Some folks get the "ignore" button from me, but there are a few that I can't wait to see what stupid sheet they will say next.Where is the “ignore Russsian bot” button on HT? Asking for a friend.
Ukraine / Russia
- Thread starter Cheesehead
- Start date
VikingsGuy
Well-known member
The only country that could literally present a full-scale war vs us at this point is China. If China provokes such war no doubt they will have a plan to hit our carriers in the pacific early - long before we would go nukes.
D
Deleted member 28227
Guest
I think the only way your sinking a carrier is through "terrorism" or something with some sort of plausible deniability.
That kinda act is just too likely to cause a nuclear response, and you can't get them all so it becomes a zero sum game.
Say China did invade Taiwan and we did get involved, and they did sink a carrier... what's the proportional response that doesn't involve nukes?
It's essentially the whole point of nukes, it has to be a proxy war or things have to be settle diplomatically because there is no way to insure a proportional and limited response, we either side can end existence in minutes.
R
rwc101
Guest
Sinking carriers isn't easy.
nationalinterest.org
Just How Hard Is It to Sink an Aircraft Carrier?
Sinking a carrier is easier said than done. History underscores the difficulty of the undertaking.
nationalinterest.org
noharleyyet
Well-known member
Our carriers are floating cities with flotillas of uber hitech bodyguards.
that's not really in a our doctrine of nuclear use is it? seems it would be an irrational resposne.
engaging in conventional warfare brings with it the risk of loss of an aircraft carrier in my mind. i can't see america seeing that as a good reason to end the world with a nuclear response.
it might shift us from simply defending taiwan to literally trying to decimate every aspect of the chinese military as possible.
VikingsGuy
Well-known member
Actual war is not about tit-for-tat escalation. It is about winning or losing, and losing some carriers early would not take us to nuclear, we would continue to try to in fact win conventionally. Only if conventional became a clear loser (or if china escalated first) would we go nuke.
D
Deleted member 28227
Guest
We don't really have a doctrine of nuclear use, but if you killed 4500 US soldiers there is no way you're avoiding a war... so...
Which is why nuclear powers don't engage in wars.
Now if say... I dk Algeria sunk a carrier, no we wouldn't nuke them, but they don't have nukes so it's a different playbook. We could destroy their entire navy in response, and in response to that they would do nothing.
But if we did that to China... then they might nuke us.
Anyway it's the whole point on nuclear deterrents, and why Iran, North Korea, etc all want nukes.
Irrelevant
Well-known member
I disagree, look at it from China's point of view, if they start to lose a conventional war they may go nuclear as you indicated the US might do in that same situation. You absolutely want to be the first to go nuclear if that's the direction it's going to go, not the second.
Why would any of these globalist GoZillionaires ever feel the need to go nuclear and virtually destroy the planet. That would be an end to them and their gravy train. How would that benefit the ones with the power to pull the trigger?
D
Deleted member 28227
Guest
Both agree and totally disagree... which might mean we are talking past each other a bit.
It is about winning or losing <> we would continue to try to in fact win conventionally
There is no scenario where we declare war on China were things doesn't go sideways, in like a total war... ie WWII kind of war.
"Only if conventional became a clear loser"... right no country with nukes would allow themselves to lose a war, period full stop. If there is even a remote possibility of loss... nukes.
That being said if you take "total war" off the table and reframe it to discrete goals/targets/ conflict then absolutely the rules of conventional war apply, and nuclear state actor would be willing to "lose" and not go nuclear... so for instance the US would take an L in Taiwan or Ukraine.
The whole idea of proxy wars make this even "safer" as there is a metaphorical cut out between the two nuclear powers even though Chinese and US troops have absolutely engaged each other directly in Vietnam and Korea.
But like there is no way we go 10 rounds in the pacific with ships and China lands in AK or HI... nukes just make that a zero sum game as eventually one side starts to lose and then they pull the nuke card, and if that's your last card it's your first card... thinking 10 moves ahead yada yada yada.
But back to Carriers, I think near peers would be very worried about having a proxy/ discrete war go to far if they targeted a carrier. I think if China sunk the Ronald Regan in say a conflict about Taiwan, we might do something like nuke their base in Djibouti via sub. Kinda proportionate and would show we are serious about our arsenals then they would deescalate.
From the Chinese point of view it would likely make more sense to hammer the destroyers in the group and then have us pull back.
Anyway all hypotheticals... but I think as Ukraine/Vietnam/Korea etc have all shown. We aren't really taking about total war anymore, it's how to be effective in limited discrete operations.
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Irrelevant
Well-known member
I don't think the GoZillionaires are running the show in a war. But I like the term.
I see two people, ones that want power, so they go into politics
Ones that want to be GoZillionaires, they just focus on making money and influencing the right politicians to achieve that end.
I know people will disagree with that idea, and argue the politicians are also greedy and trying to scam more money, which is true too, but not GoZillionaire money. I don't think you can achieve both ends, not in America.
And to answer the actual question, which I failed to do the first attempt. EGO, that why. Ego is a powerful drug that convinces people to do all kinds of irrational things.
Navigating great power competition – A serious planning start
The U.S. economy relies heavily on the global flow of goods — consumer, commercial, energy — across the ocean.
www.brookings.edu
A pretty good assessment of military "might". IMO, this tops NYLiberal Times or FOXConservative News and the vast variations of such.
<Excerpt> "At present, even huge congressional largesse couldn’t produce the navy the United States needs — there simply isn’t adequate shipbuilding capacity in the country."
Referenced in the review:
Scott85
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@VikingsGuy you are right, the carrier is no match for a missile but that’s why there’s destroyers and cruisers with AEGIS providing protection for the whole fleet.
@wllm do you really think the Military Sealift Command and Air Mobility Command isn’t capable of delivering anything anywhere to keep the fight going?
@wllm do you really think the Military Sealift Command and Air Mobility Command isn’t capable of delivering anything anywhere to keep the fight going?
VikingsGuy
Well-known member
I am admittedly no an expert but to me it just feels like carriers are going to be the WW3 version of battleships in WW2 - all build up, but then displaced in “modern warfare”.
D
Deleted member 28227
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I'm not following, how did this tangent arise?
Scott85
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Because I’m an idiot and misread your comment about every country but US is poor at deploying assets.
D
Deleted member 28227
Guest
Probably... but there is something about parking the death star in front of Alderaan... certainly effective at tamping down uprisings in your Empire, and to your earlier point I think it's an apt metaphor
Benfromalbuquerque
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I’m partial to the Percheron, always thought they were impressive and trim looking mounts. Though even with Belgians our cavalry would be primed for the next mounted charge into ranks.
VikingsGuy
Well-known member
And you saw how things ended up for both Death Stars, right?Probably... but there is something about parking the death star in front of Alderaan... certainly effective at tamping down uprisings in your Empire, and to your earlier point I think it's an apt metaphor
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