• KnitWit@lemmy.world
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    4 hours ago

    I’ve seen this reported several times now, and it feels like it’s a misdirection, although I can’t figure out what the reason would be. In terms of US bombing campaigns, this really hasn’t been that large so far and this came up on day 1. Improper planning aside, we have more munitions than that.

    They keep pointing out that it’s Interceptor missiles we’re short on, and mostly due to that one big day after Oct 7, but that was 18 months ago. Even so, there is a huge stockpile of offensive munitions.

    I wonder if this is some sort of ploy to push for going harder from the get go because ‘we have to finish this before we rub out of defensive capabilities.’ Also lays the groundwork for why we had to drop a nuke or some other large scale bomb since everyone has been hearing that we’re low on other munitions.

    • electric_nan@lemmy.ml
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      3 hours ago

      Interceptors are the key though. They let the US launch attacks with impunity. As more and more Iranian munitions find their targets, the costs in “blood and treasure” (as well as propaganda) will balloon.

      • KnitWit@lemmy.world
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        2 hours ago

        Are they though? For someone as callous as Trump, wouldn’t letting a few missiles through help bolster the case for more destruction from the US? It’s not like Iran can hit the US mainland, and if they manage to get a major hit on either Israel or a military base, it gives justification for escalation. They’ve also managed to pull countries like the UK in as a result of being targeted in the response attack. The only real threat to the mainland would be terrorism, which again, he is depraved enough to want.

        In a normal world, losing defensive capabilities would absolutely matter when planning a war, but in bizarro world ‘more people will probably die, but we got a good deal.’

        • electric_nan@lemmy.ml
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          2 hours ago

          The Yemenis got the US to back down by credibly threatening their naval assets. Does it seem like Trump is concerned about having to “bolster the case for more destruction”? You think he wants to be the guy to lose a modern aircraft carrier? Those bases are actually important to US empire. With enough damage, it could mean a real shift in the power dynamics of the region, especially if Iran manages to keep themselves together. I also don’t think we can discount the risk of US puppets getting overthrown in places like Jordan and Egypt. Even in a gulf state or two. All the footage of US bases getting hit have crowds of locals cheering.

          • KnitWit@lemmy.world
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            2 hours ago

            I don’t disagree with what you’re saying, I just believe this administration has become so unhinged that that sort of logic no longer matters. I think he wants to drop a nuke. I also think that as he continues to lose it, the more depraved members of his admin as well as other countries are finally able to push him over the edge and there aren’t any generals left to stop him from escalating until it gets to that point. That was his last chance to get a peace prize and afterwards he specifically said he no longer felt constrained to peace. The ultimate narcissistic injury response.

            • electric_nan@lemmy.ml
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              1 hour ago

              I don’t blame you for feeling that way. However, from my perspective very little of Trump’s foreign policy is a major departure from historical US strategy. I know it can seem like Trump is singlehandedly driving the US down, but I think he’s more of a symptom than a cause.

    • marcos@lemmy.world
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      4 hours ago

      I dunno if it’s true, but before the attack several people were complaining that the Yemen campaign left the US stocks low.