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Originally Posted by Savayan
The last thing that the US needs is another war. The last two have almost crippled you as it is.
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Not remotely. No, seriously, these two long-term brushfires aren't even close to a full-scale war such as Korea, Viet Nam, or the World Wars. Our economy may be bad, but it's not nearly crippled (and domestic problems did more damage than the wars). Our military capability - and this is with an all-volunteer service, mind - is still such that we can fight two theaters the size of Iraq and Afghanistan
and open up a third.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Savayan
Isn't that exactly what was said before going into Afghanistan or Iraq?
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Only by morons - y'know, journalists, politicians, and those dim enough to take what they say as gospel truth. In military circles and among those who had actually paid attention in history class, it was understood that while the war itself was going to be very brief, the occupation would be very long.
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Originally Posted by Wippit Guud
NATO (well, the US) is very good at obliterating large armies. It's not equipped or trained for guerrilla warfare.
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This is formerly true. Now the US military and allied nations are very, very good at counter-insurgent and guerilla warfare and we are rather well-equipped for it.
Our expertise in conventional warfare has suffered somewhat for this.
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Originally Posted by kyz
The situation isn't anywhere as clear cut in Syria as people want it to be. 'The majority are against the current rullership'. If that was actually true, it would be over by now given all the munitions that have been funneled to the FSA by outside powers/arms dealers/western agitators.
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Bull. The majority of Iraqis were in favor of the US forces, hated Saddam, and hated the insurgents. The first one changed a bit over the years, fluctuating back and forth depending on circumstances and the region. Something like less than one percent of the Iraqi population was ever engaged in the war or the occupation. That didn't stop it from lasting for years.