Questions tagged [military]
Questions related to the military. This may include questions about the actions or inaction of the military, the armed forces themselves or government action related to the military.
170
questions
43
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10answers
15k views
How is Russia able to maintain the 2nd most powerful military in the world at a fraction of the cost of the US & China?
The 2020 Military Strength Rankings list Russia's military as #2 in strength:
United States
Russia
China
However, their defense budget rankings show that Russia's only #8 in spending:
United States ...
10
votes
1answer
335 views
Have the contents of the letters of last resort ever been revealed?
The letters of last resort are the letters written by the UK Prime Minister to the naval officers in command of the four nuclear submarines which provide the UK's nuclear deterrent, containing ...
-2
votes
2answers
107 views
Which US law transfered the power to declare war from Congress to the President? [closed]
The last few wars have been declared by Presidents without an act of congress. Yet the Constitution says that only congress can declare war.
What is the specific legal justification that ...
3
votes
1answer
105 views
Graph of US military spending a percentage of GDP
I found a (North America proxy) graph of US military spending in absolute real terms (i.e. adjusted for inflation).
As you can see, in absolute terms, even adjusting for inflation, the US has spent ...
2
votes
0answers
116 views
How did the 4th of July “Salute to America” military parade compare to France's (regular one) on Bastille Day, numerically?
Trump's decision to have a military parade on the 4th of July last year was criticized as being out of character for the US and even costly.
According to Wikipedia, France regularly conducts such a ...
-1
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1answer
243 views
Why did Iran recognize it's at fault on the Ukrainian plane? [closed]
Now there is a furor inside and outside of Iran. And some people now want their leader to step down. They could deny it forever. Now they having such backlash. Did they make it to put fault on US (...
-3
votes
1answer
233 views
Is this show of Islamic Republic and the US confrontation beneficial for Trump's impeachment process? [closed]
I'm an Iranian that I'm just living in the US for a couple of years. Recently, the tension between the US and Islamic Republic regime is heightened to another level that we didn't see it before. In ...
-2
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1answer
422 views
is there any way a WW3 can start? [closed]
Because of the latest conflicts between USA and Iran, is there any way a WW3 can start?
And in what case a ww3 can start?
Honestly, I don't believe this but I want other people's opinion.
19
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2answers
8k views
Have US anti-ballistic-missile capabilities been used and were they effective in countering the recent Iranian missile strike on US bases in Iraq?
This is breaking news, so it may not be answerable right away but probably will be in a reasonably short term...
Iran has launched (from its own territory) ballistic missile strikes against US bases ...
2
votes
1answer
170 views
Does the US have any long-term leases on bases in Iraq?
Breaking news is that the Iraqi parliament has passed a non-binding resolution calling for the withdrawal of foreign troops:
The non-binding resolution was passed by the Iraqi parliament after the ...
42
votes
9answers
18k views
What threat, if any, does Iran really pose to the US?
The US army absolutely dwarfs the Iranian army in terms of military might.
Realistically, Iran cannot attack mainland US, whereas the US could nuke Iran into oblivion at a moment's notice. They ...
2
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1answer
194 views
Significance of three days mourning for Gen. Qassim Suleimani
There is a three-day mourning event in Iran over the assassination of Gen. Qassim Suleimani. Is that a long period of time or a fairly standard period?
In 1989 the Ayatollah Khomeini was mourned for ...
1
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4answers
257 views
Which “coalition” countries have troops in Iraq and how many?
U.S. airstrike kills top Iran general, Qassem Soleimani, at Baghdad airport
The Defense Department said in announcing the strike Thursday night that Soleimani had orchestrated attacks on coalition ...
6
votes
1answer
285 views
How do Micronesia, Guam and the Northern Marianas give the US “dominance in the Pacific”, according to experts"?
The NBC News article Why is this tiny Pacific Ocean nation getting VIP treatment in Beijing? says:
David Panuelo, president of the Federated States of Micronesia — a nation of some 600 islands and ...
2
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4answers
266 views
What is the Constitutional precedent for military aid?
Is there any Constitutional precedent for the claim that it is or is not within the rights or duties of the office of the President of the United States or of Congress to grant, to deny, or to suspend ...
30
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3answers
9k views
How true are Trump’s claims about NATO spending?
Over President Trump’s term in office, he has been very vocal about the spending commitments made by many NATO countries, and their frequent failure to live up to them. He now seems to be taking ...
22
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4answers
8k views
Are members of the military allowed to wear civilian clothes when testifying in Congress?
The question is sparked by the attention that media has to military personnel wearing dress uniform when testifying in front of a US Congress committee, calling it "pulling the soldier card" in regard ...
4
votes
3answers
312 views
Did the Obama administration make any statements on lethal aid for Ukraine?
In today's impeachment hearing, Republicans mentioned a number of times that the Obama administration did not provide lethal aid to Ukraine, even though officials (at least today's witness Ambassador ...
asked Nov 16 '19 at 0:43
JJ for Transparency and Monica
22.3k5 gold badges65 silver badges115 bronze badges
2
votes
1answer
174 views
Why is the US concerned about Turkey's S-400 deal? [duplicate]
Is this for being concerned about Turkey's self-defense capabilities or is it more about that Russia competes with the U.S on arm deals?
What reasons does the US havefor being concerned about Turkey'...
2
votes
0answers
38 views
Can a country be expelled from NATO? [duplicate]
It seems a country can leave NATO, seeing as France did so in 1966 (and rejoined in 2009), but can a country be expelled from NATO?
Who would make such a decision? Must all member countries vote FOR, ...
3
votes
2answers
303 views
What is Trump's plan to end or reduce US involvement in Syria?
Trump recently slammed the "endless wars", but an apparently not very well publicized Pentagon press release from Oct 8 says:
Despite continued misreporting to the contrary, Secretary Esper and ...
3
votes
1answer
106 views
How can I follow the civil case against IDF former chief Gantz in the Netherlands?
Last month, a case began to be heard in the Hague - in a Dutch court, not an international court - against the former head of the Israeli military and now a prime-ministerial hopeful, Benjamin (Benny) ...
6
votes
1answer
343 views
Are there any public opinion polls in the US on them starting military action against Iran?
Give the recent international events rising tensions between the US and Iran, have there any public opinion polls been conducted in the US asking whether the US should do more militarily against Iran?
...
18
votes
5answers
8k views
Can the U.S. president make military decisions without consulting anyone?
Looking on Wikipedia, we learn that:
It is generally agreed that the commander-in-chief role gives the
President power to repel attacks against the United States[3][4] and
makes the President ...
0
votes
3answers
196 views
Could a government's standing military forces be entirely hired away by private interests? [closed]
Say, for example, a corporation obtains enough money to pay all the military (which isn't hard- investment banks manage trillions, the military salaries are a fraction of that).
Then, the military ...
0
votes
2answers
360 views
Are Saudi Arabia's air defences actually working? [closed]
Saudi Arabia has one of the biggest military budgets in the world. State purchased huge amount of western weapon systems, including the most advanced of them - US Patriot systems. It is even ...
4
votes
1answer
194 views
How would the chain of command work if a service member were elected president?
Tulsi Gabbard is currently enlisted in the Hawaii Army National Guard and running for president. If elected, she would become commander-in-chief, as opposed to Major (O-4), her current rank. Would she ...
7
votes
1answer
237 views
UK: “limited nuclear strike” policy (history, details, politics, etc)
In a recent submission to a UK parliamentary committee the former chief of the navy (Lord West) was talking about a policy change which surprised me, that "recently" (some point in the last 10-20 ...
3
votes
1answer
267 views
Russian military bases in Germany: judicially possible? [closed]
The US has many military bases in Germany, e.g. 34 Army bases, Ramstein Airbase, etc.
Discounting politics, what would be judicial hurdles to setting up a Russian military base in Germany? Is there ...
10
votes
2answers
405 views
In American politics is the “free ride” problem (Japanese defence spending) acknowledged as a direct consequence of American strategy?
I have been reading an article from The Atlantic which was published in 1989, on the question of whether Japan enjoys a "free ride" with regards to defence spending. This is a topic which has ...
3
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4answers
400 views
Why do South and Latin American countries have small armies?
The examples in South and Latin America of countries with a small military are numerous:
Mexico: only five F5F fighters, an old airplane that was nearly obsolete in the 1990s. The navy is only a ...
-3
votes
1answer
162 views
Is the CIA responsible for overseeing all US military black-ops missions on foreign soil?
Is the CIA responsible for overseeing all US military black-ops missions on foreign soil? I am wondering if it's the CIA that oversees all military black-ops mission on foreign soil, or the Pentagon ...
3
votes
2answers
470 views
Fate of countries without any army when attacked
What happens to countries which don't have any standing army, when attacked by any other country, terrorists, etc.?
Even though only politically less significant or relatively more peaceful ...
1
vote
3answers
445 views
Why won't the U.S. move more rapidly towards modernizing its army?
Why won't the U.S. move more rapidly towards modernizing its army? By that, I mean why, for instance, the U.S. won't replace conventional fighter jets with attack drones and replace big and ...
7
votes
1answer
173 views
Why would the Sudanese protest movement insist on a 3-year period before elections?
On BBC's website, there'a an article entitled Sudan crisis: What you need to know. Some of what's said in there sounds kind of off to me.
So, a protest movement has pushed the military leadership to ...
1
vote
1answer
295 views
If Russia intentionally shot down flight MH-17, what would be the benefit to Russia? [closed]
Four suspects, three Russians and one Ukrainian, have been charged with the shooting-down of flight MH-17.
If Russia intentionally shot down this plane, in what way would this benefit Russia? That ...
18
votes
1answer
3k views
Does nuclear propulsion applied to military ships fall under civil or military nuclear power?
From what I know very few countries are authorized to possess nuclear weapons, although a few others might secretly have some. But using nuclear power for civilian use (to produce electricity) is ...
0
votes
1answer
113 views
Why did Turkey not wait until after acquiring US F-35 before initiating talks with Russia about S-400? [closed]
The United States has blocked shipment of F-35 technology to Turkey over a Turkish decision to purchase S-400 surface-to-air missile systems from Russia. Why didn't Turkey wait until they had ...
38
votes
7answers
13k views
Why does the U.S military use mercenaries?
With a defense budget now totaling ~686-billion dollars a year – which is about the size of the next 8 largest defense budgets combined (figure) – why does the U.S military see the need to ...
-9
votes
2answers
400 views
Why do world governments allow North Korea to continue to exist with it's current government? [closed]
I was recently listening to the story of a North Korean defector that was born and raised in internment camp #14. Hearing about the horrendous conditions, the brutal treatment of people, and the ...
1
vote
2answers
108 views
Are cost effectiveness studies regularly done for weapon systems?
Possibly I have some economist bias, but I'm used to idea of assessing cost effectiveness. In a few cases, when there was something like political debate in my country, I tried to google basic fact ...
2
votes
1answer
406 views
Did US vice president Pence say anything close to “by any means necessary”?
I have not been able to find a transcript of US vice president Pence's recent (26-Mar-2019) speech to the US Space Council. This one is from last year.
The phrase By any means necessary carries a ...
-3
votes
2answers
284 views
Why doesn't US use military force to retrieve citizens from North Korea?
There have been several American citizens detained in North Korea and one mortally injured during his incarceration. Under what circumstances do countries (such as the USA) use military force to ...
7
votes
3answers
385 views
What arguments do proponents of the second amendment use to conclude that gun ownership helps protect the people against the government?
It is said the reason for the second amendment to the US constitution is protection from an oppressive government.
Should push come to shove, although hugely outnumbered in personnel numbers, the US ...
3
votes
1answer
116 views
What happens in transfer of technology in defence deals
As per an article, Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL), Mumbai, is manufacturing six Scorpene submarines under technology transfer from Naval Group of France under a 2005 contract.
I don't understand the term ...
-4
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2answers
337 views
Conscription rights if UK Locked in Backstop
Does the EU have the power to develop a European Army, and to conscript European citizens into it?
If so, would the Northern Ireland Backstop mean that UK citizens could also be conscripted into this ...
1
vote
1answer
138 views
Can defense acquisitions by countries be kept secret?
Or are they usually are? Take for example between US and its allies. In modern days, are there any safe guards for them to be kept classified. Or safeguards to be kept transparent?
Take for example: ...
2
votes
0answers
129 views
Why did South African soldiers choose EO over UNITA?
This is a question concerning Executive Outcomes and UNITA. I concede this question is slightly Tom Clancy-esque, but I think now that these events have been largely declassified all these decades ...
0
votes
2answers
138 views
Why aren't there any protectorate anymore?
Republic of Minerva looks good. It fails in one thing. It fails to protect itself.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minerva_Reefs
Capitalism is good for pretty much everything but security. So a rich ...
1
vote
0answers
77 views
What concessions did India make to get jets 9% cheaper in the Rafale deal
The Modi government claims that the Rafale deal it brokered is cheaper than the original deal by 9%. How did it achieve this? What concessions did Modi give to Dassault in order to get the deal at a ...
