RE: http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,158986,00.html

Is there no one in Bush's military circle that can see what is going on here ? Russia did not just up and go away because Reagan forced the wall down. Heck, they couldn't afford the old alliances anyway, they were in financial ruin.

Now by aligning with Iran, Putin is positioning himself and Russia into a no win confrontation with the US. Heck, short of the use of Nukes we probably couldn't defend ourselves even if we were attacked.

Bush, Clinton and Bush have destroyed the largest & best equipped military in the world. The US is in the worst shape since 1939... at least then they had a nation willing to take up arms and defend itself. Now, we are contracting out our military, conscript soldiers... cause after all, it's easier than having to do it ourselves. We have become slovenly and lazy and it appears that were are now a great experiment gone bad !

vs. The Covenant

This message has been edited. Last edited by: NSNN,

quote:

Originally posted by blueghost26:

The US is in the worst shape since 1939... at least then they had a nation willing to take up arms and defend itself. Now, we are contracting out our military, conscript soldiers... cause after all, it's easier than having to do it ourselves. We have become slovenly and lazy and it appears that were are now a great experiment gone bad !

According to many military experts and analysts (like Gen. McCaffrey who was in Vietnam and Desert Storm) the American military is in the best shape ever. But I guess you know it better?

Russia is showing its sneaky old habits! Maybe theres oil in it for the deal?But helping them arm Iran is not helping any peace effort in the Middle East!

Russia didn't go away but the Soviet Union that stretch to every continent in the world did. So did its prestige and power. With their resources they are on a par with the large economies of Europe, France, Germany, and Great Britain.

Iran and Russia have always been close. Seemingly so by force. It was Russia and the Brits that kept Iran from going to the Third Riech. And it was the Brits and the U S that kept them from going with the communist in the fifties. Two extremes and no way to explain it. Face it, they are neighbors, Russia and Iran, sharing the Caspian natural abundance but their disputes are long and controlling also.

Russia and Iran vs the US. Not so. Russia and Iran against the world. The U S has allies touching every region of the world. I can't list them all but would guess on the order of 190 plus countries and growing. Most of the old Soviet Union is western leaning today. Even with threats and intimidation from the older generation trying to return to the bad old days they refuse to accept Russian doctrine. Until you see the Russian tanks in Czechoslovak and Poland, and the reincarnate Joe Stalin, I think we're pretty safe.

quote:

Originally posted by rayevinsonsr:
Russia didn't go away but the Soviet Union that stretch to every continent in the world did. So did its prestige and power. With their resources they are on a par with the large economies of Europe, France, Germany, and Great Britain.

They want that prestige back more than anything though they can't really compete. But if they and their influence grows stronger, and make more and more allies, who knows, there might be another cold war.

Putin is finding it hard to put a plug in democracy now that it has been unleashed!

Putin's move does several things: It takes Russia off the hot seat with any Islamic extremist groups. Russia, flush with its own oil, can put more and more pressure on America's supplies. Russia can begin the creation of a new hegemony that may pressure Europe to abandon America - Hmmm!

Amen to your comments Blueghost.
Nox Nix

quote:

Originally posted by anthonybauwens:
Russia is showing its sneaky old habits! Maybe theres oil in it for the deal?But helping them arm Iran is not helping any peace effort in the Middle East!

I don't think Russia is up to its old sneaky habits. Our government wants missiles in both the Czech Republic (which the majority of the people don't want), and Poland. to defend against Iran. According to history, Iran has not attacked any country since the 18th Century. Every country has the right to defend itself! I'm sure we sell arms to countries that many countries oppose, and of course we oppose other countries selling arms to countries where we do not have the best of relationships. Maybe it's time for the US to reduce its nuclear arms, and start a deplomatic path whereby all countries agree to reduce war weaponry and this would assure peace around the world. In my opinion, too many innocent people die because of a few who believe war solves all problems-regardless of cost!

quote:

Originally posted by jfever1:
Amen to your comments Blueghost.
Nox Nix

Amen?? Birds of a feather.........

quote:

Originally posted by myteejay:

quote:

Originally posted by blueghost26:

The US is in the worst shape since 1939... at least then they had a nation willing to take up arms and defend itself. Now, we are contracting out our military, conscript soldiers... cause after all, it's easier than having to do it ourselves. We have become slovenly and lazy and it appears that were are now a great experiment gone bad !

According to many military experts and analysts (like Gen. McCaffrey who was in Vietnam and Desert Storm) the American military is in the best shape ever. But I guess you know it better?

What General McCaffrey said this month was this:

quote:

The U.S. Army is too Small and Poorly Resourced to Continue Successful Counterinsurgency Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan at the Current Level - An active counter-insurgency campaign in Iraq could probably succeed in the coming decade with twenty-five US Brigade Combat Teams. (Afghanistan probably needs two more US combat brigades for a total of four in the coming 15 year campaign to create an operational state--- given more robust NATO Forces and ROE). We can probably sustain a force in Iraq indefinitely (given adequate funding) of some 10+ brigades. However, the US Army is starting to unravel.

http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/2007/12/general-mccaffrey-iraq-aar/
Pardon me if that doesn't seem the same thing as "the best shape ever".

Well, it's two oil-rich states, both of which dislike Sunni Muslims (Iran is Shia'a, and has both religious dislikes against the Sunnis as well as old ethnic hatreds of Arabs; Russia has frequent problem with its Islamic provinces...)

Both also have reasons for being wary of the United States. Russia can supply Iran with nuclear reactors (making its oil a mor epotent weapon since they won't need as much of it themselves) as well as weaponry; Iran can give Russia access to a year-round port on the Persian Gulf.

It's actually a very natural pairing.

quote:

Originally posted by aDAMWESTIII:

quote:

Originally posted by anthonybauwens:
Russia is showing its sneaky old habits! Maybe theres oil in it for the deal?But helping them arm Iran is not helping any peace effort in the Middle East!

I don't think Russia is up to its old sneaky habits. Our government wants missiles in both the Czech Republic (which the majority of the people don't want), and Poland. to defend against Iran. According to history, Iran has not attacked any country since the 18th Century. Every country has the right to defend itself! I'm sure we sell arms to countries that many countries oppose, and of course we oppose other countries selling arms to countries where we do not have the best of relationships. Maybe it's time for the US to reduce its nuclear arms, and start a deplomatic path whereby all countries agree to reduce war weaponry and this would assure peace around the world. In my opinion, too many innocent people die because of a few who believe war solves all problems-regardless of cost!

This is not good news, although Iran has not invaded as a state, they have and still do support terrorists around the world, including Al Queda. They,along with other terrorists orgs signed on to the Hezzbolah world wide terror network. This also includes Bin Laden and his terror group. They do not have to invade us, they just give weapons and money to others to do their bidding. Like in Iraq, and Afgan. They do it in a round about way, and Putin is not to be trusted. He wants the old ways back, and will stop at nothing to do it. At present he is setting himself up to reign for ever in a round about way, circumventing the Russian constitution. If successful, he will be a very severe threat in the future. As long as we are busy with Iran, and their terrorists we are distracted from what he is up too. Maybe we should start sending arms to the Chet rebels to put a little pressure on him.

quote:

Originally posted by aDAMWESTIII:

quote:

Originally posted by anthonybauwens:
Russia is showing its sneaky old habits! Maybe theres oil in it for the deal?But helping them arm Iran is not helping any peace effort in the Middle East!

I don't think Russia is up to its old sneaky habits. Our government wants missiles in both the Czech Republic (which the majority of the people don't want), and Poland. to defend against Iran. According to history, Iran has not attacked any country since the 18th Century. Every country has the right to defend itself! I'm sure we sell arms to countries that many countries oppose, and of course we oppose other countries selling arms to countries where we do not have the best of relationships. Maybe it's time for the US to reduce its nuclear arms, and start a deplomatic path whereby all countries agree to reduce war weaponry and this would assure peace around the world. In my opinion, too many innocent people die because of a few who believe war solves all problems-regardless of cost!

..and we can all hold hands, light candles & sing "Kumbaya".

ps how about a link as to how the Czechs feel. I noticed you didn't mention the how the Poles feel.

Good point. Iran seems content to exert influence in the assassin tradition of the Old Man of the Mountain. IMO the Reagan policies seemed the most effective in dealing w/ them. But now a serious concerted effort towards energy independence seems to be the most effective counter to Iran, Russia, and venezeula

quote:

Originally posted by 16528112:
But now a serious concerted effort towards energy independence seems to be the most effective counter to Iran, Russia, and venezeula

Indeed, we need a "Marshall Plan" approach to this end.

Yes but their missile system will counter what we had in theater 7 years ago. They cannot counter our new invisible aircraft or our flying disc that is propelled by an ionized gas which creates enough of a magnetic field that it can fly from the U.S. to Iran floating on the earth's magnetic waves without refueling. The craft is made from porous aluminum and cannot be detected visually or on radar. It is also pilotless and can fly as low as 10' off the ground and can actually maneuver down streets at supersonic speeds if necessary.

The S-300 cannot "see" it.

Let's test it out.

A true friend and ally is Vladimir Putin =- NOT!

Reagan policies and military programs bankrupted Russia once, and can do it again if anyone is willing to take up the Mantle.

As for Iran, even the recently released NIE is not sure that they have not restarted their quest for the Bomb. Given a Missile Defense Shield, they will have even fewer reasons not to restart their program. After all, Russia was blocking action on Iraq and selling Iraq weapons and technology right up to OIF kicking off.

quote:

Originally posted by oldmole:

What General McCaffrey said this month was this:

quote:

The U.S. Army is too Small and Poorly Resourced to Continue Successful Counterinsurgency Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan at the Current Level - An active counter-insurgency campaign in Iraq could probably succeed in the coming decade with twenty-five US Brigade Combat Teams. (Afghanistan probably needs two more US combat brigades for a total of four in the coming 15 year campaign to create an operational state--- given more robust NATO Forces and ROE). We can probably sustain a force in Iraq indefinitely (given adequate funding) of some 10+ brigades. However, the US Army is starting to unravel.

http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/2007/12/general-mccaffrey-iraq-aar/
Pardon me if that doesn't seem the same thing as "the best shape ever".

Of course there is serious problems because the military has more work today than ever since World War II. But the General said the military had the best personnel and the best training than anytime before. One of the major problems is that a lot of experienced veterans are leaving the military. But if some enemy tried to step on the land of the US, I'm sure they would all be back in the ranks in one moment.
Do you really think during Korea, Vietnam, etc. the military didn't as many problems?