Could our well-armed population deter an invasion ? ...

[togor]

and the west can only be conquered by sea,, not any air drops,,,,,,

Air drops of ICBMs you mean? Then maybe.

Parachutists as a forward supplement to other land or amphibious forces is one thing (1940, 1944). Airborne infantry by itself has limited heavy weapons capability. So where you gonna disgorge the contents of these planes, and where will they take off from?

The US has the largest global airlift capacity in the world right now and we couldn't come close to scrounging up the capacity to invade ourselves.

Like you said....Red Dawn was a movie.

[rayg]

If we are conquered it will be from the enemies within!...

[Mark in Ottawa]

One thing that the Japanese did do was fabricate a large number of balloons that they released when they thought that the wind would blow them across the Pacific. The balloons were armed with incindiaries that were intended to start forest fires and create trouble and chaos. Apparently a small number actually did make it all the way but the damage was negligible

One story that I did hear that may well be true is that the Japanese built a couple of submarines that were large enough to carry a float plane. They were captured by the US Navy at war's end but were sunk when the Russians asked to examine them. In any case, the storyI heard was that the Japanese sent one to the West Coast of Canada and launched its seaplane. The seaplane was flying around when it ran into a Canadian aircraft and shot it down. The crew survived but after reporting what happened, were ordered to say that they had an engine failure and never ever tell anyone that they were shot down by a Japanese aircraft. There was a serious fear that the story could cause panic if it became known.

[blackhawknj]

Everybody assumes the military will be 100% loyal.

[togor]

I gather the Japanese did NOT successfully land on and conquer the Philippines? Or the Dutch East Indies? Or Hong Kong? Or Singapore? Or Guam? Or Burma?

You forgot what happened to McArthur's air force in the first hours of the war?

Or what Japanese land based aviation did to the HMS Prince of Wales and Repulse?

You don't just sail up to American shores with our defenses intact and have a go at it. Even in 1941 it was an irrational fear. And no, Kiska and Attu don't count.

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Everybody assumes the military will be 100% loyal.

To the flag against a foreign invader? Loyal enough to execute the mission!

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If we are conquered it will be from the enemies within!...

Not gonna happen.

[dryheat]

The Japanese stomped on islanders. How tough was that. Attacking America was a pretty tough nut. Now days, that's just fiction. rayg is a little right: from within. Things change, but being invaded by Russia or China is just sci-fi these days. Now termites are always a problem.

[JB White]

An invasion today and the talk goes back 70 years to a bygone era. Hello?
Who here would be sharing the field with loudmouthed gender benders and whimpering bunny huggers who can't stand going without a vegan meal for half a day? Not me!
There are rockpile vets who wouldn't consider going into the field with me either. A broken old man with poor eyesite having less than half the stamina I had decades ago. Not to mention the time outs for a prostate break.
Our invaders today would have the industrial capabilities we used to have.Half a million invaders from the west would encounter string bean marathon runners heading east.

Lyman: Wolverines? Those in combat shape today are younger than the movie.
Those standing on a hilltop in defiance would have about three seconds before they are nothing but a grease spot.
Should an invasion come, the 9-1-1 call centers would be overloaded in a heartbeat, but the phone videos might look good. Many people will video accident victims without a thought for calling an ambulance. Don't expect them to react with firearms and resistance.

[togor]

Okay how about 20 years ago to Flight 93?

Word reached the last of the 4 planes still in the air on that day, and we know what they did.

Guys want to think this country and its people are for sh*t, they can. Don't make them right, though.

And last time I checked the oceans are about the same as they were 80 years ago, and then as now, soldiers need food, ammunition, heavy weapons, to get stuff done. The realities of logistics really haven't changed that much.

[JB White]

Okay how about 20 years ago to Flight 93?

Word reached the last of the 4 planes still in the air on that day, and we know what they did.

Guys want to think this country and its people are for sh*t, they can. Don't make them right, though.

And last time I checked the oceans are about the same as they were 80 years ago, and then as now, soldiers need food, ammunition, heavy weapons, to get stuff done. The realities of logistics really haven't changed that much.

Don't go there. You're stretching a point solely for the sake of countering. A small group being led to slaughter decided to take a last chance and kick some @$$. Akin to anyone facing a robber or rapist who decides the scumbag is playing God with their life.
You'll need an army of like thinking individuals like that when the situation ramps up to invasion scale. Even then, on the ground there is always the avenue of retreat/escape. Flight 93 didn't have that option.
So they fought and went down fighting. Damned fine Americans.

[togor]

Don't go there. You're stretching a point solely for the sake of countering. A small group being led to slaughter decided to take a last chance and kick some @$$. Akin to anyone facing a robber or rapist who decides the scumbag is playing God with their life.
You'll need an army of like thinking individuals like that when the situation ramps up to invasion scale. Even then, on the ground there is always the avenue of retreat/escape. Flight 93 didn't have that option.
So they fought and went down fighting. Damned fine Americans.

Go where, JB?

To pointing out that when America was attacked 20 years ago, there was more than enough fight in her people? Flight 93 was only the beginning. Recruiting went up thereafter yes? Plenty of support for the mission! Even when that mission got sidetracked in Iraq, people stuck with it.

The stretch is assuming people are ready now to roll over and are rolling out the welcome mat to foreign powers to do what they will here. Only one prominent politician did that to my knowledge, and we all know that name, doesn't need repeating.

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Also worth pointing out that this thread was started by an Englishman, not an American. Just ask him which he is first if you think he doesn't like the label.

[lyman]

Go where, JB?

To pointing out that when America was attacked 20 years ago, there was more than enough fight in her people? Flight 93 was only the beginning. Recruiting went up thereafter yes? Plenty of support for the mission! Even when that mission got sidetracked in Iraq, people stuck with it.

The stretch is assuming people are ready now to roll over and are rolling out the welcome mat to foreign powers to do what they will here. Only one prominent politician did that to my knowledge, and we all know that name, doesn't need repeating.

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Also worth pointing out that this thread was started by an Englishman, not an American. Just ask him which he is first if you think he doesn't like the label.

there comes a time in every thread for some to stop posting,

hoping you recognize the time and who I am referring to

[Vern Humphrey]

Remember what Bill Clinton said, "If Israel were attacked, I'd grab a rifle, jump in a ditch and die for Israel."

Hell, he wouldn't do that for his OWN country.

[rayg]

If we are conquered it will be from the enemies within!...

By the Democrats...