Seems we will need to kill a lot more IRGC troops to meet our objectives.

No shite. An air campaign isn’t going to cut it.

The problem is that a ground campaign would be much harder to execute. Iran is 2x the size of Iraq and the IRGC is a modernized army with much more advanced technology. It would make Iraq and Afghanistan look like a picnic.

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Everyone keeps telling us that Iran is powerful but they fold pretty quickly upon bombing

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Seems they just need to hide until we stop, come back out and reassert control over unarmed populace. On ~1000 reported dead so far.

I know of a couple that thought that the very first day but are bedding sheep now

It’ll take ground troops. But I’d like to see our guys most set up some bases outside major population centers and be there to protect the civilians when they rise up to overthrow the regime.

If the Iran communications system has been knocked out, then wouldn't that also indicate that Iran would no longer be able to block starlink? If starlink is available to the Iranian citizens wouldn't that be valuable information available to an from the citizens to assist in knocking out the IRGC around the country. Start in one area and clear them out and move to another.

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Why won’t an air campaign cut it?

I’m sure we know the IRGC’s weapons and equipment depots. Take those out.

Additionally, I’m sure that we know the location of the IRGC troops. It’s not like the leadership told the soldiers to head home and don’t congregate in units. Take them out

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The IRGC isnt just a military wing with troops and bases set up throughout the country. They control every economic sector of the country. The guy running the water treatment plant, IRGC, the guy that runs the bank, IRGC. They live among the population. The military faction is in the 150,000 range. The bases, fuel depots, weapons depot.. yes those can be targeted and hit. The 600,000 strong armed militia known as the Basij, they are everywhere and they also live among the population. Then you have close to 800,000 conventional forces (including reserves) of the Artesh. These are conscripts mostly. Right now we dont know where their allegiance will lie.

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News last night was saying they still have way over 100k

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That regime had almost 50 years to bake itself into every aspect of Iranian society.

I know I can’t “stop it”, nor would I desire to because we are thankfully free to express our voices.

But I do tend to get surprised at some of the things people are evidently surprised about 1.5 weeks into this enormous and multifaceted undertaking.

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Why won’t an air campaign cut it?

I’m sure we know the IRGC’s weapons and equipment depots. Take those out.

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Because they arent Centralized. Also a war in the mountainous terrain in most of that country would be horrific

I make no predictions

But I don't think the realistic forecast ever included decimating the IRGC's manpower. I imagine it included taking out leadership and alienating other portions, leading to some vacuums, second guessing and fracture. And then hoping that Israeli intel which (I'm speculating) said some healthy swath of the IRGC could be pushed toward a popular realignment is accurate.

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No shite. An air campaign isn’t going to cut it.

The problem is that a ground campaign would be much harder to execute. Iran is 2x the size of Iraq and the IRGC is a modernized army with much more advanced technology. It would make Iraq and Afghanistan look like a picnic.

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I don't know why you are getting downvoted