sdm@tellab3.UUCP (Steve Magerkurth) (05/23/84)
One Saudi tanker damaged, one Panamanian tanker sunk by Iran and Iraq respectively. . .I think a surgical strike on the 50 planes of Iran, paid for by the CIA covertly (so the world would know WE did it) and executed by the Israelies (so it would be successful) could make the Ayya ho-meany cool his jets. . . Of course, a few F14's from the kitty hawk could do the job, but we all know what happens to election year presidential b*lls. . . Iraq would be warned also from the action to avoid making it a wider conflict (ie., drawing other powers in). Iraq is only doing tanker warfare to get some external action since Iran appears ready to trounce Iraq on the land.
david@randvax.UUCP (David Shlapak) (05/26/84)
Just as a matter of information, "a few F14s from the kitty hawk (sic)" could certainly NOT do the job of taking out the Iranian AF since the Tomcat is optimized for air-to-air combat, without any air-to-ground capability...now maybe a few A-6s and A-7s... But what about the Iraqui forces? I realize killing Iranians is an attractive option to Americans, especially given the current non- existence of their air defenses; still, the attacks on tankers have come from both sides, and the Iraquis will make us pay (in downed airplanes) for any endeavor to hit them. Also, can you imagine what the Islamic yahoos in Iran would do to any poor U.S. pilot shot down while raiding their country? The Israeli option is interesting, but not likely. First of all, their airplanes can't fly to Iran and back; secondly, they're on Iran's side; and thirdly, why should they do us any favors? Reagan's done little but kiss Arab a** in the Mideast since he took office (F-15s and AWACS to the Saudis, F-16s EVERYWHERE); if I were running things in Tel Aviv I'd tell America to ask her "friends" on the Persian Gulf to bail her out. See how far that gets us. I frankly think this whole Hormuz business is being overblown. Lloyd's raises premiums and the world trembles...put a few 12.7 mm machine guns on the tankers and send 'em through...you'd be surprised how much a little tracer fire disturbs a pilot's aim. Oh well...just addin' to the bravado... --- das