# Those stealth bombers and Iran **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [July 1, 2025, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-stealth-bombers-and-iran/1020369 "2025-07-01T22:18:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2025, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-stealth-bombers-and-iran/1020369/21 "2025-07-04T14:56:10Z")
I don’t understand why they needed to be refueled multiple times in the air to fly from the US to Iran, then back to the US. Why not land them in a safe US base first to refuel and then fly to Iran? Even if you were worried about the bombers being attacked in a middle eastern military base in a nation like Kuwait or Qater, you could house them in a military base in Germany where there was no risk of Iranian attacks on them. Also since Israel has destroyed Irans anti-aircraft capabilities and has air supremacy over Iran, why did they send the stealth B-2 bombers? I thought the B-2 was more for contested air space. I mean I guess the entire purpose was to shock and awe the world, and now Trump is having a meltdown that it didn’t have that effect. But still. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2025, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-stealth-bombers-and-iran/1020369/22 "2025-07-04T14:57:15Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Having the pilots, bases, vehicles, training, and equipment that it takes to do something like this available all over the world really is an incredible feat of logistics. It’s not something any other nation or army can even dream about coming close to matching. Few other countries would want to spend the kind of money it takes to make these adventures possible. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2025, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-stealth-bombers-and-iran/1020369/23 "2025-07-04T15:03:50Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > I don’t understand why they needed to be refueled multiple times in the air to fly from the US to Iran, then back to the US. Why not land them in a safe US base first to refuel and then fly to Iran? Even if you were worried about the bombers being attacked in a middle eastern military base in a nation like Kuwait or Qater, you could house them in a military base in Germany where there was no risk of Iranian attacks on them. Maybe trump thought the reflected glory he received would be diluted if it was less of an effort to achieve the goal. He couldn’t stick out his chest if it was easy, like using a drone or more conventional aircraft that was already on that side of the world. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2025, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-stealth-bombers-and-iran/1020369/24 "2025-07-04T15:09:31Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > I don’t understand why they needed to be refueled multiple times in the air to fly from the US to Iran, then back to the US. Why not land them in a safe US base first to refuel and then fly to Iran? The US does have bombers closer to Iran, in the sea south of India, at an island called Diego Garcia. And the US did some shuffling around of those bombers in the days leading up to the Iran strike, leading many to think those planes would be used. They might have flown the planes from the US in instead in order to misdirect Iran, both about the direction the planes would come from (since people thought the Diego Garcia planes would be used, and assumed the planes launched from the US were going to Diego Garcia) as well as the timing (anyone watching DG would assume the attack isn’t coming yet because the planes are still at the base). > [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Also since Israel has destroyed Irans anti-aircraft capabilities and has air supremacy over Iran, why did they send the stealth B-2 bombers? I thought the B-2 was more for contested air space. The B-2 is also apparently the only plane the US has that can drop the specific mega bunker buster used out of the box. > [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Few other countries would want to spend the kind of money it takes to make these adventures possible. Yeah, Trump shares that concern, I guess. Personally, I think the US gains benefits many times over what they spend by their position as the world’s solitary superpower, but Trump seems eager to find out what a multipolar world is like. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2025, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-stealth-bombers-and-iran/1020369/25 "2025-07-04T15:19:11Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Personally, I think the US gains benefits many times over what they spend by their position as the world’s solitary superpower, You make it sound like the military pays for itself. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2025, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-stealth-bombers-and-iran/1020369/26 "2025-07-04T15:28:01Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Having the pilots, bases, vehicles, training, and equipment that it takes to do something like this available all over the world really is an incredible feat of logistics. It’s not something any other nation or army can even dream about coming close to matching. And this also points out why Trump trashing US “Soft Power” is so stupid. If he pisses off enough countries, he may very well find that the US can no longer carry out such missions. Having even one gap between the current fueling points might make such a mission impossible, or at least, hugely more complicated, expensive and dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2025, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-stealth-bombers-and-iran/1020369/27 "2025-07-04T15:32:07Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Of course, the mission happened. I’m saying trump, in selling the mission as being the most successful in history, padded it with the crews being particularly heroic. That’s just how Trump communicates. He’s not just being treated unfairly, he’s being treated more unfairly than any president in history. It’s not just a good bill, it’s a big beautiful bill that’s the greatest bill in US history. He’s not just being persecuted by the “Department of Injustice,” _all_ the legal scholars agree that he’s being persecuted. When Trump wants to take responsibility for an action it’s the best, most successful action ever taken by a president. Even when Trump’s telling the truth he finds a way to lie about it. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2025, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-stealth-bombers-and-iran/1020369/28 "2025-07-04T15:38:17Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > You make it sound like the military pays for itself It absolutely does. There’s a reason why America is so rich, and if you want to be the premier superpower in a unipolar world, a massive army is the price of admission. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2025, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-stealth-bombers-and-iran/1020369/29 "2025-07-04T15:40:49Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > And this also points out why Trump trashing US “Soft Power” is so stupid. If he pisses off enough countries, he may very well find that the US can no longer carry out such missions. Having even one gap between the current fueling points might make such a mission impossible, or at least, hugely more complicated, expensive and dangerous. Yeah, absolutely. Part of what makes the US so powerful is the way it coordinates with local allies at a logistical level. Even things like standardized ammunition sizes for bullets and artillery shells across different forces is enormously impactful. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2025, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-stealth-bombers-and-iran/1020369/30 "2025-07-04T15:42:07Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > I don’t understand why they needed to be refueled multiple times in the air to fly from the US to Iran, then back to the US. Why not land them in a safe US base first to refuel and then fly to Iran? Even if you were worried about the bombers being attacked in a middle eastern military base in a nation like Kuwait or Qater, you could house them in a military base in Germany where there was no risk of Iranian attacks on them. Why do it this way? The vice president said to Fox News, “Our hope is that the lesson that the Iranians have learned here is look, we can fly a bunker buster bomb from Missouri to Iran completely undetected without landing once on the ground, and we can destroy whatever nuclear capacity you build up. I think that lesson is what’s going to teach them not to rebuild their nuclear capacity.” Or they learn to be more secretive when they restart their program. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2025, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-stealth-bombers-and-iran/1020369/31 "2025-07-04T15:42:49Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > I hope a billion dollar airplane has a state of the art auto pilot _Airplane!_ is actually _not_ the first thing I think of when someone mentions autopilots. I think of _The Young Ones_ (Season 1, Episode 1, ‘Demolition’). The scene is the cockpit of a commercial jet. The pilots are just sitting there. > –EXT: PLANE FLYING OVERHEAD > > –INT: PLANE COCKPIT > > **PILOT #1:** Oh wow, I really hope we don’t have a crash. > > **PILOT #2:** Me too. > > **PILOT #1:** But they say it’s safer than crossing the road! > > **PILOT #2:** Yes, but we have to do that too. > > **PILOT #1:** Best not to think about it. > > –EXT: OUTSIDE HOUSE > > **RICK:** Oh no! That plane is going to crash on us! > > _[Shots of each of the four lads looking up: MIKE, RICK and NEIL with concern, VYVYAN with excitement.]_ > > _[KA-BOOOOM!]_ > > _[Cut to black.]_ All I could find on video was the line, [‘Wow, I really hope we don’t have a crash’](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHuitSiErJg). ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2025, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-stealth-bombers-and-iran/1020369/32 "2025-07-04T15:55:55Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > _Airplane!_ is actually _not_ the first thing I think of when someone mentions autopilots. I think of _The Young Ones_ (Season 1, Episode 1, ‘Demolition’). I think of the bit in _Restaurant At The End Of The Universe_ where Zaphod sees the passengers screaming and clawing at the straps and life support systems that held them tightly in their seats — writhing and struggling as a small cup of coffee and a packet of biscuits is set in front of each one of them. > [@](#): > > “Yes,” said the voice again, “there has been a delay. Passengers are to be kept temporarily in suspended animation, for their comfort and convenience. Coffee and biscuits are being served every year, after which passengers are returned to suspended animation for their continued comfort and convenience. Departure will take place when the flight stores are complete. We apologise for the delay.” > Zaphod moved away from the door, on which the pounding had now ceased. He approached the flight console. > “Delay?” he cried, “Have you seen the world outside this ship? It’s a wasteland, a desert. Civilization’s been and gone, man. There are no lemon-soaked paper napkins on the way from anywhere!” > “The statistical likelihood,” continued the autopilot primly, “is that other civilizations will arise. There will one day be lemon-soaked paper napkins. Till then there will be a short delay. Please return to your seat.” ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2025, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-stealth-bombers-and-iran/1020369/33 "2025-07-04T18:29:00Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Why do it this way? The vice president said to Fox News, “Our hope is that the lesson that the Iranians have learned here is look, we can fly a bunker buster bomb from Missouri to Iran completely undetected without landing once on the ground, and we can destroy whatever nuclear capacity you build up. I think that lesson is what’s going to teach them not to rebuild their nuclear capacity.” > > Or they learn to be more secretive when they restart their program. Fair enough. Plus the B-2 has enough stealth that even if Iran rebuilds its air defenses, the B-2 can likely get around them. Or the US can send a fleet of F-22s and F-35s ahead to knock out the air defenses before bombing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/those-stealth-bombers-and-iran/1020369.md?page=1)