What do you think would happen if Iran were to attack a US warship in the Gulf?

Question

Please address both long and short term outcomes.

Answer 1

short term-----US media would condemn US

long term-----Dems in congress and senate would vote US out of Middle East and apologise to Iran.

Answer 2

If Iran were to attack a US warship in the Gulf, it would destablize the entire Mid-East as every nation would be scrambling to position themselves for whatever side offered them the best monotary and political outcome.

Strategic bombing raids would begin within 48 hours and the U.S. borders would be officially closed. The U.S. Patroleum Reserve would be pressed into use for combat purposes and gas rationing would begin.

Missionaries and goodwill ambassadors would all be recalled to the U.S. and other nations would likely do the same. U.N. inspectors and member nations will hide behind the power and might of the U.S. and beg for more money and aid since they will be exposed and unable to function since their own nations will be political volatile.

Worldwide chaos would replace day to day life as goods and services would be eliminated by violence and warring between the religious factions that control the hearts and minds of the people. Religious panic and doomsday scenarios will replace common sense and public policy.

Waves of violence would spread out from the Gulf like the ripples on a pond when a stone is tossed into the water.
Suicide bombers and fanatical extremism would become the norm in the Mid-East (moreso than now), and the socioeconomic and political divisions will be more sharply drawn.

Violence against women and using women will take a dramatic upsurge and children will be actively used as both weapons and shields to play on the sympathy of the nations that would be compelled to help quell the fray.

Gasoline would be unavailable within a matter of days, cars would be parked and abandoned all over the world, Stocks of food would disappear from the shelves of grocery stores within weeks due to the lack of fuel to move produce and canned goods nationwide.

Global panic and stock market crisis will create a new era of depression unlike any the world has ever experienced. Schools will be forced to close, murder rates will increase and violence within the U.S. will peak.

Or, we could just nuke 'em all and let God sort it out.

When the Enola Gay dropped the bomb, it was not considered to be a situation where there were other alternatives to bring the war to a speedy conclusion. We may be in the same sort of scenario if the Iranians and Iraqis manage to pull together some sort of major attack. And, I would NOT rule out the Syrians.

Answer 3

Iran would not attack the U.S. as it would have nothing to gain. On the other hand, the U.S. may very well initiate another Gulf of Tonkin incident in order to begin the war they are thirsting for.

Over the long term, the U.S. is not going to be able to win a war in the Middle East. This is becoming increasingly clear to many other nations.

More specifically, the U.S. war dead and injured will soar. The dollar will collapse and the markets will tank. Unemployment will rise as will prices. The U.S. ruling elite will usher in a police state in order to protect themselves from an outraged underclass.

For me, this should all be very lucrative. I have a large holding of gold and I'm short the markets. Going to war with Iran will fund a very nice retirement. Bush and the boys are free to be however stupid they want to be.

Answer 4

It would prove to be a HUGE mistake on Iran's part, both short term AND long term, at least for the current govn'mt. Plenty of Iranian citizens are pro-western and are just waiting for the right moment in history to propel their country back into the modern age.

Answer 5

Short term I woul guess retaliatory strikes against Iranian military targets.
Long term, war -bloody war.

Answer 6

Long term:- Oil prices will shoot up high and bad for the worlds economy. we have to pay higher price for everything.
Short term:- Many innocents including US solider will die and will create tension in the middle east

Answer 7

Short term: They would've been blown out of the water. (quite literally).

long term: definetely war, my belief is that yes the US would suffer terrible consequences, but Iran would be in ruble within a week and their oil would go to utter waste, because they would be burning in it.

Answer 8

Are we talking like the Gulf of Tonkin or like the U.S.S. Liberty? They could call the movie Torah, Torah, Torah. Oh yes, I'll take the big bucket of popcorn.

Answer 9

all hell would break loose in long terms, short term we would hit back fast with everything so they would see we arent kidding around anymore

Answer 10

My question is this:

Why are so many people hypothesizing on things which won't happen?