Well, it would take a much more extensive air campaign but the end result would be the same.
We can take out all of their offensive capabilities without ever putting a single boot on the ground.
We can seal their massive bunkers with bunker busters for longer than they would have to dig their way in or out.
We can destroy their entire command and control system from the air.
We can destroy their major bases, armored, and infantry formations from the air without ever putting a single boot on the ground.
We can destroy their roads, bridges, railways, airports all from the air strangling their ability to move troops, supplies, reinforcements etc.
We could do all of that and drop the needed weapons, ordnance and ammo in to those who have been fighting for their freedom for decades, along with SF advisers and let them earn it for themselves.
A ground invasion would be totally unnecessary.
Iran’s biggest threat to the US/Coalition allies would be their anti ship capabilities and all of those can be destroyed with air and missile strikes or through surface actions.
We’d definitely pay a cost in lost/damaged ships, planes and lives but the mission can certainly be accomplished without a ground invasion if we commit to doing what it takes to utterly destroy their military capability and leadership.
No more halfassing and trying to fight a wary that pacifies the squeamish and particularly the Europeans.
Kinder, gentler, less violent wars simply ensure that the wars go on for generations with massive destruction and casualties far above what fighting a committed war from the start would cause.
The reason the so called Palestinians are still at war with Israel is because the UN has stopped Israel every time they came close to solving the problem.
We still have peace keepers in the Balkans for the same reason.
Had we not only destroyed Saddam’s military capability in Gulf War I but killed him and his boys, there would have never been a need to go back.
Had we not pulled out of Iraq during the Obama Years, ISIS would never have existed.
Had the Bush Administration committed to sealing the border and crushing all of the insurgents to dust, the war would have been over in one, maybe two years, and the people who were so elated to see us coming to the rescue and removing Saddam would not have eventually turned against us when the conflict dragged on endlessly.
Had we not pulled out, Iran would not now be in control of Iraq, and Assad would have been friendless since the Russians would not have been willing to risk an open conflict in Syria with a battle hardened US military ready to respond with overwhelming violence and force immediately as soon as they started rolling troops in.
We lose modern wars because we are too timid to commit to the total destruction of the enemy’s ability and and desire to fight on.
You can’t crush an idea or an ideology but you can crush the believers and grind them into dust if you are willing to commit to actually winning instead of playing for a draw.
Wars should be abhorrently violent, brutally short, leave the enemy crushed not only to pacify them but to send a message to anyone else that would threaten us. That is the only way to truly win and the best way to avoid having to fight another enemy much less the one you let up to catch their breath when you had them down and ready to concede complete defeat.
