If the U.S. was under attack what would happen? What is our strategy?

[Protagonizer]

<p>Actually, Russia has the most nukes.
Although the number doesn’t count for too much, considering each one is a formidable weapon of destruction.</p>

[WantsBrown]

<p>Bombardment! Bombardment!</p>

<p>The Simpsons style.</p>

[UCSDJake12]

<p>

But would there be people on land guarding the coast? China just has too many people to throw at the US to lose.

</p>

<p>how would they get them there though?</p>

[Secret_Asian_Man]

<p>I don’t believe there would be an “invasion” like the ones in WWI or WWII. Those days are long gone. If a full scale war were to break out it would almost certainly be a nuclear war. Only after major cities are wiped out would China even consider an invasion (though in reality they are not at all capable of doing this). Of course, the United States would probably launch a counterstrike for mutually assured destruction.</p>

<p>We all have such different opinions as to what would happen because there is no way it would ever occur and it’s just very difficult to imagine.</p>

<p>

in response to the wwii/america taking over the world scenario, we would not have been able to control <em>that</em> much more territory. the more an empire [U.S.A.] expands, the more likely it will eventually collapse [see:roman empire].

</p>

<p>Or for a more recent example, try Russia. Had the largest population in Europe by far, but focused their effort into expanding into Central Asia and attempting to secure a warm water port in the Balkans, when industrial and economic focus would have been much more beneficial. As a result Russia eliminated serfdom over 300 years after the rest of Europe and was the most backward of all European powers prior to World War I. Of course, incompetent leadership was partly (or mostly) to blame, resulting in the collapse of the Russian Empire through the Bolshevik and Communist revolutions in 1917 in the midst of World War I. Amazingly the Soviet Union made the same mistake, focusing on extending its sphere of influence in Eastern Europe rather than focusing on its own economic progress. We all know how that turned out.</p>

[cjgone]

<p>Pretend we’re part of Canada and avoid war all together. Everyone loves Canada.</p>

[jckund]

<p>dont lose… again.</p>

[hatersunite]

<p>

^ lol I always think about if we would have gone on the offensive after WWII when the world was crippled. Think about it, japan was down, all of europe was in ruins, china was not yet the superpower it is today, russia had taken heavy losses, and we were the undeniable superpower by a HUGE margin- we were the only country with nukes too!</p>

<p>I’m not saying I would want the US to take over the world, but I always think about if china or iran or n. korea ends up screwing things up how nice it would have been if we had capitalized when we had the opportunity.

</p>

<p>We are farther ahead of the world now than we were back then. Sure, the world was war torn but so were we. And our technology was only marginally better than the rest of the world. The gap is much wider now.</p>

[hatersunite]

<p>

But would there be people on land guarding the coast? China just has too many people to throw at the US to lose.

</p>

<p>Who cares? China has like 1/10th of the planes we have. And they are like 40 years old. Our Navy is so much better it’s not even funny. The years of man power are over. Technology is all that matters. </p>

<p>BTW, US nukes >>>>>> all other nukes. Russia has the most but they are old and crappy.</p>

<p>FWIW, assuming nukes aren’t used, here’s an alliance that could at least attempt an invasion. I highly doubt it would be successful. UK, Russia, China, Australia, South Korea, India, France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey…f it. With our Navy I’m pretty sure we could fend off the entire world combined as long as Canada and Mexico don’t join in.</p>

[onthefly]

<p>

And our technology was only marginally better than the rest of the world. The gap is much wider now.

</p>

<p>Is that true? Taht is heartening news lol</p>

[ThisCouldBeHeavn]

<p>

Who cares? China has like 1/10th of the planes we have. And they are like 40 years old. Our Navy is so much better it’s not even funny. The years of man power are over. Technology is all that matters.

</p>

<p>You’re underestimating how big of an advantage they would have in numbers. They have the manpower to build a huge naval fleet, and even if they lose a lot of people they would eventually overwhelm the American fleet (much of which isn’t stationed in the Pacific). I mean, they could lose 50 million people just trying to destroy the US navy and wouldn’t matter that much. And once Chinese infantry land in North America, the US’s Air and Naval advantage becomes less important.</p>

[raimius]

<p>

Who cares? China has like 1/10th of the planes we have. And they are like 40 years old. Our Navy is so much better it’s not even funny. The years of man power are over. Technology is all that matters. </p>

<p>BTW, US nukes >>>>>> all other nukes. Russia has the most but they are old and crappy.

Have you seen China’s new Sukhois? They are trying to get 300-500 Gen 4.5+ fighters by 2010. They also have a ton of older aircraft, that are capable but not competitive with our fighters.<br>
Our navy is decades ahead of theirs. They would really have to effectively use their diesel subs to have any chance.
Manpower vs. Technology is not a “one or the other” game. You need both.
Nukes? You don’t need to have 5m accuracy against NYC or LA…</p>

<p>

You’re underestimating how big of an advantage they would have in numbers.

No nation can draft, train, equip, and supply a quarter of its population quickly. Nor can any nation reasonably employ that many people for very long.</p>

<p>China does not have the ability to project significant conventional force accross 5,000 miles of ocean. The logistics train is simply too much for their military (or any military in today’s world). They would need tens of thousands of ships to quickly move that many men and that much material. Compare it to the US. Our military is under great strain trying to project approximately 1/6th of our forces to the Middle East…and we have the greatest ability to project force of any nation on earth!</p>