As the RAF and NATO crews are not involved in this elective war, (the Bibbi-Donny Hubris Circus...) possibly a moot point.
The RAF, nor NATO would have the spare tin to throw at this activity:
- 1 x F15E
- 1 x F16
- 1 x A10C
- 2 x MH60
- 1 x MH6
- 2 x MC130J
(these being the indicated damaged or destroyed assets on this rescue)
to recover a single service member who would otherwise need to tolerate board and lodging provided by Iran. Iran is not the Taliban, each captured crew member adds to the bargaining power of Iran, but each one harmed while in captivity is adverse to the case Iran appears to be making. The case being made? Iran is not Israel. This case is being made by Israel, much to my frustration.
ROM, about 80+ troops were put in harms way, and fortunately no further lives were lost. Congress could reduce the risk of losses from the "no man left behind" policy by doing their job on kerning the actions of the wrecking ball that is the driver of this glorious excursion.
I’m not fan of Donnie and he’s made a royal mess of it, but time for counterfactual,
iran has every incentive based on its history of dominating the Persian Gulf for millennia to want to return to tha5 position. It’s has been on a near-messianic mission to oppose the US in the region, killed a thousand in Iraq, is viciously opposed to Arab domination backed by US power and is religiously out of step with Sunni Arabs in every way. They have witnessed US power, have successfully opposed it in Iraq in many ways. Lastly, they know the history of North Korea’s nuclear path—slow rolled Western opposition, lots of negotiations, lots of threats but eventually nuclear armed NOK won’t be attacked. Why would the Iranians NOT seek and acquire nuclear weapons? It’s totally in their interests.
Now, a nuclear armed Iran says, “the straits are closed except for who pays and we permit transit passage. They are in same place as today but cannot be militarily opposed. They don’t even have to nuke the US or Gulf states or Israel. Just say UNCLOS doesn’t apply to the Straits of Hormuz, pay us.
That’s the real threat.