Right you just made his point? Cost is relevant as the conflict continues. If the US committed everything it could likely overwhelm the government (probably leading to an Afghanistan 2), but the longer the conflict goes the scales tip in favor of Iran due to these costs.
Can this prevent the collapse of the government and a US occupation? Maybe, if it doesn’t though it will cause endless insurgency even if the US props up a friendly government.
Then we just get Afghanistan all over again.
The real question is can these autonomous cells continue operating their regions independently and for how long. Maintaining governance and a prolonged guerilla campaign aren’t the same.
And you know I hope they do repel the US, but I feel like it’s crazy to dismiss it as impossible
Look at Ukraine, Russia has not been able to collapse the government there so far, and it has an army of one and a half million fighting there, and has been bombing Ukraine for four years now. Russia has a far better situation logistically being situated right next to Ukraine and being able to transport troops and materiel by rail. Based on that, in what possible universe, does the US manage to break a country three times the size of Ukraine that’s half away across the globe from it?
Right you just made his point? Cost is relevant as the conflict continues. If the US committed everything it could likely overwhelm the government (probably leading to an Afghanistan 2), but the longer the conflict goes the scales tip in favor of Iran due to these costs.
meanwhile in the real world https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2026/03/11/war-without-a-center-irans-mosaic-defense/
Right this goes to attrition.
Can this prevent the collapse of the government and a US occupation? Maybe, if it doesn’t though it will cause endless insurgency even if the US props up a friendly government.
Then we just get Afghanistan all over again.
The real question is can these autonomous cells continue operating their regions independently and for how long. Maintaining governance and a prolonged guerilla campaign aren’t the same.
And you know I hope they do repel the US, but I feel like it’s crazy to dismiss it as impossible
Look at Ukraine, Russia has not been able to collapse the government there so far, and it has an army of one and a half million fighting there, and has been bombing Ukraine for four years now. Russia has a far better situation logistically being situated right next to Ukraine and being able to transport troops and materiel by rail. Based on that, in what possible universe, does the US manage to break a country three times the size of Ukraine that’s half away across the globe from it?