ELECTION 2008 | The Pub | The Field Mess | The Staff College | Bookmark WAB



Go Back   World Affairs Board > International Strategic Affairs > The Iranian Question
Register FAQ WAB RSS Feed Forum GuidelinesMembers List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Greetings, and welcome to the World Affairs Board!

The World Affairs Board is one of the premier forums for the discussion of the pressing geopolitical issues of our time. Topics include foreign & defense policy, international security, military developments, weapons proliferation, terrorism, international strategic affairs, and politics. Our membership includes many from military, defense industry, and government backgrounds with expert knowledge on a wide range of topics. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so why not register a World Affairs Board account and join our community today?
Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 05-02-2008, 20:32 PM   #46 (permalink)
Shek
Moderator
 
Join Date: 02-23-05
Location: Krblachistan
Posts: 7,245
Country:
Quote:
Originally Posted by snc128 View Post
which Hezbollah you are refering to? because there are many... and to let you know, they arenot completely shi'a or sunni or even completely consist of muslims!
Lebanon's Party of God. The information below is for the benefit of Zemco.

Quote:
ICT - International Institute for Counter-Terrorism - Articles - Suicide Terrorism: Development & Characteristics

Hizballah suicide terrorism

Suicide terror attacks started in Lebanon in April 1983. A small—and until then unknown—group by the name of Hizballah directed a number of suicide attacks against Western targets. The first attack was directed at the American embassy in Beirut (April 1983), followed by attacks on the U.S. Marines headquarters and the French Multinational Force (October 1983). The last two were executed simultaneously and resulted in 300 casualties and dozens of wounded. The later attack made an indelible impression on world public opinion and terror organizations alike.

After the withdrawal of the Western forces from Lebanon, Hizballah redirected its suicide activities in Lebanon against Israeli Defense Forces (convoys, posts and boarder passages) and against South Lebanese Army posts. Hizballah henceforth significantly decreased its use of this modus operandi to one attack per year or less. Despite this it enjoyed its legacy as the pioneer of suicide bombings in the region.

The aims of Hizballah suicide missions changed and developed over the course of time. Initially, Hizballah was interested in building up it image as a power. Since it was until then a small and little-known group in Lebanon, let alone in the rest of the world, the introduction of this new and devastating modus operandi served the goal of gaining local and global publicity and notoriety.

Hizballah also represented its Iranian patrons with a valuable image for the spread of the Islamic revolution. The readiness of Shi’ite terrorists, utterly fearless and ready to sacrifice themselves for the defense of the “oppressed on earth” was an important propagandist instrument for both Iran and Hizballah.

Hizballah’s suicide attacks were successful in driving the foreign UN Peace Keeping forces out of Lebanon. The attacks also caused the Israeli army to withdraw from the heartland of central Lebanon to a narrow strip in the South.

Suicide attacks also served the organization as a weapon of retaliation and deterrence against Israel. After the Israeli Air-Force killed Hizballah’s secretary general, Abas Musavi in February 1992, the organization carried out a suicide attack against the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires (March 1992) killing 29 people and wounding 250.

In 1994 Hizballah executed another such attack in the same city, against the “AMIA” building of the local Jewish community in retaliation for I.D.F. aerial attack in Lebanon against a Hizballah training camp in Ein Dardara.

Lebanon had seen around 50 suicide attacks between 83-99. The Shiite organizations, Hizballah and Amal were responsible for about half of these. The second half is attributed to five other groups espousing a non-religious nationalist ideology. Impressed by the effectiveness of Hizballah’s attacks in precipitating the withdrawal of the “foreigners” from Lebanon, the nationalist groups followed suit.

Hizballah also influenced a number of terrorist organizations in other countries. Occasionally this influence went beyond merely being a role model.

In Kuwait there two suicide attacks were attributed to El-Dawa, a local Kuwaiti-Shiite fundamentalist group. The first suicide attack was carried out in December 1983 as one in a series of “conventional attacks” of attacks on American, French and Kuwaiti interests. The second attack was directed at the Emir al-Sabah, in May 1985. Hizballah’s direct involvement was proven when the Kuwaiti authorities arrested and tried seventeen people, among them, Mustafa Bader-el-Din a prominent terrorist in Hizballah’s external terror apparatus. Hizballah’s continuous and extensive efforts to release him and his partners came to be known as the “Dawa Seventeen” affair.
__________________
"So little pains do the vulgar take in the investigation of truth, accepting readily the first story that comes to hand." Thucydides 1.20.3
Shek is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 05-02-2008, 20:38 PM   #47 (permalink)
Shek
Moderator
 
Join Date: 02-23-05
Location: Krblachistan
Posts: 7,245
Country:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zemco View Post
ARG 1 - a marine division will be airlifted to the eastern approaches as a blocking force. A marine amphibious brigade will establish and secure a beach-head to bring their armor, artillery and air defense ashore.

ARG 2 - a marine division will be airlifted to secure the only 2 bridges crossing the Karun River. The MAB will land and secure the port facilities.

Army Group - 5 brigade combat teams will race across the border to link up with the marine division and begin river crossing operations.
1. What air assets can airlift 2 Marine Divisions? The largest deep air assault operation to date has been a brigade. You want to air assault a force 6x larger that has fewer organic rotary wing lift assets?

2. 5 BCTs is not an Army Group. You've just described a reinforced division, which is three echelons below an Army Group.

Last edited by Shek : 05-02-2008 at 20:47 PM.
Shek is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2008, 00:43 AM   #48 (permalink)
cape_royds
Patron
 
Join Date: 12-13-06
Location: Vancouver
Posts: 167
Country:
Actually the point about Hezbollah not being entirely formed of Shia is true. Although it's still a Shi'ite fundamentalist party, its militia includes non-Shia contingents, even some southern Lebanese Christian members. The party has been somewhat successful at broadening its appeal since the 2006 war.

Also, Hezbollah is currently allied with the mostly Maronite Christian FPM, under their former opponent General Aoun!
cape_royds is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2008, 01:16 AM   #49 (permalink)
Officer of Engineers
Moderator
Scotch taster
 
Join Date: 08-06-03
Posts: 14,874
Country:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zemco View Post
No such thing as a MIRVd IRBM, you know, it's the physics thing.

The Russians had an IRBM that was a MRV (that's M-R-V not M-I-R-V).
Let's add another nail into this idiot's coffin

SS-20 SABRE with THREE MIRV warheads.
__________________
Chimo
Officer of Engineers is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2008, 08:54 AM   #50 (permalink)
Shek
Moderator
 
Join Date: 02-23-05
Location: Krblachistan
Posts: 7,245
Country:
Quote:
Originally Posted by cape_royds View Post
Actually the point about Hezbollah not being entirely formed of Shia is true.
I'm not contending that this is false, just showing that there is a Shia based strain of suicide bombing. I suspect that they don't outsource their suicide bombing to non-Shia members, at least not wholesale.
Shek is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2008, 13:44 PM   #51 (permalink)
Zaphael
Military Professional
 
Join Date: 05-19-06
Location: Singapore
Posts: 182
Country:
zraver, you said,

Quote:
Sea- The carrier planes and attack subs will be trying to sink as much of the Iranian navy as possible in port. The subs will hunt the Iranian subs first. Cluster bombs will be the weapon of chose vs the speed boat sheds and boat crew barracks. Larger vessels will get individual missiles. However the bulk of USN air power will be doing SEAD work.
I think the speed boats would be targeted with Mavericks, while the larger vessels would be targeted by Harpoons.

Bombing a speed boat in CCIP would get a lil tough, IMO.
Zaphael is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2008, 13:53 PM   #52 (permalink)
zraver
Contrary by nature.
Military Professional
 
Join Date: 10-22-06
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 2,335
Country:
Quote:
Originally Posted by citanon View Post
Without knowing much about naval operations, it's not obvious we would lose an entire carrier group since these were able, in theory, to handle a Soviet air strike group back in the day and should have greater capabilities today from cooperative engagement and improved sensor, weapons, aircraft, etc. Granted, the Gulf area is highly constricted geographically.
Iran is going to do thier best to sink the carrier in the gulf, and at least until the straits are forced open its on its own except for defensive USAF cover.

Quote:
Also, why does even 1 carrier have to remain inside the Gulf with air operations running from Iraq, Kuwait, and possibly Saudi Arabia? Iraq would have limited say in the matter, Kuwait and the Saudis are both driven to counter Iranian attainment of nuclear arms.

Not saying you are wrong. Just looking for enlightenment.
If your sending a replacement carrier to the region and then pull 2 put leaving the gulf empty iran will increase readiness. They will anyway with three in the area but not as much if it looks like the US is leaving a big fish in the bag. Plus putting a Carrier and it's marines inside the Gulf increase the combat power the USMC can use against the Thunds.

Quote:
I think the speed boats would be targeted with Mavericks, while the larger vessels would be targeted by Harpoons.

Bombing a speed boat in CCIP would get a lil tough, IMO.
The FAC's are worthy of maveriks, but the speed boats and crews that pose the big threat to the tankers are cluster bomb sized.
zraver is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2008, 17:06 PM   #53 (permalink)
ravi12
Regular
 
Join Date: 03-26-08
Location: where the aliens meet predator
Posts: 121
Country:
Just an ignorant question.

How many missiles say an yakhont can a ship of different sizes, say, cruiser/ destroyer /aircraft carrier can take before they are temporarily out/ mission incapable/need to go for extensive repairs/ sunk?

Would a single hit direct on their propellers make them mission incapable?
ravi12 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-03-2008, 21:28 PM   #54 (permalink)
zraver
Contrary by nature.
Military Professional
 
Join Date: 10-22-06
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 2,335
Country:
Quote:
Originally Posted by ravi12 View Post
Just an ignorant question.

How many missiles say an yakhont can a ship of different sizes, say, cruiser/ destroyer /aircraft carrier can take before they are temporarily out/ mission incapable/need to go for extensive repairs/ sunk?

Would a single hit direct on their propellers make them mission incapable?
propellers are sub surface. 1 missile in the right location can cripple a smaller vessel.
zraver is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 05-05-2008, 13:56 PM   #55 (permalink)
Big K
HürGeneral
Senior Contributor
 
Big K's Avatar
 
Join Date: 12-11-06
Location: Istanbul
Posts: 1,025
Country:
Send a message via Skype™ to Big K
in a battle yes, but in a war, i dont think so.

you can not win a war against a nation-country in that geography...

but this is just me.
__________________
When i say, there will be no effect but i am not willing to remain silent.
-Fuzuli
Big K is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply




Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
‘US had designs on Iran before Iraq invasion’ Ray The Iranian Question 10 05-01-2008 12:29 PM
Considering a war with Iran Ray The Iranian Question 521 04-01-2008 20:00 PM
Candidates, How would you grapple with Iran's nuclear drive? FibrillatorD 2008 US Presidential Election 36 08-16-2007 11:11 AM
How do you think a Pre-emptive strike on the reactors play out? Druze The Iranian Question 63 06-11-2007 18:30 PM
Articles and links for the Military Professional Officer of Engineers The Staff College 115 11-20-2006 11:28 AM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 13:28 PM.


Rochen is the business hosting sponsor of World Affairs Board and a provider of reseller web hosting services.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.0.0 RC8