Edit: Redleg's warning was posted while I was writing (very bad timing), so I didn't see it until after I posted. The thread doesn't seem to be locked, so I am not sure what I should do. I didn't post anything offensive, just an observation of Iran's military strength. I'll keep the post below, if the staff wants me to remove it thats fine, but let it be known that I am not intentionally defying the staff by posting this and would expect a little understanding before giving me an infraction.
Well first of all forget nuclear, its been proven that the Iranian nuclear program was closed in 2003. Thats not a consideration
Although I am certain what the final outcome would be, Iran could hurt us along the way.
First of all consider that unlike Iran is nothing like Iraq. Iraq is loose group of different Muslim tribes of very different ethnic backgrounds. Iran is 100% Persian, and they are very proud of it. Iran is very much like Israel. Its a small country (only 20 Million population) surrounded by Hostile nations on almost all sides, which means they take self-protection very seriously.
What does this mean from a military standpoint? Well unlike Iraqi's (pre-invasion) poorly educated, poor trained, poorly equipped, poorly motived conscripts, the Iranian military while smaller is British Army trained. They are highly disciplined, well equipped and supplied. But even more dangerous is that they are very nationalistic. They are simply ferocious when fighting an invader. Ahmadinejab and the Mullahs are not popular in Iran, but the population would swarm to their side in a patriotic fervor in case of an invasion. During the Iran-Iraq war there were Iranian adopted suicide tactics used by the Japanese at Iwo Jima. The initial invasion of Iraqi forces was stopped by soldiers strapping bombs to their chests and charging Iraqi tanks.
Secondly consider the numbers. Iran has about 420,000 Active Duty (and more could be Mobilized in case of a national emergency. The US is about 1 Million spread all over the world in our present situation. I have no idea how much could be mustered for an attack on Iran, but it would certainly be difficult to get 420,000 without either help (which we would not get) or a draft.
Since they haven't been cripped by a UN arms embargo there equipment is slightly out of date, but not by much. Most of it dates from the 70s and 80s. They have F-14s, Migs-29s, T-72s, BMPs, they also fabricate many of there own weapons locally.
Iranian Air-Defence is significant and it was recently upgraded with S-300 SAMS -the latest in Russian SAM weaponry. It also has some anti-surface ship missiles the Sunburn that are designed specifically to sink US aircraft carriers.
I have long argued against any military invention in Iran. I don't doubt the ultimate conclusion, but I think it would be very costly.
