Israeli Warships in Suez Canal
- Thread starter jimpeel
- Start date
MrBishop
Well-Known Member
Bit of a stretch, eh. If Israel is going to use WMDs against Iran, it'll use ballistic missiles and airplanes to do so. If it's putting it's boat and sub crews through training exercises, it'll have to take it to the the Indian Ocean to do so...which is through the Suez Canal.
MrBishop
Well-Known Member
Yup...and they don't need to be in the Indian Ocean to reach their targets either... not that I think that Israel would use nuclear weapons against Iran. I doubt that they're THAT stupid.
Professur
Well-Known Member
Not a question of stupid in my opinion. Israel holds the big hammer in the region and everyone knows it. If Israel decides to bomb the shit outta something in Iran, noone's going to lift a finger openly and risk getting it chopped off while the axe is out. If anything, that sub in the open is like the US and russian subs under the arctic ice .... counter-strike capability. It won't be used in the initial attacks (if any). It'll be held in reserve against anyone who tries to interfere.
But unless there's something more than what's on the table, any attack Israel makes initially will be conventional. They know as well as anyone, nukes are best used as a threat. Contrary to common belief, the average nuke won't destroy a nation. Devastate an average city, render the area uninhabitable ... yeah. Wipe out all opposition? Not by a long shot. Tactical conventional weapons serve far better. Take out a power station, a dam, a port .... now the enemy has a population scared, in the dark, cold, hungry, thirsty .... on the defensive. But so long as that population is ALIVE, they're going to want to stay that way. National and religious pride gets mighty thin when you're still alive and in no immediate danger. When you think you might be next ..... That's when you become dangerous.
http://www.carloslabs.com/node/16
A cute little site that gives you a rough idea of blast radii. Pick your least favorite city, ballpark your weapon and say goodbye.
But unless there's something more than what's on the table, any attack Israel makes initially will be conventional. They know as well as anyone, nukes are best used as a threat. Contrary to common belief, the average nuke won't destroy a nation. Devastate an average city, render the area uninhabitable ... yeah. Wipe out all opposition? Not by a long shot. Tactical conventional weapons serve far better. Take out a power station, a dam, a port .... now the enemy has a population scared, in the dark, cold, hungry, thirsty .... on the defensive. But so long as that population is ALIVE, they're going to want to stay that way. National and religious pride gets mighty thin when you're still alive and in no immediate danger. When you think you might be next ..... That's when you become dangerous.
http://www.carloslabs.com/node/16
A cute little site that gives you a rough idea of blast radii. Pick your least favorite city, ballpark your weapon and say goodbye.
2minkey
bootlicker
MrBishop
Well-Known Member
Pakistan and India are in that area and hold the same hammer, not that I think that India would nuke Israel in retaliation, but Pakistan OTOH. Some pretty whacky people in power over there, eh.
If Israel decides to use nuclear weapons instead of conventional weapons against Iran..even if it's a 'surgical strike', they risk losing a lot of allies...even quasi-allies. If you're willing to use nuclear weapons against civilians in order to stop another country from potentially doing the same..you're no better than they are. Several middle-eastern countries who are using Israel to keep Iran in check (and calling it a truce) will withdraw their support and may even switch alliances.
I'm not even sure that the USA could continue supporting Israel if such a thing happened, nor most if not all of the UN Member Nations.
Like I said - a pretty stupid thing to do.