Subject: Re: Kuwait Air Defenses Down US Jets

Yeah, whacking their entire command structure is unlikely to do anything.

The thing about military command structures, there is always another link in the chain of command. Recall, Kaddaffi was a Colonel. iirc, the Greek junta that overthrew the elected government was composed of Colonels as well. Seems the more corrupt a government, the more likely flag rank officers got there by sucking up to the big dogs, rather than operational competence. I would expect the same in Iran now. Remember how the flag rank officers bugged out when the Shah blew town, because they got there by sucking up to the Shah? That's why Saddam thought he could succeed against Iran, the generals were gone. Didn't work out that way.

Drill down a few levels in rank, and the Iranians may have some very sharp, motivated, and innovative, officers, that could mess up the ossified US structure the way General Van Riper did.

Steve