11 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

The IRGC is fighting the war and they are diehard regime supporters. The bombing of the cities where the anti regime protesters reside was a big big mistake and has unified Iran. The Iran regime has been on his death throes because of dissent and bad economy. Lot more can be achieve to rid the regime without the war. War has done the reverse and gave the regime legitimacy to carry on.

You argue that strikes have unified the country, but the evidence from the ground in March 2026 shows a massive psychological divide:

Many Iranians do not see the strikes as an attack on "Iran," but as a dismantling of the IRGC "occupying force" that killed over 7,000 to 36,000 of its own citizens during the January 2026 protests.

Reports from border crossings and anonymous texts from Tehran indicate a surprising level of "relief" and even clandestine celebration at the decapitation of the leadership, with many Iranians fearing that a "peace deal" would only leave their oppressors in power.

The idea that the IRGC will fight to the last man as "diehard supporters" is being overridden by material exhaustion:

With the rial at 1.4 million per dollar and the banking system paralyzed, the regime has failed to pay many security units for three months.

Morale cannot be sustained on "martyrdom" alone when soldiers are starving. Reports of 90% desertion in some local units suggest the "diehard" shield is actually a series of disconnected, failing cells

Why "more" could not be achieved without war. Previous diplomatic efforts were used by Tehran as stalling tactics for their nuclear program. We know the regime/IRGC lies consistently about what they are doing, they cannot be trusted.

The regime is "broken" because it has lost the ability to govern, and no amount of nationalist rhetoric can fix a system that has fundamentally disconnected from its own power source—the people.

Maybe it's just a deception....

2 hours ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

The argument you’ve presented relies on an outdated, static view of airborne operations that ignores the "Hardware" reality of 2026. This critique assumes that the 82nd Airborne is a "fragile" light infantry force that can be easily isolated, but in Operation Epic Fury, Pete Hegseth and General Dan Caine have built a system specifically designed to solve the "48-hour survival" problem through redundant, high-tech logistical bridges.

Modern airborne doctrine has evolved into what the Pentagon calls Agile Combat Employment (ACE), which effectively turns the "neutralized" airport mentioned in the critique into an asset rather than a liability. The C-17 Globemaster III is the centerpiece.

Unlike older transport planes, it is designed for Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) on semi-prepared or even dirt runways as short as 3,500 feet. If the 82nd Airborne parachutes onto an objective like Kharg Island, their first task is not to wait for a port, but to clear enough "dirt space" for C-17s to begin landing within hours. These aircraft don't just bring "what men can carry"—they offload M1 Abrams tanks, Stryker vehicles, and mobile Patriot missile batteries directly onto the captured terrain, giving the paratroopers heavy-metal protection long before a "seaborne follow-up" is even required.

Furthermore, the idea that a relieving force is "vulnerable" in restricted waters misses the technical reality of the current naval theater. Hegseth confirmed on March 19 that the Iranian Navy is "no longer a factor," with over 120 vessels destroyed and their coastal "layered defense" flattened. The U.S. isn't sailing into a contested trap; they are moving into a cleared "maritime corridor." Even if the port is neutralized, the U.S. now uses autonomous resupply—drones and GPS-guided precision airdrops (JPADS)—to push ammunition and medical supplies to the front line with pinpoint accuracy from high altitude, bypassing the need for a traditional harbor entirely during the initial phase of the assault.

The Island is at point-blank range to the Iranian army on mainland, as it's close to the coast. Isn't it a problem? How could the US army avoid it?

3 hours ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

The argument you’ve presented relies on an outdated, static view of airborne operations that ignores the "Hardware" reality of 2026. This critique assumes that the 82nd Airborne is a "fragile" light infantry force that can be easily isolated, but in Operation Epic Fury, Pete Hegseth and General Dan Caine have built a system specifically designed to solve the "48-hour survival" problem through redundant, high-tech logistical bridges.

Modern airborne doctrine has evolved into what the Pentagon calls Agile Combat Employment (ACE), which effectively turns the "neutralized" airport mentioned in the critique into an asset rather than a liability. The C-17 Globemaster III is the centerpiece.

Unlike older transport planes, it is designed for Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) on semi-prepared or even dirt runways as short as 3,500 feet. If the 82nd Airborne parachutes onto an objective like Kharg Island, their first task is not to wait for a port, but to clear enough "dirt space" for C-17s to begin landing within hours. These aircraft don't just bring "what men can carry"—they offload M1 Abrams tanks, Stryker vehicles, and mobile Patriot missile batteries directly onto the captured terrain, giving the paratroopers heavy-metal protection long before a "seaborne follow-up" is even required.

Furthermore, the idea that a relieving force is "vulnerable" in restricted waters misses the technical reality of the current naval theater. Hegseth confirmed on March 19 that the Iranian Navy is "no longer a factor," with over 120 vessels destroyed and their coastal "layered defense" flattened. The U.S. isn't sailing into a contested trap; they are moving into a cleared "maritime corridor." Even if the port is neutralized, the U.S. now uses autonomous resupply—drones and GPS-guided precision airdrops (JPADS)—to push ammunition and medical supplies to the front line with pinpoint accuracy from high altitude, bypassing the need for a traditional harbor entirely during the initial phase of the assault.

Thank you so much for making me laugh out loud, over estimating the US military seems to be something that MAGA supporters consistently do, despite the fact that they've not even come close to winning a war in 81 years.

I think it's safe to say that a bloated budget and enormous amounts of armaments coupled with a SEC DEF who would not be qualified to manage a Kmart, does not necessarily represent strength in numbers or a successful, nor smart operation.

Theoretically the US can capture Kharg Island if it acts as it usually does........as long as it is not concerned about destroying the oil facilities .

If it wishes to capture them intact it will have to do so without medium/heavy close support........and that would be something that its foot soldiers would be justifiably dreading.

In that scenario it would be an infantry battle at very close quarters with the advantage being to the defending forces, closely dug in among the facilities. The infantry munitions are already there, relatively unseen/untouched and in sufficient quantity to sustain a protracted battle.

That is exactly the sort of battle that Iran eagerly anticipates and has prepared for.

Stalingrad in the Gulf.

No doubt the US military would remember the battle as the one that demonstrated conclusively the willingness of the US soldier to die bravely.

Even an "ordinary" assault would result in casualties.......to launch a restricted one would be, in the words of the White House, to "unleash hell".

27 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Thank you so much for making me laugh out loud, over estimating the US military seems to be something that MAGA supporters consistently do, despite the fact that they've not even come close to winning a war in 81 years.

I think it's safe to say that a bloated budget and enormous amounts of armaments coupled with a SEC DEF who would not be qualified to manage a Kmart, does not necessarily represent strength in numbers or a successful, nor smart operation.

That's not a rebuttal.

What you have sent is a Logical Fallacy soup, specifically a mix of Ad Hominem and Genetic Fallacy.

A real rebuttal would explain how the 82nd Airborne's logistics will fail on Sunday. All you did was tell me you don't like the guy in charge. Physics and hardware don't have a political affiliation. Unless you can explain how the 'Kmart management' makes a GPS-guided airdrop miss its target, you haven't actually addressed a single point I made.

As for your '81 years' metric, I’m sure the crews of the 140 Iranian naval vessels currently at the bottom of the Gulf find your theory deeply moving. You’re confusing the political difficulty of building a democracy with the technical success of deleting a navy in 24 days.

As was to be expected!

1 hour ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

Unless you can explain how the 'Kmart management' makes a GPS-guided airdrop miss its target

They will miss their target when the vehicle/aircraft or whatever is destroyed before delivery which is what Iran will do to ANYTHING approaching the island!

3 hours ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

You argue that strikes have unified the country, but the evidence from the ground in March 2026 shows a massive psychological divide:

Many Iranians do not see the strikes as an attack on "Iran," but as a dismantling of the IRGC "occupying force" that killed over 7,000 to 36,000 of its own citizens during the January 2026 protests.

Reports from border crossings and anonymous texts from Tehran indicate a surprising level of "relief" and even clandestine celebration at the decapitation of the leadership, with many Iranians fearing that a "peace deal" would only leave their oppressors in power.

The idea that the IRGC will fight to the last man as "diehard supporters" is being overridden by material exhaustion:

With the rial at 1.4 million per dollar and the banking system paralyzed, the regime has failed to pay many security units for three months.

Morale cannot be sustained on "martyrdom" alone when soldiers are starving. Reports of 90% desertion in some local units suggest the "diehard" shield is actually a series of disconnected, failing cells

Why "more" could not be achieved without war. Previous diplomatic efforts were used by Tehran as stalling tactics for their nuclear program. We know the regime/IRGC lies consistently about what they are doing, they cannot be trusted.

The regime is "broken" because it has lost the ability to govern, and no amount of nationalist rhetoric can fix a system that has fundamentally disconnected from its own power source—the people.

There is very little border crossing according to UN. Most have decided to stay and may even take up arms against invaders. The indiscriminate bombings and civilian deaths including children will hardened even the apolitical Iranians. When you are fighting for your survival, do you care about your payroll? Iran is still firing and striking Israel and the gulf states. Russia and China are supporting Iran in weapons. Don't think there is material exhaustion or the regime is brokened. Their political system is highly de-centralized and designed to withstand shocks like the deaths of senior leaders. The de-centralized system across military,political and security institutions capable of functioning even in the absence of the supreme leader. Trump has beatened more than he can chew in a war that US just can't win.

2 hours ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

That's not a rebuttal.

What you have sent is a Logical Fallacy soup, specifically a mix of Ad Hominem and Genetic Fallacy.

A real rebuttal would explain how the 82nd Airborne's logistics will fail on Sunday. All you did was tell me you don't like the guy in charge. Physics and hardware don't have a political affiliation. Unless you can explain how the 'Kmart management' makes a GPS-guided airdrop miss its target, you haven't actually addressed a single point I made.

As for your '81 years' metric, I’m sure the crews of the 140 Iranian naval vessels currently at the bottom of the Gulf find your theory deeply moving. You’re confusing the political difficulty of building a democracy with the technical success of deleting a navy in 24 days.

As was to be expected!

Your posts are hilarious! You have all the confidence of someone who has watched a lot of hollywood war movies. 🤣

https://www.bankingnews.gr/diethni/articles/864485/the-great-shame-of-the-us-iran-disables-13-2-billion-uss-gerald-r-ford-vessel-now-unfit-for-missions

Warfare has changed a lot in the last 5 years,just ask the Ukraine!

NATO did a study where they found out that if NATO would have to fight the Ukraine they would lose!

They did it five times and the outcome was the same!

If the US sends 5000 ground troops there will be 5000 or more drones waiting,if you care to see what that looks like you can study what is going on in The Ukraine recently.

Russia seriously under estimated the Resilience of the Ukrainian army and its people.

Knowing how well the US is governed now(not) buy a bunch of amateurs i think it will be a very bad outcome for the US soldiers.

Not for the rich people who are sending them in the hope they will make some more millions in the end.

2 hours ago, 1tooth said:

Your posts are hilarious! You have all the confidence of someone who has watched a lot of hollywood war movies. 🤣

https://www.bankingnews.gr/diethni/articles/864485/the-great-shame-of-the-us-iran-disables-13-2-billion-uss-gerald-r-ford-vessel-now-unfit-for-missions

Very disrespectful to Smokey and the Bandit (SATB). He has presented a detailed and technical account of the brilliance of Hesgeth (SEC WAR) and Razin Caine (COFTJCOFS) in the pursuance of an illegal war.

3 hours ago, scottiejohn said:

They will miss their target when the vehicle/aircraft or whatever is destroyed before delivery which is what Iran will do to ANYTHING approaching the island!

Good luck 'destroying' a GPS-guided JDAM traveling at Mach 1.5 with an air defense system that’s currently being sold for scrap metal.

2 hours ago, 1tooth said:

Your posts are hilarious! You have all the confidence of someone who has watched a lot of hollywood war movies. 🤣

https://www.bankingnews.gr/diethni/articles/864485/the-great-shame-of-the-us-iran-disables-13-2-billion-uss-gerald-r-ford-vessel-now-unfit-for-missions

Let me get this straight, you are saying my post is hilarious at the same time as you are falling for a an AI generated fake...are you serious???

12 minutes ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

Good luck 'destroying' a GPS-guided JDAM traveling at Mach 1.5 with an air defense system that’s currently being sold for scrap metal.

A JDAM is an attack missile and NOT a grocery delivery vehicle which is what YOU were suggesting was unstoppable!

Get back into the real military world, if YOU were ever in it!

On 3/25/2026 at 6:42 AM, Patong2021 said:

Much of the military assets that were on the island, including the airport and the port facility that can handle general cargo has been neutralized. This means that the garrison now relies on supplies brought in from the mainland. In the event of a direct action the island cannot be easily resupplied or reinforced and would be difficult to defend. Iran does not have any significant air or naval supply capability lef

On 3/25/2026 at 6:42 AM, Patong2021 said:

Much of the military assets that were on the island, including the airport and the port facility that can handle general cargo has been neutralized. This means that the garrison now relies on supplies brought in from the mainland. In the event of a direct action the island cannot be easily resupplied or reinforced and would be difficult to defend. Iran does not have any significant air or naval supply capability left.

Any heavy lift aircraft to re-supply any ground troops will also run the risk from and small fast gun boats the iranians have concealed in underground caves surround the shoreline specially if the have to fly low level.

On 3/25/2026 at 10:14 AM, Eric Loh said:

Should it not be Israel troops deployed rather than Americans ? After all, this is Israel war with no benefit to America.

Its a joint war with Israel so why should Israeli's be used as cannon fodder, while US wait till the hard works done.

9 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

If the nimwit puts troops on the ground it will likely be his demise, and that would be the only positive thing that would come out of this war.

It seems like that he's completely making up the part about negotiations taking place with Iran, just another in his series of thousands of lies, but that shouldn't be surprising as that's just who the man is.

These statements came after a report detailing Iran's response to a US proposal to end the war.

"Iran has responded negatively" to the American proposal, an unidentified official told Iran’s Press TV on Wednesday, referring to a 15-point ceasefire deal floated by the Trump administration and delivered to the Iranians by Pakistan.

"The end of the war will occur when Iran decides it should end, not when Trump envisions its conclusion," the Iranian official added.

Tehran has five conditions for ending the US-Israeli war on Iran, according to Press TV.

Iran wants a complete halt to “aggression and assassinations” by the US and Israel, along with “concrete mechanisms” to ensure that the US does not resume attacking.

Iran also wants war reparations and a formal recognition of its “natural, legal right” to control maritime activity in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which 20 percent of global energy supplies pass.

Iran also insists that any peace deal include military groups aligned with Tehran, which likely means an end to Israel’s invasion of Lebanon, where Hezbollah is fighting.

Iran’s rebuttal through state media comes as the Islamic Republic’s military also characterised the US proposal to end the war as out of step with battlefield developments.

“Our first and last word has always been, is, and will be this: someone like us will never come to terms with someone like you - not now, not ever,” the central headquarters of Iran’s military command said in a video on Wednesday.

“Do not call your defeat an agreement. The era of your promises has come to an end.

This time around, the Iranian official in his statement again questioned the sincerity of the US proposal by raising the two previous rounds of talks between the Iranians and the US, which ended with the US attacking Iran. The official said the US had no genuine intention of meaningful dialogue. Kushner and Witkoff were negotiating. Of course faikure was assured.

The former chief of Britain’s MI6 intelligence service said Iran has the upper hand in the war.

“The reality is the US underestimated the task, and I think as of about two weeks ago lost the initiative to Iran,” Sir Alex Younger, who ran the UK’s secret intelligence service from 2014 to 2020, told The Economist in a podcast interview.

https://share.google/CKtgPt2dJhXxFFqHZ

Iran's foreign minister said this morning Tehran has no intention of negotiating with the US.

3 hours ago, BarraMarra said:

Any heavy lift aircraft to re-supply any ground troops will also run the risk from and small fast gun boats the iranians have concealed in underground caves surround the shoreline specially if the have to fly low level.

It is likely those boats won't last very long once they show themselves. The Iranians can't shake the predator drone coverage.

On 3/25/2026 at 6:14 AM, Eric Loh said:

Should it not be Israel troops deployed rather than Americans ? After all, this is Israel war with no benefit to America.

Why is it an Israeli war? Do you think the Arabs who have suffered at the hands of Iran, don't have a stake in this? Do the Gulf Arabs get a pass on this? Saudia Arabia and the UAE joined by Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait want Iran neutralized.

Are you intentionally blind to Iran's claim to the Strait of Hormuz? If allowed ,it puts Iran in control of the region's oil and gas exports.

6 hours ago, 1tooth said:

Your posts are hilarious! You have all the confidence of someone who has watched a lot of hollywood war movies. 🤣

https://www.bankingnews.gr/diethni/articles/864485/the-great-shame-of-the-us-iran-disables-13-2-billion-uss-gerald-r-ford-vessel-now-unfit-for-missions

Iran did not disable any USN vessel.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, hosting his first monthly Christian worship service at the Pentagon since the Iran war began, prayed Wednesday to have “every round find its mark.”

“Every month it is fitting to be right here,” he told the gathered civilian employees and uniformed military personnel. “All the more fitting this month, at this moment, given what tens of thousands of Americans are doing right now.”

He read a prayer he said was first given by a military chaplain to the troops who captured then-President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela.

“Let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation,” Hegseth prayed during the livestreamed service. “Give them wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity, and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy.”

Hegseth frequently invokes his evangelical faith as head of the armed forces, depicting a Christian nation trying to vanquish its foes with military might.

“I pursued my enemies and overtook them, and did not turn back till they were consumed,” he read from the Psalms on Wednesday.

During the expanding Iran war and global conflicts, Hegseth’s Christian rhetoric has drawn renewed scrutiny, including his past defense of the Crusades, the brutal medieval wars that pitted Christians against Muslims.

Scary stuff from the low end drunkard garbage man.

https://apnews.com/article/pete-hegseth-pentagon-christian-worship-service-

30db48b6ceb8af5e6172fb3ba2eafaa0

1 hour ago, Patong2021 said:

It is likely those boats won't last very long once they show themselves. The Iranians can't shake the predator drone coverage.

only needs 1 lucky strike

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, hosting his first monthly Christian worship service at the Pentagon since the Iran war began, prayed Wednesday to have “every round find its mark.”

“Every month it is fitting to be right here,” he told the gathered civilian employees and uniformed military personnel. “All the more fitting this month, at this moment, given what tens of thousands of Americans are doing right now.”

He read a prayer he said was first given by a military chaplain to the troops who captured then-President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela.

“Let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation,” Hegseth prayed during the livestreamed service. “Give them wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity, and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy.”

Hegseth frequently invokes his evangelical faith as head of the armed forces, depicting a Christian nation trying to vanquish its foes with military might.

“I pursued my enemies and overtook them, and did not turn back till they were consumed,” he read from the Psalms on Wednesday.

During the expanding Iran war and global conflicts, Hegseth’s Christian rhetoric has drawn renewed scrutiny, including his past defense of the Crusades, the brutal medieval wars that pitted Christians against Muslims.

Scary stuff from the low end drunkard garbage man.

https://apnews.com/article/pete-hegseth-pentagon-christian-worship-service-

30db48b6ceb8af5e6172fb3ba2eafaa0

Hegseth will be doing a hell of a lot of praying in the next few days or weeks if there puttin boots on the ground on Iranian soil.

12 hours ago, scottiejohn said:

A JDAM is an attack missile and NOT a grocery delivery vehicle which is what YOU were suggesting was unstoppable!

Get back into the real military world, if YOU were ever in it!

Oh dear.....

JDAM 101: A JDAM is not a missile. It’s a tail kit. It’s literally a box of fins and a GPS brain that you bolt onto a "dumb" bomb to make it smart. It has no engine. It doesn't "fly"; it falls with style. Calling it a missile is like calling a spoiler a Ferrari. You know,of course, what dumb means??

And since you're so worried about 'groceries,' you might want to look up JPADS. It’s the literal 'JDAM for logistics' that we use to steer 5-ton pallets into tight spots from 25,000 feet using the same GPS/INS tech you claim is 'unstoppable.'

In the today's actual military world , we don't just drop things and hope; we steer them. If you can't tell the difference between a propulsion system and a guidance kit, maybe leave the strategic analysis to the people who know which end of the crate the parachute attaches to.

Maybe stick to Call of Duty until you learn how to read a technical manifest.

30 minutes ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

Maybe stick to Call of Duty until you learn how to read a technical manifest.

Maybe you should do the same rather than posting insults!

9 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

Iran did not disable any USN vessel.

Correct, its a real shame some people on this board resort to using AI fakes, cos they are not able, or intelligent enough, to rebut comments!

40 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

Maybe you should do the same rather than posting insults!

It looks like asked for it, maybe you should not give it if you can't take it?

US Approves Rapid Deployment of 82nd Airborne Troops to Middle East

Should be "Trump Approves Rapid Deployment of 82nd Airborne Troops to Middle East"

Polls show only about 36% of population support this war. Lowest ever at this stage

Just setting the record straight

AI Overview

Based on reports from early March 2026, U.S. forces engaged in significant naval actions against Iran, but

the claim of 140 boats sunk is not substantiated by official statements. Reports indicate the U.S. destroyed over 30 to 44 Iranian vessels, including a frigate, over several days in the Gulf of Oman and Indian Ocean. 

1 hour ago, bunnydrops said:

Just setting the record straight

AI Overview

Based on reports from early March 2026, U.S. forces engaged in significant naval actions against Iran, but

the claim of 140 boats sunk is not substantiated by official statements. Reports indicate the U.S. destroyed over 30 to 44 Iranian vessels, including a frigate, over several days in the Gulf of Oman and Indian Ocean. 

The "AI Overview" you're looking at is actually outdated compared to the most recent military briefings from this week. While the "30 to 44" number was the official count in early March, the scale of Operation Epic Fury has expanded significantly since then.

As of March 27, 2026, here is the corrected "technical" status of the Iranian Navy:

On March 26, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth officially updated the tally during a White House cabinet meeting. He stated that more than 150 Iranian navy vessels have now been sunk since the conflict began on February 28.

The "140" Claim: This is now considered an undercount.

The "30 to 44" Claim: This was accurate as of March 6, but after three weeks of sustained airstrikes and submarine torpedo attacks, the number has tripled.