Mango, True, but the terrorists don't seem to be following historical guidelines. Also, I'm talking more about the number of men we're sending over there. Obviously, however many we send there, cannot also be here. And, what about all the F-15s, and 16s, that are being deployed. All I'm saying is that the terrorists ability to plan and execute the unexpected is what worries me. I just feel that if we react in a way that is expected, we might just get something unexpected in return.
If I may offer my $.02, I understand your concern, but I wouldn't worry any more than we already should (I'm speaking of just worrying about war in general). We have many men state-side. We won't send literally everything over there all at once. We'll still have National Guard, Coast Guard, and reserves from every branch of the service, not to mention our normal police forces, S.W.A.T. teams, CIA, FBI, Secret Service officers, etc.
You're on the right track, but asking the wrong questions, if that makes any sense... Harriers can operate off of any airstrip in the world. A C-5 Galaxy can't. Get out a map of all known Afghani or Iraqi airfields (if you can find such a map ) and look at how long the longest takeoff/landing strip is, and if it's shorter than the takeoff run of a C-5 then it's a likely target. Now, we've been building alot of C-17 Globemasters (which have a shorter runtime), so this may not matter... But the C-5s are the only ones we can bring tanks in with. We won't bring tanks into Afghanistan from the sea, but we will need some, and the C-5 is the best equipped to carry an M1A2 MBT... The Rangers can also take any airport/airfield in the world. That complicates things, as it should...
Just to be clear, the Theodore Rosevelt and it's battle group are part of the larger Bataan Amphibious Ready Group which also includes the USS Shreveport and the USS Whidbey Island. Learn more about the Bataan at: The Home Page of the USS Bataan
Ottoman, The TR is always the King of its battle group. The ARG (Bataan, WI, and Shreveport) are subordinate to the nuclear aircraft carrier. I'm sure that would irk a Navy person...
I am watching the Today show and reportedly the Taliban is/has asked Bin laden to leave the country of his own free will. I dont know if this is just political posturing, or the Taliban realizes there about to see the US forces up close. They have also declared a "Holy War" if the American attack. Operation "Infinite Justice" has begun. treeman- sounds like you know what your talking about, thanks for all your info. If you decide to join the Military I wish you luck and may God be with you
I was about to post the same thing. I'm impressed by what you've been typing lately. Now you could be blowing smoke up our collective arses but you seem like you know what you're talking about. Thanks for your input, treeman.
Help me out here: I know that Tom Clancy wrote some fiction similar to the WTC destruction, but what writer/book involved a war between China and Taiwan, and a US carrier group was lured into a bay and destroyed with a nuke? I read it several years back, and now I can't remember the title or the author.
Teeman, I agree you do seem to be up on your military hardware and tactics and even what the hardldiners in Washingon want to do e.g widen the response into Iraq and other countries. You also said: They want a jihad - a war between Islam and the West (Christianity, in particular). Osama knew we would respond. He wants us to put Pakistan, Syria, Saudi, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, and the occupied territories in the hot seat. He wants us all to go on a war footing. He wants WW3 This is correct also, but (and you knew this was coming)......such policies will at best eliminate some current terrorists cells in the short run. Long run it could well make things worse. It also fall into the trap set by Bin Laden since you also want: since our hardliners want to put Pakistan, Syria, Saudi, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, and the occupied territories in the hot seat We already created Bin Laden and assisted in the birth of the taliban. If civil war breaks out in Pakistan due to our effort to bring Bin Laden to justice we could then create the first fundamentalist state with nuclear weapons. Scary considering they believe they'll go to heaven if they die in a nuclear war.
Sorry. That's the way that the commander of the Bataan (a Captain Martin Allard) described it and I just paraphrased it. I apologise to anyone who was irked.
Good info going on here. Might I make a suggestion. This "new enemy" doesn't have intelligence gathering capabilities that we are used to. They can get more from CCN than their agencies. I enjoy talking about troop deployments, gas reserves, etc., but for security reasons, its best we cut it out. I'm not trying to imply that terrorist check the CCBBS, but why help them. One check of this thread reveals much that could normaly take months to find out.
