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At the time of the first Gulf War, Iraq had the world's fourth largest army. Some details here: https://nuke.fas.org/guide/iraq/agency/army.htm https://nuke.fa

At the time of the first Gulf War, Iraq had the world's fourth largest army. Some details here: https://nuke.fas.org/guide/iraq/agency/army.htm https://nuke.fas.org/guide/iraq/agency/army.htm Not decrepit, IMHO.

dragontamer 5y ago
It was also widely believed that America's "volunteer force" was a disadvantage. The USA did many firsts. It was the first deployment of M1 Abrams, no one knew if it'd be good (and IIRC, it was considered a waste of money back then, since it wasn't battle proven yet). It was the first time the US used GPS on the battlefield. It was the first time precision weapons were used. Etc. etc. A lot of people at the time thought the USA could lose Desert Storm. It turns out that war happened completely differently than armchair generals / pundits believed. I don't know if we'll necessarily win or lose our next war. But I think I can rather confidently say that none of us will be able to predict it.
- whatshisface 5y ago
  The US won and then lost Desert Storm the same way it won and then lost Vietnam. Anyone who was saying that Saddam would be able to repel the US was engaging in WWE-style theatrics, but anyone who thought it'd turn into an unending mess would have been right (but was anyone saying that?)
  - nextaccountic 5y ago
    The US initially won Vietnam?
    - whatshisface 5y ago
      The US was "winning," defined narrowly in terms of military statistics, throughout almost the entire war - casualty ratios were vastly in America's favor, and every military target that was selected was taken and destroyed. Bombers flew with nigh impunity. That carried public opinion until 1968 when business interests started realizing that none of those things corresponded to anything good. Very similar to Iraq and Afganistan where unquestioned military dominance led to the destruction of the ruling order which led to ???.

dragontamer 5y ago

It was also widely believed that America's "volunteer force" was a disadvantage. The USA did many firsts. It was the first deployment of M1 Abrams, no one knew if it'd be good (and IIRC, it was considered a waste of money back then, since it wasn't battle proven yet). It was the first time the US used GPS on the battlefield. It was the first time precision weapons were used. Etc. etc. A lot of people at the time thought the USA could lose Desert Storm. It turns out that war happened completely differently than armchair generals / pundits believed. I don't know if we'll necessarily win or lose our next war. But I think I can rather confidently say that none of us will be able to predict it.

whatshisface 5y ago
The US won and then lost Desert Storm the same way it won and then lost Vietnam. Anyone who was saying that Saddam would be able to repel the US was engaging in WWE-style theatrics, but anyone who thought it'd turn into an unending mess would have been right (but was anyone saying that?)
- nextaccountic 5y ago
  The US initially won Vietnam?
  - whatshisface 5y ago
    The US was "winning," defined narrowly in terms of military statistics, throughout almost the entire war - casualty ratios were vastly in America's favor, and every military target that was selected was taken and destroyed. Bombers flew with nigh impunity. That carried public opinion until 1968 when business interests started realizing that none of those things corresponded to anything good. Very similar to Iraq and Afganistan where unquestioned military dominance led to the destruction of the ruling order which led to ???.