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U.S. Races to Accomplish Iran Mission Before Munitions Run Out

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21–30 of 84 posts

Re: U.S. Races to Accomplish Iran Mission Before Munitions Run Out

#21
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

US healthcare costs on the order of $3T per year. The Iraq war cost about $2T over a decade. You could have about 10% subsidized healthcare, which I would obviously argue is better than pointless war killing tons of people. But you couldn't just "have healthcare".

I don't think OP is talking about a specific war, but the overall cost to maintain such a capability and project force all over the world. At least that is what I perceive when people lament about lack of healthcare. The United States military budget is now 1.5 trillion dollars per year.

Sure, we could just not have a military and hold hands with Russia and China and everyone else.

We wouldn't need healthcare.

We'd just be dead.

Re: U.S. Races to Accomplish Iran Mission Before Munitions Run Out

#22
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If China was to attack Taiwan, now would be the time. The current world order is at least in part based around the notion of the US (and allies) having the military capacity to fight any plausible combination of foes at all times. That this military capacity was used in accordance to a set of rules with input from allies and partners made the system tolerable. If the US lacks the munitions to fight all of these confl…

There is so much BS on both sides of the aisle so it seems impossible to get a clear picture but didn't Iran prepare better than Venezuela in terms of deployment of Chinese radar and other security defenses? Seems like there has been no conversation whatsoever about Chinese defenses, were they bypassed again? If so, then China must be reassessing. (Again dont know whats real and whats fake anymore)

China is being very careful to provide enough support not to be seen as abandoning their trading partners/allies, while keeping the support at a low enough level to not get entangled in conflict or create expectations for future conflicts. They want to be able to paint this as "just business", in spite of any rhetoric they may publicly have. In some cases they'll help more in covert ways (Russia), while others they'll do the bare minimum (Venezuela).

So yes, China did give (note: sell) Iran some hardware, but it's not the most cutting edge tech China has, and it's not in sufficient quantity to make much of a difference.

The US is still ahead of China in a lot of military tech, even if the gap keeps getting narrower.

Re: U.S. Races to Accomplish Iran Mission Before Munitions Run Out

#23
post #13

We could have had healthcare.

US healthcare costs on the order of $3T per year. The Iraq war cost about $2T over a decade. You could have about 10% subsidized healthcare, which I would obviously argue is better than pointless war killing tons of people. But you couldn't just "have healthcare".

You're forgetting that U.S. healthcare costs are also massively overblown compared to other western countries, due to the absence of proper collective bargaining. (And possibly even collusion between insurers and healthcare providers to rip off citizens and the government.)

Re: U.S. Races to Accomplish Iran Mission Before Munitions Run Out

#25
post #13

We could have had healthcare.

US healthcare costs on the order of $3T per year. The Iraq war cost about $2T over a decade. You could have about 10% subsidized healthcare, which I would obviously argue is better than pointless war killing tons of people. But you couldn't just "have healthcare".

The UK spends around £200bn a year on public healthcare that covers everyone, for a population around 1/5th the size. Scale that up and convert to USD and you’re still well under half the $3tn figure you quoted.

Re: U.S. Races to Accomplish Iran Mission Before Munitions Run Out

#26
post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

US healthcare costs on the order of $3T per year. The Iraq war cost about $2T over a decade. You could have about 10% subsidized healthcare, which I would obviously argue is better than pointless war killing tons of people. But you couldn't just "have healthcare".

You're forgetting that U.S. healthcare costs are also massively overblown compared to other western countries, due to the absence of proper collective bargaining. (And possibly even collusion between insurers and healthcare providers to rip off citizens and the government.)

That has nothing to do with the Department of Defense / War, or its budget.

Re: U.S. Races to Accomplish Iran Mission Before Munitions Run Out

#28
post #12
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If China was to attack Taiwan, now would be the time. The current world order is at least in part based around the notion of the US (and allies) having the military capacity to fight any plausible combination of foes at all times. That this military capacity was used in accordance to a set of rules with input from allies and partners made the system tolerable. If the US lacks the munitions to fight all of these confl…

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Ah, such good thought to talk about nukes so lightly. Do not underestimate the number of nukes needed to obliterate a country with 1.3 billion people.

Re: U.S. Races to Accomplish Iran Mission Before Munitions Run Out

#29
post #9

Interesting aspect: if the ammo is all used up in Iran, it can't be sold or given to Ukraine. Tinfoil hat time?

You know who exports a lot of oil and gas NOT through the straight of hormuz?

Doesn't even matter if it's a direct effect, the increase in oil prices is/will be enough.

Re: U.S. Races to Accomplish Iran Mission Before Munitions Run Out

#30
post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

US healthcare costs on the order of $3T per year. The Iraq war cost about $2T over a decade. You could have about 10% subsidized healthcare, which I would obviously argue is better than pointless war killing tons of people. But you couldn't just "have healthcare".

The UK spends around £200bn a year on public healthcare that covers everyone, for a population around 1/5th the size. Scale that up and convert to USD and you’re still well under half the $3tn figure you quoted.

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