Future Wars
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- Buckyball2
So I've been thinking about this for a while. The U.S. is heading towards a lighter, more mobile, quick strike type of military setup. While just the other day Russia and China participated in their first ever joint military exercise. A sort of mass paratrooper, invasion style drill.
Is this the wrong call for the U.S.? Are we setting ourselves up for situation where our military is incapable of handling a large-scale style fight? While it works for our war on terrorism (hunting down small rogue groups) it seems to be lacking in big picture type scenarios. Or are those type of scenarios a thing of the past.
Just your typical Friday afternoon convo. What are your thoughts?
bB
- Tyrone0
I'm gonna declare war on the anuses of all women I see and perform light, mobile, tactical strikes. I will win.
- kyl30
the millitay contractors would never let them reduce the level of hardware in the millitary. How would they make any money?
- ********0
a) Historically nations have ALWAYS prepared for the wrong war (with the exception of Nazi germany). Warfare is a a Red Queen game.
b) Despite the current and very real manpower shortages the US suffers (easily fixed - called a Draft) and it;s insistence on making some questionable weapons and delivery platforms - Osprey anyone? Star Wars? - no one and I mean no one comes close to what we can do. The era of mass battles is over thanks to GPS, satellite guiding systems, etc. To bunch men and material up on a abattle front in depth agaimnst a technological enemy like the US is to commit mass murder. (Iraq is a great example)
We're definitely going back to lighter more mobile forces in the future.
C) Where will the battlefronts be? In europe? Nope. On mainland asia? Not likely ouitside of the Korean pennisula - and even if that happens expect the chinese to be either nuetral or on our side.
In the US? Ha. Don't think so.So we're looking at Central Asia and Africa - places that call for light mobile forces.
d) Because of it's vast technological superiority and now battle hardened troops and officers (thanks to Gulf War I & II) the US will still have incredible advantages on any battlefront for the next two decades, at least.
Wargame it out - look what the A1 Abrams tanks did to the Soviet tanks the Iraqis used - the soviet tanks were smoked. I mean they shouldn't of even bothered showing up on t he field - I think it was 37 kills to 1 in the US favor during Gulf War I. Imagine if there had actually been a shooting conventional war against Soviet Block forces in the late 80's early 90's. The Soviets woulda been smoked.
e) There will be a growth industry in mercenaries. The Iraq war has solidified this. Not sure what this means - althought I don't think it's anything good - the mercenary is back on the battlefield after a four hundred year abscence. Things are going ot get exciting...
I love the smell of napalm in the morning...
- Buckyball20
Ladies and gentlement, TheTick.
Very nicely done.
- F_180
also to add to TheTicks analysis:
superior air power. what good is 100,000 troops and tanks when 5 stealth bombers can take them all out before they even know whats coming?
- ********0
TheTick re-enters thread.
Looks at all the accolades. Sheds single tear of joy that the 5 years getting that Poly Sci degree finally pays off.
*TheTick exits, returns to pixel pushing.
- fadeproof0
- not to mention that two thirds of American Nuclear power resides in the Submarine fleet; even if spies exposed all of the land-based missle silos to their respective countries for immediate strikes, the Subs are always there - and the beauty of the Sub program is that only the captains on board the ships know where they are - no one on land has any idea where they are in the vast ocean depths, and thats the reason why any country currently thinks twice about fucking with us :)
- ********0
giant states will not fight wars like in the past because of nukes- they can't fight one another, they'll have to squabble with their lawyers and diplomats.
- ********0
why can't we all just get along?
- ********0
Other last minute, kinda connected thoughts:
a) What will be interestingwill be warmiong ties between China and Brazil. China conducts war through peace. They will want to stir the anti-US fires already beginning to smolder in Latin America, Brazil in particular. Brazil has the potential to become a major world player - a fairly educated populace, tons of natural resources, huge population, very tech savy. Chine would love to have the US have to deal with shit in it's own backyard - which all of South America has essentially been to the US since the beginning.
You think the rant of Pat Robertson against Chavez in Venuzuela came from nowhere? Nope. Keep an eye on South America. It will be to the global economy what the "asian tigers" were in the 80's.
China as a rival to the US will start to make things diplomatically difficult for the US by forcing it's attention thin.
b) Russia will be important in it's geographical sphere but they have limited force projection (well everybody has limited force projection in comparison to the US - and maybe Al Queda)
c) expect lots of short hot wars - and forget oil, the next major battles wil be on water rights and access to them.
d) Africa will still be a mess, sadly.
e) Middle east will still be dangerous - but heck as long as they have oil someone will buy it.
f) Ignore the rants from US about "rogue nations". Stop and think about it. Please name actual Rogue nations. I'll wait here...what have you come up with? One? Yup. North Korea. That is the rogue nation. Period.
Iran? Not really all that rogue. Pakistan? Well, not as it;'s still under a US friendly dictatorship. Lot's of weird little rogue regimes in Africa but they'r ebasically a threat to their own populace and not to global security.
g) Wait for small nuclear device to be exploded somewhere iona city. Then shit gets serious. Until then - have fun!
- ********0
More scary than any war:
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com…
Further proof of the loss of and respect for critical thinking in American culture.
When you got smart weapons and dumb people, that spells disaster.
- fadeproof0
yeah, i have nightmares about suitcase nukes - like looking out my window and seeing that distinct mushrooming cloud - i just hope i would live long enough through the fallout to see a good 'ol US nuke obliterate the country the suitcase came from.