AI Overview
A US invasion of Iran would likely result in a protracted and costly conflict with significant regional and global repercussions. While the US military could likely achieve initial military objectives, such as overwhelming Iran's conventional forces, the subsequent occupation and pacification of Iran would be extremely challenging, potentially leading to a long-term insurgency and destabilizing the Middle East.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Military Considerations:
Initial Superiority:
The US military possesses significantly greater technological and conventional military strength than Iran. A US invasion could potentially overwhelm Iran's conventional forces relatively quickly.
Guerrilla Warfare:
However, Iran has a history of resisting foreign powers and could rely on asymmetric warfare tactics, such as guerrilla warfare, to bog down US forces in a prolonged conflict.
Regional Instability:
An invasion would likely spark widespread regional instability, with potential for increased terrorist attacks, sectarian violence, and proxy wars involving Iran and its allies.
Geopolitical Consequences:
International Condemnation:
A US invasion of Iran would likely draw international condemnation, potentially isolating the US and damaging its global standing.
Escalation Risks:
The conflict could escalate to involve other regional powers, such as Israel, Saudi Arabia, or even Russia, leading to a broader regional conflict.
Economic Impacts:
Oil prices would likely surge due to the instability in the Middle East, and global trade would be disrupted.
Domestic Impacts:
High Casualties:
A war with Iran would inevitably result in significant casualties on both sides, including US soldiers and Iranian civilians.
Economic Costs:
The war would be extremely expensive, diverting resources from other areas and potentially straining the US economy.
Social Divisions:
Public opinion on a war with Iran is likely to be deeply divided, potentially exacerbating social and political divisions within the US.
Overall:
A US invasion of Iran would be a high-risk, high-cost endeavor with potentially devastating consequences for all parties involved. While the US military could likely achieve initial military objectives, the subsequent occupation and pacification of Iran would be extremely challenging, potentially leading to a long-term insurgency and destabilizing the Middle East. The conflict would also likely have significant global repercussions, including economic disruption, international condemnation, and the risk of escalation.
Joe_McCarthy 0 points 14 hours ago
@FreeinTX is talking about an Iraq-style full on US invasion to replace the Islamic Republic with a puppet. The chances of this are less than zero.
Here's more in the line of reality:
All the Signs Trump Is Preparing for a US Attack on Iran
https://www.newsweek.com/all-signs-trump-preparing-us-attack-iran-2086983
Airstrikes. This will further degrade Iran's a-bomb possibilities, the US would hope, setting them back further, and just generally making Iran weaker.
The Iranian opposition is a joke unlike, say, the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance was post-9/11. Plus the US did invade there with boots on the ground - a country less than 1/4 the population of Iran. And how did that work out?
https://www.newsweek.com/israel-eyes-regime-change-irans-opposition-divisive-divided-2086253
Then there is the matter of Iranian retaliation. Saddam Hussein deliberately attacked oil production. You can expect Iran to do that, launch God knows how many terrorist attacks with sleepers, bomb US bases in the Middle East, attack shipping, take American hostages, try to shut down shipping, including closing the Strait of Hormuz.
https://www.newsweek.com/israel-iran-attacks-retaliate-us-2086568
And that's not even counting the insurgency against US troops in Iran itself. Iraq was bad enough. Iranian snipers would look like Stalingrad.