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I'm sorry, but Gen McCaffrey often has his own agenda. He told the BBC in March 200 that the INITIAL invasion of Iraq (not the subsequent occupation) could cost the lives of ,000 U.S. troops. And a few years back on a trip to Havana he parroted Cuban talking points on terrorism and other issues. He's a legend in his own mind and whatever he says should be taken with several grains of salt.

Arm Chair Admiral McCaffrey should stick to ground pounding. Carriers are machines of power projection. Even though the considerations of Iran's prowess may seem concerning they are still conventional. (Remember seeing the USS Stark limp home? Compartmentalization and damage control kept her afloat.) ASW & EW modules will do there job- not only on the carrier; but, in the entire battle group. Airwings will provide superiority in ANY theater. It is my opinion the Stennis Battle Group would cripple any threat from Iran by themselves...including any ground based anti-ship threat. All the BIG GUNS are in the NAVY

Dunno about dismissing Gen. McCaffrey's assessment entirely. Not claiming any particular kind of expertise, but my impression is that the mullahs: a) don't give a rusty four-letter word about their own casualties, so long as they can make a Great Satan boogeyman to buffalo their citizens with; b) don't give a rusty four-letter-word about their own casualties, so long as they can put some shorts in the rest of the world's circuits; c) don't give a rusty four-letter-word about their own casualties, so long as the Faithful can strike some sort of blow against the evil unbelievers, and the sellout Arab countries dealing with the evil unbelievers; and d) don't give a rusty four-letter-word about their own casualties, period. (Yes, I acknowledge a certain rhetorical repetition, but my point is that Iran's government is like a lot of other pisspot totalitarian regimes: they'll hold out to the last peasant... Rational behavior from their government is not to be expected or depended upon.)

Sure, in a slugfest, we'd take 'em apart like a cheap wristwatch. But it seems unlikely we could keep the Straits of Hormuz safe for civilian shipping while we did it. McCaffrey seems pessimistic about the cost. of doing so, but that doesn't mean he's wrong