a chance of success. It would be a good way to commit national suicide. And on the off chance they would be successful against Israel backed by the US, then their capital stands a good chance of evaporating. It is the classic definition of a no win situation. I think those leaders are smart enough to take their chances with their own radicals than to have to start hiding in caves with Israel and the US hunting them.
 
The only people that can "defeat" Isreal are the insurgent fighters (Palestinian Liberation Organization), because they have no territory. When you've got territory, you can be better tracked.
 
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