Q: How do you make an Iranian 'shiite' his robes?

[SteelCore]

A: Send two aircraft carriers and landing ships packed with 17,000 U.S. Marines and sailors to carry out unannounced exercises in the Persian Gulf.
http://media.npr.org/images/ap//AP_News_Wire:_Latest_Headlines/1_MIDEAST_GULF_US_NAVY.sff.jpg
http://media.npr.org/images/ap//AP_News_Wire:_Latest_Headlines/2_MIDEAST_GULF_US_NAVY.sff.jpg

Story:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10343827

[tanstaafl4y]

Greenlight?!

[SteelCore]

Do the run the 13th Marine Expeditionary around for just a 'show of force?' Dat's the real Q.

[Geilt]

I highly doubt this is anything more than a show of force intended to unsettle the Iranian military. Bush doesn't have the clout any longer to freely decide to engage militarily.

[okie shooter]

I agree its more of a saber rattleing, as we couldnt even begin to support another operation at this time. This one wouldn't be the high speed run either, I imagine.

[Grasshopper]

Please do NOT forget they have our old F4 fantoms for nuke delivery. I will pray for our troops. I can see a nuke going off in a battle group...... bad news.
The pucker factor must be enormice.

[M1 Tanker]

You forgot the F14s they have too.

[okie shooter]

I thought the idea was that they have none flying right now. or very very few. I read that they are only good for air to air, and I imagine that without plenty of spare parts and training these may be just relics listed in service. They have nothing but air to air equipment.(the iranian ones I mean)

[Cavalryman]

A: You tape a grenade to his head, tie a parachute cord to the ring, and hold the other end...Not that that ever actually happened.............. :2pistol:

[MID]

Smash all the shitters, and replace them with ones that face to or 180 form the mecca.

[drine]

He's got a PHD in Nuclear power generation. Fled when the Shaw(?) went down. His view is that the clerics have a hold on the ignorant and the educated have either fled, been killed, or stay out of loyalty. He prefers to be called Persian. Nice enough guy but.....
On the subject of nukes. If hit first, we should have four targets in mind, I know I do. That's my plan if ever elected. Bring our boys and girls home and I mean from every shit heel outpost not on American soil. I'd then deliver the Final Option address. Anything happens and it's lights ON in 4 places. We'll be leaving people alone and will expect the same.:rockon:

[MicroPilot]

What 4 places?

[Geilt]

You forgot the F14s they have too.


I would expect that they either have, or are trying to rapidly acquire either Russian or Chinese mlitary aircraft and cut a deal on direct oil sales. Spare parts are easier to come by and builds a potential economic and military partnership between the countries.

[Geilt]

He's got a PHD in Nuclear power generation. Fled when the Shaw(?) went down. His view is that the clerics have a hold on the ignorant and the educated have either fled, been killed, or stay out of loyalty. He prefers to be called Persian. Nice enough guy but.....

I'll make this quick only because its not directly related to the thread topic but with the US actively trying to destabilize the Iranian government you're probably going to see more and more talk about the differences between Persians and Iranians. Growing up a had a friend who's family was in the Shaws government and fled shortly before he left power. When the topic came up he would go on long winded tirades about being from "the country now called Iran but my blood is pure Persian".

One thing to keep in mind is that Iranians are not Arabs. To many, being Persian is an even bigger matter of pride than being Muslim. Rich, poor, educated or simple desert dweller... it doesn't matter.

[remauto1100]

I wouldn't worry too much about the iranians having our washed out F-14's. We stopped selling them spare parts earlier in the year. Remember the Tomcats were put in service in 1971 so they are very old and require tons of maintenance! They leak fuel like there is a endless supply of it and they are very heavy even without a weapons load! And they fell like rocks when they have dual engine failures! I can attest to that....just ask the 2 pilots that went down into the Adriatic in 1995 after having erratic pitch episodes. They lived after ejection but the tomcat is now officially a home for the aquatic life way down deep!

Besides do you really think an Iranian pilot with his absurdly outdated aircraft choices are going to even stand a chance up against our Hornets? Or even our Super Hornets? Don't think so...I was Aviation Electrician in a Hornet squadron while doing my 4 years in the Navy and you would be very suprised as to what Hornet's are capable of...let alone our fighter pilots abilities as well.

[MicroPilot]

...Fled when the Shaw(?) went down. ...


It's Shah or Shahzad or Shahanshah. Translates as King or in the last case King of Kings.

[MicroPilot]

I wouldn't worry too much about the iranians having our washed out F-14's. We stopped selling them spare parts earlier in the year....

I'm pretty sure the US hasn't sold them spare parts since the Shah was overthrown and the hostages were taken in the late 70's.

After further research it would appear that the Iranian air force still has up to 25 F-14's that are flyable thanks to domestic production of spare parts and some aircraft converted to use Russian parts.

Anyone ever read "Sword Point" about a Russian invasion of Iran. In the story they load a nuke up on an F-4 with no delivery system as a suicide mission.

[iocane]

Back during the recent war between Hezbollah and Israel I wondered if it was all a test. Israel had something to shoot down long range missles comming from Iran. What about the short range missles? There on the news Hezbollah was getting there missiles to land closer and closer to Tel Aviv.
Maybe they were testing the idea of hitting Israels largest city with a wmd.
The problem with a crazy enemy, you can't rule out them doing really crazy things.

[drine]

I'll make this quick only because its not directly related to the thread topic but with the US actively trying to destabilize the Iranian government you're probably going to see more and more talk about the differences between Persians and Iranians. Growing up a had a friend who's family was in the Shaws government and fled shortly before he left power. When the topic came up he would go on long winded tirades about being from "the country now called Iran but my blood is pure Persian".

One thing to keep in mind is that Iranians are not Arabs. To many, being Persian is an even bigger matter of pride than being Muslim. Rich, poor, educated or simple desert dweller... it doesn't matter.

Agreed on the race. As I remember in school Iranians are closer to Israeli's than Arabs as far as the gentics go. Pisses em off I suspect.

Of the four places, I'd hate to stir up trouble here for us all so let's call me a drunkenredneckhick playing President. I'd choose Tehran, Mecca, Damascus, and a fourth in the "mountains bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan". Of course I'd pull my guys out first and use low yield nukes.
I don't like politics. If you say you are going to kill me, then by all rights I should take you out ASAP. Simplicity and basics. Look no further.
An old fella that I used to work with, Intel officer in Nam, said it best...
"Innocence and virginity are much alike. They are both easily lost when you go f...ing around!" So I pray for the innocent but condemn their placency.

[MicroPilot]

...Of the four places, ...I'd choose Tehran, Mecca, Damascus, and a fourth in the "mountains bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan".

Those are the targets I was thinking of also.

[drine]

Just got back from KY. Dad built a house on Cumberland lake. Beautiful place but I've not seen any place in the US that isn't. :America:

[bullseye]

Whichever bomb we have that kills the people and not the buildings should be used frequently over those "mountains bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan". Then we can pull our troops back and start using them in whichever hot spots we couldn't cool off the hard way. Small, low yield, and very accurate could do wonders for the morale of our troops if used properly.

[pigpen]

Just my penny's worth. I would hold off on mecca. It is too much of a religious symble. Not that I'm moooslum. I's Southern Baptist.

[drine]

I'm remembering back to Beirut in the early 80's. A few Americans then a general were kidnapped and some ultimately killed. We sat by hoping not to stir anything up. These kidnappers then snatched a few Soviets. Well the Spetsnatz went in, got their people, then leveled the block on the way out. No more Soviets were touched. No politics, just doing what was needed. I would leave Mecca as the last target but let folks know the crosshairs were aligned!!

[Grasshopper]

Anyone ever read "Sword Point" about a Russian invasion of Iran. In the story they load a nuke up on an F-4 with no delivery system as a suicide mission.

Bingo Micro, you get the qupie doll.:rockon:

I'm worried about a high altitude "lob" of a TND. It wouldn't have to be too big, but, just enough to kill a few ships and disease a few thousand sailers and Marines.:nonono:

[Grasshopper]

I'm remembering back to Beirut in the early 80's. A few Americans then a general were kidnapped and some ultimately killed. We sat by hoping not to stir anything up. These kidnappers then snatched a few Soviets. Well the Spetsnatz went in, got their people, then leveled the block on the way out. No more Soviets were touched. No politics, just doing what was needed. I would leave Mecca as the last target but let folks know the crosshairs were aligned!!

Yes, good move on their parts. There was also some anatomical rearanging of the testicls and Pen*&^ to the mouth. They got the "point" all rite, their own (the terrorists)in their own mouths.

[SteelCore]

Great minds think alike!:rockon:

Hey, if it worked to take the fight outta the most determined to fight/die culture on the planet in the 40s, it can work on a buncha undisciplined, Ak-toting, uneducated radical thugs reel well!

ANd as any "drunkenredneckhick playing President" knows, when questioned by the intarnational media and politickers, the answer is "They needed killin'"