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From: david@randvax.UUCP (David Shlapak)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Iran/Iraq war spillover
Message-ID: <1805@randvax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 25-May-84 19:52:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: randvax.1805
Posted: Fri May 25 19:52:00 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 1-Jun-84 21:13:56 EDT
References: <141@tellab3.UUCP>
Organization: Rand Corp., Santa Monica
Lines: 35




    Just as a matter of information, "a few F14s from the kitty hawk (sic)"
    could certainly NOT do the job of taking out the Iranian AF since the
    Tomcat is optimized for air-to-air combat, without any air-to-ground
    capability...now maybe a few A-6s and A-7s...

    But what about the Iraqui forces?  I realize killing Iranians is an
    attractive option to Americans, especially given the current non-
    existence of their air defenses; still, the attacks on tankers have
    come from both sides, and the Iraquis will make us pay (in downed
    airplanes) for any endeavor to hit them.

    Also, can you imagine what the Islamic yahoos in Iran would do to
    any poor U.S. pilot shot down while raiding their country?

    The Israeli option is interesting, but not likely.  First of all, their
    airplanes can't fly to Iran and back; secondly, they're on Iran's
    side; and thirdly, why should they do us any favors?  Reagan's done
    little but kiss Arab a** in the Mideast since he took office (F-15s
    and AWACS to the Saudis, F-16s EVERYWHERE);  if I were running things
    in Tel Aviv I'd tell America to ask her "friends" on the Persian
    Gulf to bail her out.  See how far that gets us.

    I frankly think this whole Hormuz business is being overblown.  Lloyd's
    raises premiums and the world trembles...put a few 12.7 mm machine guns
    on the tankers and send 'em through...you'd be surprised how much a little
    tracer fire disturbs a pilot's aim.

    Oh well...just addin' to the bravado...

					    --- das