What would happen if Iran and the US went to war?

[Jaegerwolf]

Really depends on where, when, and how it all starts.

If Iran gets frisky in the straight and tries to interdict traffic, 5th fleet will be all over them. Their navy would be reduced to Somali status within a month.

If its a matter of supporting insurgents in Iraq, that becomes an issue since we don't have people there anymore and the Iraqis are not that excited about us coming back anytime soon.

If its a nuclear threat, that's going to be the tough one. The Israelies have said they're hitting any confirmed nuke site, but there's a reason they didn't get involved in Iraq. The US might have to deal with the imperialist pig dog label, but Israel is viewed as full on baby-killer by a large part of the Arab population. Any attack by them is likely to get much of the Middle East rallying to Iran's side faster then Tea Partiers to a Palin book signing.

Sad thing is a lot of the governments in the Middle East don't even LIKE Iran, or at least don't trust them. Remember they're Persian, not Arab, and practice a sect of Islam different from much of their population. Honestly the only thing that gets them together is the whole Israel/Palestine situation.

Simple truth is we just don't have the manpower available to start a whole new land war. Limited air strikes could be effective (see Libya), but I just don't see the US being able to pull off another Iraq style operation anytime soon.

 

[Zio_IV]

Oh man, I hope we don't, at least not in the next 3 years. I just got out of the military last year and am still in the Inactive Reserve phase until January 2015. That means they can recall me back into service if they feel like they need me (and a whole bunch of other people). Which they will if we get ourselves into another war.

I'll just say that I don't want that to happen. Being in the Marine Corps was...not the greatest job I've held, to put it nicely.

 

[CODE-D]

Didnt we already basically do that kinda?

 

[severtson]

Whatever, 2012 is coming. I think WW3 might occur.

 

[Jaegerwolf]

I love how alarmist and utterly paranoid this thread is so far. Here's a little dose of reason.

Many of you are severely underestimating the strength of the US Military, its allies in the area (Turkey, Isreal) and the poor foreign relations status of Iran. No, they would not be able to call up the entire middle east against the West. No, they would not be able to drive gas to 50$ a gallon. No, they would not pose a challenge, militarily. Iran has very weak internals. Their people are somewhat robust and the majority are vastly opposed to their current government. Externally, Iran has very few real allies, even in the Arab world.

The $50/gal fear I agree is completely off base, but I'm not sure you can count too much on Turkey, especially if Israel is involved. Last I heard there are still major issues there. While they might be short on friends within the halls of governments, I don't think it would take too much to get civilian populations riled up which would cause plenty of headaches and might take much of the Middle East out of the game at the least.

As for the US Military, it's not a matter of strength as so much a will to use it. Air strikes and Naval bombardment might be acceptable, but you're not getting boots on the ground without some serious push back from the public. While the Iranian public might be mostly against the current regime, we're not exactly high on their list of favorite people either. If the US/Israel launched a first strike, expect nationalistic fervor to spike pretty quickly.

 

[Wintermoot]

probably Iran getting curb stomped.
allot of civilians want peace in Iran and the fighting to end.

 

[BRENDOG28]

What do youy mean "IF" they have been in a war for atleast the past 5 years, no ones willing to admit it though

 

[The_Blue_Rider]

I remember hearing somewhere that if the US went to war with anyone its only a matter of time before the US completely destroys them, you know due to the massive amounts of money they spend on the military?

The U.S. also only gets about 1/3 of its oil from the middle east any way so it wouldnt cripple them at all

 

[The Random One]

I remember hearing somewhere that if the US went to war with anyone its only a matter of time before the US completely destroys them, you know due to the massive amounts of money they spend on the military?

The U.S. also only gets about 1/3 of its oil from the middle east any way so it wouldnt cripple them at all

That's like saying that I am sure to make my house spotlessly clean if I spend 1/3 of my household budget on cleaning products. Money is not the only concern.

 

[rayen020]

america would win but it'd be (iraq+afganistan)^2. The religious sectarianism that tearing iraq apart is even more devisive and heated in iran. Plus iran is bigger and more geographically diverse than either iraq or iran. Israel would probably get attacked. possibly by nuclear attack. it would really destructive long and end up extending the anti america sentiments already there.

right now the islation and pressure being applied by the rest of the world is easier than armed conflict. this arab spring is going to topple more dictators and police states than any armed conflict could. just have an open door for them and let the people rise. Hopefully we won't go to war, cause it wouldn't be fun.

 

[timb69]

I'd host a family guy "sexy" party whilst wearing a monocle. cos war is stupid.

 

[Worgen]

Well destroying irans military would be pretty quick but if we tried to do anything like occupy it then it would turn into a quagmire and just be a massive drain on the finances.

 

[kittii-chan 300]

If they do go to war I can say that the UK will get involve because our leaders are morons who follow America like dogs... Even though they were part of what made america what it is today. Through invasion.

And wasn't there already a war between them? or do terrorists not count?

 

[WanderingFool]

With all this talk about rising tensions between the US and Iran, it got me thinking about if war broke out.

What do you guys think? Would Iran put up a fight? Would any other countries get involved?

There would be a collective, "NOT THIS SHIT AGAIN!" from most of the US population... and probably a few other countries around the world...

 

[Something Amyss]

They're not just going to lay down and let America fuck them.

They will welcome us with open arms! And greet us as liberators!

And stuff!

 

[Azhrarn-101]

You hit the nail right on the head.

I don't think the Obama administration would go to war with yet another middle east country.

These Christian extremist that we call the Tea Party and the GOP will wage war on any Islamist country because they are fucking Islamist. Let me remind every one that most of these candidates have been quoted as saying they wouldn't appoint any Muslims to office. Hell some one in Rick Perrys campaign said that all muslims are a threat and so are athiest. I can kindly tell any one who thinks the same to please go die a inhumane death very slowly.

/rant.

Personally as seen from my outside perspective (which by definition is limited, as I don't have access to all news sources etc), I believe the US will slowly turn into a theocratic dictatorship over the coming years, just look at how the people's rights have been swiftly eroded ever since the attacks of 9/11 and how not being a christian is these days seen as unpatriotic or even potentially dangerous.

Corporations determine the political agenda in the US especially with them being considered persons now, which give them many advantages that normal civilians can never have.
This gives them unheard of leverage, and since money is considered free speech (yes there's an actual court decision on that), they can simply bribe (sorry, "lobby") their way to whatever the hell they want to happen.

And the scary thing is, the very people who are eroding those civil rights are voted right back into office every time, as if the populace wants them to continue doing it.

The democrats aren't as aggressive at this as the republicans, but both parties are doing it.
Just listen to the rhetoric used by the current crop of Republican candidates, it's frightening to listen too, the xenophobia practically radiates off them.

If one of these people actually becomes the POTUS then the country is going to be fucked, hard.
They have no interest in fixing the economy, education is going to be cut even more, taxbreaks for the rich are either going to be continued or even extended, while probably increasing taxation on everyone else, especially the lower income brackets (the "everyone pays" idea, which effectively reduces taxation of the rich, but massively increases it for everyone with low income).

And the religious, but usually poorer people actually want to vote for these people for some unknown reason... And they're going to be hit hardest by every single plan these crazy people have put out there. Either because they've always voted republican, or because they somehow believe what Fox News is telling them, and frankly I don't know which of these 2 I find scarier.

Appologies for the rant, but I find it scary to look at what's happening in the US at present.

 

[Asclepion]

Nvm

 

[Saika Renegade]

Funnily enough, there was an analysis posted online by (I believe) the BBC detailing how the Iranians focus on 'asymmetrical warfare' as their tactic of choice, with themselves as the smaller or weaker party, so they're clearly expecting this sort of thing to happen at some point. In other words, they are gearing up with guerrilla warfare in mind.

This, I think, would be an excellent chance for the Brisbane company Metal Storm Limited to make frankly embarrassing amounts of money selling their equipment to the US, as the high velocity death clouds boasted by their weapons (the frightening love children of machine-gun fire rates mated to shotgun coverage patterns) would be ideal for quickly and swiftly blowing the crap out of the dodgy but lighter vessels the Iranians focus on for swarm tactics, if they're foolish enough to close on US vessels (after what happened to the USS Cole, I imagine that US vessels are now even more particular about their personal space). Iranian heavier warships are flatly outclassed by US materiel due to the US armed forces' long-standing traditions of finding and messily removing the largest target the enemy has to offer as soon as possible (re: Project ArcLight, a plan to develop a hypersonic cruise missile with an I-kid-you-not *2300 mile* range that can be launched from aircraft, surface vessels, and submarines).

With technology that could theoretically reach out from New York City and explode someone as far away as Phoenix at Mach 5 without breaking a sweat, it would make a blockade unfeasible for the Iranians (and substantially more effective for the US). However, even without that, the US still has the Tomahawk missile, with a range somewhere between 800 and 1500 miles, which is still nothing to sneeze at; the ability to hit targets would not be in question.

Unlike Iraq, though, you have no need to go onto land to end the blockade. Eliminate all vessels obstructing traffic, and the blockade ceases to exist. If Iran actually does either go North Korea and start waving its nuclear arsenal around or goes CoD and fires/detonates that sucker in response, you'd see one or more highly pissed off Pakistan/India/Afghanistan since the wind pattern for the Strait directs any fallout in their direction, and the first two are already mighty twitchy and themselves nuclear powers. I wouldn't underestimate any of them, but surely the Iranian powers that be are not so eager to get Pakistan and India good and angry and breathing down their necks...and if they're really stupid enough to threaten the Israelis, or worse, launch on -them-, well, good luck, world. Not only are the Israelis a downright tenacious people, but I can imagine quite a few religions would be upset by an irradiated Jerusalem...