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Despite the anomolous population growth of about a
half million a month since the conquest, its size is on the order of 21
million. Iran is closer to 80 million. So lets say Iran has only three times
the population so we have no quibbling.
All else being equal the cost of conquest and occupation is on the order of
three times greater in manpower, materiel and dollars. That means the first
year at 450,000 military and $300 billion. The most important difference is
Iran has not been weakened by the loss in a "Kuwait" war and continuous
sanctions and weekly bombing for the twelve years. Those factors will
increase all costs but as these numbers are unaffordable there is no need to
go further.
The very fact they are unaffordable on top of the continuing 150,000 men and
$1 billion a week for Iraq and an unspecified amount for Afghanistan makes
attacking Iran a very tempting idea for the Bush league. Conquering Iraq can
charitably described as unwise, Iran is clearly insane. It is such a
wild-eyed idea so far beyond reality that is has to appeal to them.
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