If given one year to prepare, could the US defend against the entire rest of the world in a world war?

Question

I believe that by securing Canada and Mexico, the US with its Navy and Air Force, could possibly defend a worldwide attack.

Okay, lets do away with the nuclear capabilities and assume only guerilla warfare.

Answer 1

Is this really a military question?

(1) Any conflict that goes far beyond conventional means it's a lose-lose situation for everyone. Nothing to defend against when humanity experiences a catstrophic failure of its political and economic systems, let alone the collapse of the environment.

(2) Real life is not a Milton Bradley game. The United States at the moment does not have the manpower, the equipment, or the lift capabilities to transport troops everywhere around the world simultaneously in numbers that matter, nor is this capability built in a year. The flaw with the "let's seal our borders" analogy is that it entirely concedes the initiative to the invader - and permits the invader to replenish losses and wage a protracted siege where attrition talks. The United States, with less than 300 million, is not going to win a war of straight attrition against over 6 billion people.

(3) That leaves the "technology" advantage to play with. The rest of the world combined - and we're talking Europe and Japan alone - have the infrastructure required to fill their own shortages in record time should they so choose. Most developed nations in the world are actually operating their militaries at undercapacity - Germany and Japan are glaring examples of this - because their defense is maintained through strategic alliances backed up by the American military.

(4) If the rest of the world got serious about fighting the United States and actually set aside their insurmountable differences to do so, the United States is in a LOT of trouble. Any thought that the Navy and Air Force can hold back whatever horde decides to cross the Bering Strait or land on the Eastern Seaboard should be nixed immediately. Such garbage is fit for a movie like "Independence Day", not in real life.

And if you think that's bogus, you do some reading. German troops alone consistently inflicted 150% equivalency of the casualties they sustained during the Second World War - and this includes Americans. There are some quality militaries out there - and some serious players who haven't flexed their muscle yet. If you remember how tenacious Japan was with the primitive technology it fought wars with in the past, think of what they can do now. If you think any of these European nations are pushovers, you haven't trained with them or fought besides them.

The rest of the world? If the United States alienates the rest of the world to the point where it HAS to fight off everyone, that means it's betrayed its ideals of freedom and democracy to the point where it's not worth defending anymore.

Considering the sort of people wandering around the United States today, that may actually NOT be that far off.

Answer 2

Maybe if we were prepared to live underground for years? 3/4's of the world's population including Americans might be wiped out.

It would depend on what secret technology we have, the will to win no matter what & the resources. However look at the damage just one World Trade Center tragedy did; the stock market crashed, it messed with our psyche and people are still skittish over low flying airplanes etc.

In a war against the world, we potentially could have a hundred WTC's happen against us...or worse. With the whole world against us, China, Russia etc...several teams of terrorists would get thru and using biological weapons (virus) would wipe out an entire city.

Eventually chinks in our armor would appear...and like Japan & Germany in WW2, we would be defeated BEFORE an invading army landed.***

Even if we started to nuke every country...the fall out would harm us. And we would be nuked. So this would not only be a three front war...but a four or five front war?

In many ways history does seem to repeat. But with different personalities and things we never imagined would happen. Btw you don't have a job where your hand is close to any nuclear buttons?


***Germany 1943, Japan 1943 or 44

Answer 3

I don't honest think so. I'd love to be able to say yes, but there are a few powerful Nations out there that, if allied against us, would make too formidable of an enemy. China has one HELL of an army, Russia has a decent army and a pretty decent air force but their Navy has been left to rot. The one that everyone seems to forget about is India, ...who has a pretty decent blue water Navy. Any nation with a "blue water" Navy is a formidable opponent.

Besides, ...is it just me or is anyone else getting really tired of being ostracized from the rest of the world? Even our old, staunch allies like France (who helped us win our Independence), Britain (who's been at our side since the beginning of the 20th century) and Australia (who helped us immensely during the war in the pacific in WWII) are starting to waiver. I mean, ...there are times when you know your friends are full of ****, and there are times you know they may be right. Does anyone else think it's time for us to make amends with our friends and try to become a member of the global community again?

Answer 4

Interesting question. One thing you have to consider is, how many countries have the capability or even as a group of attacking us in this type of situation? This would never happen, with the support the US gives the major countries that have this capability. Most countries only maintain the capability of protecting their own borders and do not have the manpower to support such an operation, even a combined operation except China. China does not have the capability of aircraft, ships to support this type of attack. I dont even think there would not be enough support of countires to think about even attacking the US. They are in need of our support in their cultures to continue to survive, so its like you not going to bite the hand that feeds you, are you?

Answer 5

Considering the fact that the US would need to reinstitute the draft in order to get a standing army large enough to DEFEND itself, let alone have nowhere near enough to lead an offensive somewhere else in the world. That being said, China's army alone sadly outnumbers the US. They could probably fight this war single handedly. Then you gotta throw technology into the mix...

Answer 6

I tell yah I think your right. If we could get Canada and Mexico either on our side, or in the case of an entire world war against us, if we could take them over, then yes, I believe we could. Think about it, no one could invade us through land, it could only be by sea or plane, and that'd be easy enough to defend. Not only is our military superior to any other military, our geography is such a benifit to our security I believe we could come out victorious, although it'd be very bad for us at the same time.

Answer 7

Our gov. has already sold our debt, spent our social security and sent big money jobs overseas to save a buck! Basically they own this country! There may come a time when our lenders say O.K. America it's time to pay up. BUT! if we ain't got da dough they can't foreclose until they get our right to bear arms against enemy's foreign (like your car) or domestic. SOOOO! Live American Buy American AND support the NRA. Otherwise we may be overrun by people who think only they have the right to say what they want and you better watch your language(left wing WHACKOS). Our country seems to be a bit divided right now. It's like til death do us part (remember that baby?) United we stand divided we fall. Remember that one? You better. Because our enemy is already here!

Answer 8

If the entire world was coming after the USA and we had a year to prepare it would be crucial that every available citizen be involved in ensuring the defense of the nation.

Answer 9

yes i agree with you that the marines and army could easily take canada and mexico. our airforce probably could defend against any attack but, any world conflict in this day in age is probably going to involve something with nucular arms. Then its just a question of whos got more nukes

Answer 10

The nuclear capabilities of the US and other nations would ensure armageddon. There'd be no soldiers or countries left to fight a war.