Iran?

[lyman]

We were fighting -- it was the mining of the harbor that brought them to the negotiating table.

so mining used to work towards an end


how does that compare to now?

[Vern Humphrey]

so mining used to work towards an end


how does that compare to now?

Yep -- a lot cheaper and more effective than bombing.

[togor]

Like when we mined Haiphong harbor?

Operation Pocket Money happened in 1972, after we had been fighting in Vietnam for years. It broke no new ground in terms of engaging in hostilities insofar as we had been fighting on the ground already.

At present we are not fighting the Iranians and so to mine their harbors absent a Congressional authorization to do so would be contrary to the text of the Constitution, for any Originalists out there. One might have thought Vernon would have understood the difference but apparently not.

One could argue that in the modern days of a powerful standing army, instant response from the CinC is appropriate in a dangerous world. It's not like the old days, when it took months to raise an army, a major act worthy of Congressional debate. But if people are going to start picking and choosing which parts of the Constitution they regard as obsolete and ignorable, then they have no complaint if chaos ensues when their political opponents do it too.

Footnote: On 4-August-1972, a solar flare caused dozens of the mines to spontaneously detonate due to the resulting magnetic fields produced.

[lyman]

Yep -- a lot cheaper and more effective than bombing.

did not answer the question

[Vern Humphrey]

did not answer the question

I thought I did answer it -- a lot cheaper and more effective than bombing.

[lyman]

I thought I did answer it -- a lot cheaper and more effective than bombing.

actually Togor answered for you,

'how does that compare to now' was the question

[Vern Humphrey]

actually Togor answered for you,

'how does that compare to now' was the question

I don't pay attention to Togor -- nor do I answer any question he might raise.

The issue then was pressure, the issue now is pressure. Mining the harbors will put more pressure on Iran than bombing them. And it will be more effective with less loss of life.

[Allen]

I don't pay attention to Togor -- nor do I answer any question he might raise.

The issue then was pressure, the issue now is pressure. Mining the harbors will put more pressure on Iran than bombing them. And it will be more effective with less loss of life.

Those MOAB's are good about putting out pressure too.

[Vern Humphrey]

Those MOAB's are good about putting out pressure too.

Not compared to a good minefield. Look at it this way -- with a bomb you can kill A ship. With mines you can turn away ALL the ships. And with minimal risk and loss of life.

[Allen]

Not compared to a good minefield. Look at it this way -- with a bomb you can kill A ship. With mines you can turn away ALL the ships. And with minimal risk and loss of life.

OK, my bad, you're talking about shipping only. I was referring to all of Iran, a single MOAB taking out everything within a 1 mile radius with no place to hide, not even in a mother's basement.

Cut off the head of the snake and you've killed the snake.

[togor]

I don't pay attention to Togor -- nor do I answer any question he might raise.

A bit snooty of you but OK. Most people don't have me blocked and so the exchanges visibly occur whether you experience them or not.

[RED]

A bit snooty of you but OK. Most people don't have me blocked and so the exchanges visibly occur whether you experience them or not.

Even when I had you blocked, your poats were copied in responses to others were copied and posted on posts by others... There is no gettng rid of a no good Communist, SOB, traiters and trolls like you. Kiss my ass...

[Vern Humphrey]

OK, my bad, you're talking about shipping only. I was referring to all of Iran, a single MOAB taking out everything within a 1 mile radius with no place to hide, not even in a mother's basement.

Cut off the head of the snake and you've killed the snake.

That's true -- assuming you WANT to kill the snake. If we can modify the snake's behavior to an acceptable standard, and do it with little loss of life, then that's the course we should take.

[lyman]

are we at war , or some type of military action, with that snake (Iran)???

eta,

so if we are not, what are the consequences of us mining the harbor?

do we mine Thames if the UK upsets us next week?

re that Snake,

the deal there is, besides the posturing, money and religion,

cut the head off the snake and both (money and religion) still cause problems, we have seen this already in the neighboring countries, correct?

[togor]

Red thinks the forum rules of decorum don't apply to him.