How about this: stop attacking countries! Stop starting wars. Stop funding Israel and stop providing diplomatic support for Israel 's wars. Stop funding color revolutions. Stop attacking boats in the Carribean. Stop engaging in piracy in respect of oil tankers. Not difficult in theory but oh so difficult for the USA. Perhaps these lessons will help make the world a better place.
A non Persian, non Shia, local population that had been part of tit for tat attacks on Israel for generations, attacked Israel using locally obtained weapons and basic techniques akin to a blood thirsty motorcycle gang. No super drones, no advanced missiles, no artillery, just motor cycles, s.u.v.s and Kalashnikovs.
And nothing *started* on Oct. 07 any way. Israel supported the the newly installed Shah of Iran. They did so by setting up and managing the Shah's dreaded SAVAK secret police which terrorized the Persian population of Iran. That was decades before Hamas was formed. You know, the *Palestinian* group who did the Oct. 07 attack.
The original sin of Israel is that there was an indigenous population of Palestinian Arabs who were displaced by the decision of the UK and US to allow the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. The Israelis immediately engaged in ethnic cleansing and the displacement of the indigenous population, many ancestors of which now live in Gaza and the West Bank. Until there is justice for these people, there will be no peace. October 7 did not happen in a vacuum. But Israel is not interested in any kind of good faith settlement with the Palestinians (which is why they have continually assassinated their leaders and negotiators - hey! just like in Iran!). Israel wants the total capitulation of the Palestinians whose land they stole.
Stephen himself seemingly hasn't learnt the single most important lesson, given the whole article fails to mention the elephant in the room - which is that if the US can get beaten up by a middle power like Iran, what chance in hell has it got against China?
So instead of "pivot" to Asia, isn't it wise to just "go home"?
The US is years behind all the Chinese tech. Can't even built hyoersonic missiles or proper drones. They would need to focus on research and development and change the entire structure of their military expenses. Too many contractor get crazy money for very little output. It's all a hoax.
That was mainly due to Obama/Biden governance. Now the 2nd term Trump is catching up. Abolishing DEI installed with Chinese funding for "US" NGOs helps. That's a big difference to Trump's 1st term.
So far, Ukraine is inflicting a lot of damage on Russia, curtesy of the USA. So no, it's a two-way street. Same with Iran - it would be in a much worse position without Russia and China.
The main takeaway from this war is DO NOT let other countries drive the USA into wars that are not in the interest of America (no matter how much influence that country might have in the United States Congress).
I'm really not sure whether the US should be dragged into wars. A look at the last 80 years shows that the intervention of the US military (with very few exceptions) has always been on its own initiative.
Interesting that Trump (if he doesn't postpone again) will be meeting Xi with a significant proportion of US Pacific assets transferred to, and many consumed in, the Middle East.
No wonder Xi is always smiling as he meets Desperate Don.
I haven't seen you writing any US military achievements in the recent Iran conflict which you state there were many.
Perhaps one of them is that no ship was sunk by Iran? But then again the whole fleet was 1200km away from the shores of Iran...
Perhaps another was the destruction of a school during the first day?? But then again almost 168 children died during that strike...
I will list another. According to Dr Theodore A. Postol, a professor emeritus of Science, Technology, and International Security at MIT, the Patriot systems had 5-6% success rate in downing Iranian missiles...
I personally could not find any US military achievements .
What is really interesting that mainstream media and certain European officials were calling out Russian ISR support including SAT pictures - as I can see providing AI enhanced Chinese SAT pictures - close to real time - is good enough for China to apply a reverse - mirror - strategy, which US planners applied attriting Russian HVT during the entire Ukraine conflict. The challenge is - dispriportional - Russia is getting stronger in Missile and Drone operation - there the production is being duplicated with secure North Korean capacity - Russia for Naval and aviation is 2nd tier compared to China - so as of Chinese doctrine - Russians can be made much stronger on land based offensive warfare - and helping to maintain their aviation - while degrading the West from Air Defense, AWACS etc where they have production bottlenecks - from Chinese side this is a good cost-benefit equation...
It seems like the main lesson here is "Never Underestimate the Enemy" -- which is probably a lesson going all the way back to Sun Tzu. In every war, both sides get lucky breaks, and unlucky ones too. The question is -- what was an actual failure, versus what was the kind of inevitable loss when the other side is firing back in earnest?
There is a very interesting book -- "America's First Battles, 1776 - 1965". Main observation is that US peace-time militaries have generally stumbled when they first go into battle. That observation could probably also apply to many other countries' militaries -- maybe even to Iran's? A big issue is that the kind of person who rises in the peacetime ranks (especially now in the age of Obama/Biden DIE) is not the kind of hard-core commander needed for nasty unforgiving combat with an enemy determined to kill you.
America's military has been in war activities for the last fifty years. There is no ....well, they just haven't been in conflict for so long they sort of forgot how because that is just what happens..... story line that works.
"GA-ASI claims that the new AEW&C sensors for the MQ-9B — the main antennas for which are carried in three large pods, one slung under each wing of the drone and one on the centerline — will be able to detect tactical aircraft, guided missiles, drones, and other threats. They will do this “at a fraction of the cost of manned platforms,” the company contends."
I'm sure the troops on the ground who used to have a forward air controller attached their unit to assist with maintaining air cover will take comfort in knowing it is cheaper to fly a remote device controlled from thousands of miles away instead of people in an overwatch position.
Those troops on the ground will be glad the MQ-9B is cheaper because the money saved will be used to buy them more drones with longer range to fly at the enemy.
How about this: stop attacking countries! Stop starting wars. Stop funding Israel and stop providing diplomatic support for Israel 's wars. Stop funding color revolutions. Stop attacking boats in the Carribean. Stop engaging in piracy in respect of oil tankers. Not difficult in theory but oh so difficult for the USA. Perhaps these lessons will help make the world a better place.
We will if they will. Get real.
Twice Israel and America attacked Iran without warning and during actual negotiations to avoid conflict. Maybe you should get real.
Iran attacked Israel without warning on Oct 7, 2023. That started the whole thing off.
Iran did not attack Israel on Oct. 07.
A non Persian, non Shia, local population that had been part of tit for tat attacks on Israel for generations, attacked Israel using locally obtained weapons and basic techniques akin to a blood thirsty motorcycle gang. No super drones, no advanced missiles, no artillery, just motor cycles, s.u.v.s and Kalashnikovs.
And nothing *started* on Oct. 07 any way. Israel supported the the newly installed Shah of Iran. They did so by setting up and managing the Shah's dreaded SAVAK secret police which terrorized the Persian population of Iran. That was decades before Hamas was formed. You know, the *Palestinian* group who did the Oct. 07 attack.
The original sin of Israel is that there was an indigenous population of Palestinian Arabs who were displaced by the decision of the UK and US to allow the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. The Israelis immediately engaged in ethnic cleansing and the displacement of the indigenous population, many ancestors of which now live in Gaza and the West Bank. Until there is justice for these people, there will be no peace. October 7 did not happen in a vacuum. But Israel is not interested in any kind of good faith settlement with the Palestinians (which is why they have continually assassinated their leaders and negotiators - hey! just like in Iran!). Israel wants the total capitulation of the Palestinians whose land they stole.
Stephen himself seemingly hasn't learnt the single most important lesson, given the whole article fails to mention the elephant in the room - which is that if the US can get beaten up by a middle power like Iran, what chance in hell has it got against China?
So instead of "pivot" to Asia, isn't it wise to just "go home"?
The US is years behind all the Chinese tech. Can't even built hyoersonic missiles or proper drones. They would need to focus on research and development and change the entire structure of their military expenses. Too many contractor get crazy money for very little output. It's all a hoax.
That was mainly due to Obama/Biden governance. Now the 2nd term Trump is catching up. Abolishing DEI installed with Chinese funding for "US" NGOs helps. That's a big difference to Trump's 1st term.
So far, Ukraine is inflicting a lot of damage on Russia, curtesy of the USA. So no, it's a two-way street. Same with Iran - it would be in a much worse position without Russia and China.
The main takeaway from this war is DO NOT let other countries drive the USA into wars that are not in the interest of America (no matter how much influence that country might have in the United States Congress).
I'm really not sure whether the US should be dragged into wars. A look at the last 80 years shows that the intervention of the US military (with very few exceptions) has always been on its own initiative.
Why was this written using only the past tense?
"While the US military had many achievements in the recent Iran conflict, it was far from cost free."
I'll fix that to present perfect tense (but not the clunky phrasing);
"While the US military HAS had many achievements in the Iran conflict, it HAS BEEN far from cost free."
Interesting that Trump's disastrous 'military operation' is described throughout only in the past tense.
Interesting that Trump (if he doesn't postpone again) will be meeting Xi with a significant proportion of US Pacific assets transferred to, and many consumed in, the Middle East.
No wonder Xi is always smiling as he meets Desperate Don.
Do you imagine Xi will take the opportunity to occupy Japan, lol?
Impressive detailing of US losses: where, when, and how.
Oddly missing: The many $100million to 1 billion dollar radar ground systems lost.
The money is peanuts compared to the Trillions Gulf invests in the USA.
I haven't seen you writing any US military achievements in the recent Iran conflict which you state there were many.
Perhaps one of them is that no ship was sunk by Iran? But then again the whole fleet was 1200km away from the shores of Iran...
Perhaps another was the destruction of a school during the first day?? But then again almost 168 children died during that strike...
I will list another. According to Dr Theodore A. Postol, a professor emeritus of Science, Technology, and International Security at MIT, the Patriot systems had 5-6% success rate in downing Iranian missiles...
I personally could not find any US military achievements .
What is really interesting that mainstream media and certain European officials were calling out Russian ISR support including SAT pictures - as I can see providing AI enhanced Chinese SAT pictures - close to real time - is good enough for China to apply a reverse - mirror - strategy, which US planners applied attriting Russian HVT during the entire Ukraine conflict. The challenge is - dispriportional - Russia is getting stronger in Missile and Drone operation - there the production is being duplicated with secure North Korean capacity - Russia for Naval and aviation is 2nd tier compared to China - so as of Chinese doctrine - Russians can be made much stronger on land based offensive warfare - and helping to maintain their aviation - while degrading the West from Air Defense, AWACS etc where they have production bottlenecks - from Chinese side this is a good cost-benefit equation...
If US destroys Russian AWACs without declaring war, it's obvious Russia will do the same.
It seems like the main lesson here is "Never Underestimate the Enemy" -- which is probably a lesson going all the way back to Sun Tzu. In every war, both sides get lucky breaks, and unlucky ones too. The question is -- what was an actual failure, versus what was the kind of inevitable loss when the other side is firing back in earnest?
There is a very interesting book -- "America's First Battles, 1776 - 1965". Main observation is that US peace-time militaries have generally stumbled when they first go into battle. That observation could probably also apply to many other countries' militaries -- maybe even to Iran's? A big issue is that the kind of person who rises in the peacetime ranks (especially now in the age of Obama/Biden DIE) is not the kind of hard-core commander needed for nasty unforgiving combat with an enemy determined to kill you.
America's military has been in war activities for the last fifty years. There is no ....well, they just haven't been in conflict for so long they sort of forgot how because that is just what happens..... story line that works.
76 years - you forgot Korea.
As Ike and Country Joe noted:
There's plenty good money to be made
Supplyin' the Army with tools o' the trade
DEI is the reason Trump appointed Heggseth as his War Secretary. Imagine instead some RINO promoting LGBTQ+ or underrepresented minorities.
Are the Boeing AWACs obsolete?
https://www.twz.com/air/mq-9b-airborne-early-warning-variant-could-fill-major-aerial-surveillance-gaps
"GA-ASI claims that the new AEW&C sensors for the MQ-9B — the main antennas for which are carried in three large pods, one slung under each wing of the drone and one on the centerline — will be able to detect tactical aircraft, guided missiles, drones, and other threats. They will do this “at a fraction of the cost of manned platforms,” the company contends."
https://www.eurasiantimes.com/chinas-massive-awacs-uav-caught-in-satellite-pics/
Not sure if the MQ-9B can carry thirty crew like the alternative that it is supposed to replace.
If the alternative with a crew of 30 gets shot down, then the crew needs to be rescued/recovered.
If the MQ-9B is shot down, that's not a problem.
I'm sure the troops on the ground who used to have a forward air controller attached their unit to assist with maintaining air cover will take comfort in knowing it is cheaper to fly a remote device controlled from thousands of miles away instead of people in an overwatch position.
Those troops on the ground will be glad the MQ-9B is cheaper because the money saved will be used to buy them more drones with longer range to fly at the enemy.
Good review, Stephen - appreciate very much! How likely do you see a both side-beneficial compromise between USA and Russia over Ukraine and Iran atm?