[joelt]

We would see these forces gathering before they ever put out from the pier. Aircraft would be taking some out before they were ever in range of the Phalanx or that other cool looking gun.

[TopQuark]

"We would see these forces gathering before they ever put out from the pier."

In theory. You can recall, I am sure, the loss of sleeping 240 Marines -- I am sure we should've seen it coming. You may recall successful bombing of our ships a decade ago. There is a huge difference between "we should" and "we will."