Posted on 01/01/2012 8:46:01 AM PST by nuconvert
This article brings back memories of the Japanese Kamikaze attacks with the rocket powered Baka bombs. They were piloted, not like the radar controlled missiles of today. We couldn’t stop all of the Kamikaze aircraft, many got through the AAA. If Iran launched 100-400 of these silkworms in one volley, many will find their mark regardless of how many anti missiles systems we engage them with. It may turn into a momentarily victory for Iran, but the payback will be enormous. However, do you really think that they want a war to end all wars? Do you really expect the ruling mullahs to give up their current life style? The Mullahs are living like royal princes, and the man on the street Iranians know it. The average Iranian wants no part of this insanity, and its unfortunate that they are powerless to do anything about it. One thing I am sure of, they will never erect a statue to honor Jimmy Carter.
“Their launchers aren’t very stealthy.”
Neither were the SCUDs in GW1...none of which we found.
“naval combat purposes”
Oil tankers aren’t military ships with defensive weapons. Oh, and our big, bad Navy ship got hit by a little boat with unsophisticated explosives and two determined nutjobs. Hell, we even took a hit from a 1940’s era mine.
As has been said, they don’t have to hit a ship, they just have to get a launched missile in the water where the cargo ships sail and those ships will stay in port.
Hey!
Maybe we’ve made some progress in the last 20 years?!?!?
Some, like yourself, drive a keyboard.
Indeed!
Several!
We said that 20 years ago and have spent $10 billion more and still behind schedule.
Iran touts a new missile "designed to evade radars" and then shows a picture of an early 50s technology missile. This makes them look like buffoons to the military and diplomatic professionals.
There would be little effective difference between Iran taking actions to intimidate civilian shipping and firing on a western warship. The former would be an economic attack on the western world while the latter would be a more conventional attack. Either would provide 'casus belli' for another nation to wreck Iran's economic and military infrastructure.
Our problem is our civilian leadership and not our military. You can bet that if we had a Republican in the White House instead of 0bama, Iran wouldn't be puffing and strutting like this.
I assume you were referring to the USS Cole incident in October of 2000. That also traces back to the failure of a Democrat administration to fully understand the threat posed by radical Islam. They wage war against us and our administration refuses to acknowledge, much less wage war against them.
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
I have been saying the same thing for a while too. Why can’t folks understand that Iran will not enter into a conflict with the intent to win. They are not stupid.
It is the act of taking us on. It is kicking over the ant hill. You just want to see the ants running around.
If we keep thinking this is another set piece western war...we will be sadly mistaken.
(1) The Iranians are devout Shiites
(2) Shiite theology has as its earthly goal an all-consuming Armageddon .
(3)Quite simple, really. The Shiites start a fiery holocaust that fries everybody.
(4)Not to worry. Allah sorts it out.
(5)All the bad Muslims (i.e., non-Shiites) and all the infidels are burned up. Now the tricky part.
(6)So are all the Shiites killed. BUT, tthat's OK. You see all the fried bad-boy non-Shiite Muslims and infidels will serve the Shiites as slaves in Paradise Firdous, for all eternity.
(7) Allah the All Wise and All Merciful will take this opportunity to craft a new, entirely Shiite World in which all will be a peaceful earthly paradise, and 100% totally Shiite under the 12th Imam, who as you well know has been in the Holy Well at Qum just waiting for the ayatollahs to work out the logistics, etc.
Are you following me, infidel ferenji dogs?
Trav, unless I miss my guess, these Shiite fellows do not strike me as the negotiating type, unless they need more time to engineer the world-fry that is their religion's goal.
I see the Hormuz Strait saber rattling as just buying time for their nuke program. They don’t want to go off half-cocked with a naval/air/ground war around the straits. THey are just threatening it to hold us off until they have nukes.
No matter how funky the bad boys' systems seem to be, they DO have a shot. Whether it's the Russkis with those old Bear Bombers with their cruise missiles, or every Tom, Dick, and Wong with those Silkworm things,or the Iranians with their cobbled-together systems, it is a mistake to take them too lightly. Somewhere, sometime, something just might get through. Hell, in the Straits of Hormuz, rocket boosted 155's might do the trick.
Of course it also is no secret that the CHICOM have as Plan "A" the use of a nuclear anti-carrier weapon. Super-quiet diesel electric subs, etc. it just ain't a safe neighborhood.
I could imagine anything from supercavitating torpedoes, to smart mines that wait for years for one single ship (or ship class) by its sound to fire a captor torpedo, to kinetic energy only ballistic warheads coming down from space.
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