Right now it's difficult to speculate what Russia and China would do in such a situation, which is why I didn't go there. China is hugely dependent on the Persian Gulf remaining peaceful and open, so I think they'd be either reluctant to get involved or unable to project any power to the region. As for Russia, they could provide Iran with more air defenses but what else? Funding? Nuclear deterrence? Open to ideas here.
As with Russia, Iran does need soldiers, but trade, trade to maintain a decent living standard for the population and the economy to continue running and functioning so that it also supports a potential war. china has provided that to Russia and both Russia and China can provide it to Iran. And if push come to shove, even some military equipment, and expertise. One can say now that Russia has the most experienced military in the world in combined arms operations on big fronts and big numbers. Nobody else (except maybe Ukrainians - but not much of combined arms there) has similar experience.
That's one of my favorite stories and is quite enlightening. The fact that Van Riper went off script and won the wargame hands down and then was forced to play by the "rules" shows inflexibility and dogmatic thinking. Peacetime military strategists often get their butts kicked in a real war because of that.
No mention of the strategic depth Iran has due to China and Russia? Who would love to support Iran in a fight with US, and watch US beeing bled white.
Right now it's difficult to speculate what Russia and China would do in such a situation, which is why I didn't go there. China is hugely dependent on the Persian Gulf remaining peaceful and open, so I think they'd be either reluctant to get involved or unable to project any power to the region. As for Russia, they could provide Iran with more air defenses but what else? Funding? Nuclear deterrence? Open to ideas here.
As with Russia, Iran does need soldiers, but trade, trade to maintain a decent living standard for the population and the economy to continue running and functioning so that it also supports a potential war. china has provided that to Russia and both Russia and China can provide it to Iran. And if push come to shove, even some military equipment, and expertise. One can say now that Russia has the most experienced military in the world in combined arms operations on big fronts and big numbers. Nobody else (except maybe Ukrainians - but not much of combined arms there) has similar experience.
That's one of my favorite stories and is quite enlightening. The fact that Van Riper went off script and won the wargame hands down and then was forced to play by the "rules" shows inflexibility and dogmatic thinking. Peacetime military strategists often get their butts kicked in a real war because of that.