If you put Cobra in the real world, how long would they last?

[GIJoeFan2012]

Ever wonder what would happen if your favorite villain existed in the real world?

Let's pretend the GI Joe comics, toys, and cartoons don't exist and this is an alternate earth where CC is real.

Here, CC is a normal man who blames the government for his problems. One day, he ends up in a car accident, disfiguring his face and killing his wife and child. Later, he puts on a hood and creates his own army(who are crazy enough to join him).

Would they last in the real world? Would we be screwed? No monters, no laser guns, no goofy commander......I'm talking about REAL ammo and a SERIOUS leader.

[JoeMama]

who says they don't?

[Colder Soldier]

He would probably get away with it until we got a real man in there to get the job done.

You saw what happened to Bin-Laden.

[GI abe444]

They do exist . Alqueda, Muahdin , Hammas, and many more extreamist or terrorist groups i cant spell. No different than Cobra

[Venomfang]

The thing about Cobra existing in real life is that, if it is using a conventional or pseudo-conventional military like the one we see in the cartoons/comics, Cobra would not last long.

You have to understand that military hardware like A-10's (Rattlers), HISS tanks (or real world variants thereof), and other such vehicles require skilled maintainers to work on them. Where are they going to attain those?

Does the CIA/FBI not exist anymore? What about Homeland Security?

The Cobra "military" seems to be backed largely by disgruntled soldiers and mercenaries. If they are recruited from America, then the odds are good that informants would compromise everything in the Cobra hierarchy. They'd be destroyed from within. Just look at Al-Qaeda. We pay (bribe) random affiliates to terrorist organizations and get amazing results because of it.

Disgruntled Soldier: "I hate my job. Gonna go AWOL and join COBRA, they seem legit."

CIA Undercover Agent: "O RLY? Here, take this $$$ and tell us how it goes."

DS: "KAY :D"


If Cobra were to exist, in all honesty, to have the infrastructure/capitol to create what it has, it would need to either arise from a coalition of terrorist organizations ala Brotherhood of NOD, or usurp a legitimate nation as what I think happens in Retaliation, or in real world examples like Africa.

Hell, Cobra could even become legitimate through seizing power in a coup similar to Nazi Germany.

The 3rd world origin seems the most realistic though, just imagine Afghanistan but without Taliban, and instead Cobra fanatics... With the infrastructure to carry out precise and deadly attacks with high efficiency.

[Skull]

Lets join up as see how long we last
just joking before someone breaks in my door.

i don't know that is a tough question. one of our armed forces members might be better suited to clue us in on what kind of contingency plans or government has to stop some sort of splinter group.

[GIJoeFan2012]

I forgot to bring this up......
If you have a nameless leader who never revealed his face to his own soldiers, would it be hard to identify him? I wouldn't be surprised if there are people in other countries who would work for a masked man, not knowing his real name or past life. Heck, he could be a SHE and they would never know.

Edit - Venomfang, you have a point on the things you said, especially about the CIA and FBI lol.

[MonkeyBoyZ]

I like this question. It would be very easy for an organization to act very similar to Cobra in a lot of ways but like was mentioned earlier, would have problems when it came to utilizing real military force and hardware.
Lots of people around the world are willing to follow a charismatic leader even if they are totally insane, examples are David Koresh, Jim Jones. Both spouted crazy nonesense and convinced people who, had they been outside of the crazy compounds, would have been seen as normal to die for the crazy ideas.
Bin Laden is a good example of the crime/terrorist side of Cobra. He was a charismatic guy who snuck around but was whole heartedly a coward. He was never able to utilize big military hardware, though, but he was able to convince people to die and fight for him, despite the crazy ideas and running away.
For an organization to use a military force including armor and aircraft, it would require the group to either take over an already existing country with a military or to take over a country that could afford one. And it would also take the international community to stand by and not act as those changes happened in that country.

[GI Joe Eternal]

Put a charismatic David Koresh-like figure in charge of a company like "Blackwater" (later called XE, now Academi).

No need for an alternate earth for this scenario. All the ingredients are on this planet.

EDIT: and no, it wouldn't last long... unless they survived in the mountains and didn't make waves until they managed to unleash the MASS Device.

[gruppenfuhrer88]

Rough estimate here, but I would give 12-14 years max.

[Viper6]

He would probably get away with it until we got a real man in there to get the job done.

You saw what happened to Bin-Laden.

and hes been about as relevant to AQ in the last 5 years as the fresh prince has been to hip hop...just sayn, glad the bastards dead n all (if you honestly believe he isnt being debriefed in a bunker about 18 hrs a day where he will spend the rest of his miserable life) either way, that was a political victory, didnt change dick. look at syria, UN or US wont take any serious action there or in Iran, with the right circumstance, cobra would dominate because even with an awesome spec ops team, and gents we have many, the modern age lacks the political will to act w/ effective immediacy.

[Viper6]

The thing about Cobra existing in real life is that, if it is using a conventional or pseudo-conventional military like the one we see in the cartoons/comics, Cobra would not last long.

You have to understand that military hardware like A-10's (Rattlers), HISS tanks (or real world variants thereof), and other such vehicles require skilled maintainers to work on them. Where are they going to attain those?

Does the CIA/FBI not exist anymore? What about Homeland Security?

The Cobra "military" seems to be backed largely by disgruntled soldiers and mercenaries. If they are recruited from America, then the odds are good that informants would compromise everything in the Cobra hierarchy. They'd be destroyed from within. Just look at Al-Qaeda. We pay (bribe) random affiliates to terrorist organizations and get amazing results because of it.

Disgruntled Soldier: "I hate my job. Gonna go AWOL and join COBRA, they seem legit."

CIA Undercover Agent: "O RLY? Here, take this $$$ and tell us how it goes."

DS: "KAY :D"


If Cobra were to exist, in all honesty, to have the infrastructure/capitol to create what it has, it would need to either arise from a coalition of terrorist organizations ala Brotherhood of NOD, or usurp a legitimate nation as what I think happens in Retaliation, or in real world examples like Africa.

Hell, Cobra could even become legitimate through seizing power in a coup similar to Nazi Germany.

The 3rd world origin seems the most realistic though, just imagine Afghanistan but without Taliban, and instead Cobra fanatics... With the infrastructure to carry out precise and deadly attacks with high efficiency.

of course when senior man above said cia agent is actually crimson guard that changes everything.

[GIJoeFan2012]

Put a charismatic David Koresh-like figure in charge of a company like "Blackwater" (later called XE, now Academi).

No need for an alternate earth for this scenario. All the ingredients are on this planet.

EDIT: and no, it wouldn't last long... unless they survived in the mountains and didn't make waves until they managed to unleash the MASS Device.

I know I mentioned this above, but CC wearing a mask all the time might be kinda clever in the real world. Think about it, his men can't give out his real name to the feds if he never revealed his true face to anyone. As long as they can recognise his voice through his hood/dome, he would be fine.

[Dealer Destro]

You saw what happened to Bin-Laden.

No one saw what happened to the ghost they have been telling us we have been chasing the last decade. What people fail to remember is that it was the CIA that made him who he was.

Back to the subject, these type of people do exist already. Not saying CC does or that Destro does 1 for 1, but you could argue that the CEO of Lockheed Martin is Destro and that CC is just a recurring 'ghost' that the government conjures up and labels a threat. Today it's Ahmadinejad, tomorrow it will be Kony. It's already going on.... the question is who is the real head snake?

[MonkeyBoyZ]

I know I mentioned this above, but CC wearing a mask all the time might be kinda clever in the real world. Think about it, his men can't give out his real name to the feds if he never revealed his true face to anyone. As long as they can recognise his voice through his hood/dome, he would be cool.

Cobra Commander would be the man behind the curtain. Even if there was a chromed face guy leading them into battle, it could easily be a subordinate who was chosen to be a double while the real leader was sitting in a bunker somewhere cackling and giving a monologue. There was a dictator who used doubles not too long ago until he was found hiding in a hole.

[Viper6]

No one saw what happened to the ghost they have been telling us we have been chasing the last decade. What people fail to remember is that it was the CIA that made him who he was.

Back to the subject, these type of people do exist already. Not saying CC does or that Destro does 1 for 1, but you could argue that the CEO of Lockheed Martin is Destro and that CC is just a recurring 'ghost' that the government conjures up and labels a threat. Today it's Ahmadinejad, tomorrow it will be Kony. It's already going on.... the question is who is the real head snake?

yeah buddy!!!...and the CGC IS the CIA ;)

[Colder Soldier]

and hes been about as relevant to AQ in the last 5 years as the fresh prince has been to hip hop...just sayn, glad the bastards dead n all (if you honestly believe he isnt being debriefed in a bunker about 18 hrs a day where he will spend the rest of his miserable life) either way, that was a political victory, didnt change dick. look at syria, UN or US wont take any serious action there or in Iran, with the right circumstance, cobra would dominate because even with an awesome spec ops team, and gents we have many, the modern age lacks the political will to act w/ effective immediacy.

I don't understand what you're trying to say here exactly. But yes, as soon as this "Real Life Cobra Commander" did anything to make himself "relevent"(attack the US with his weather machine), the political powers that be would/could quickly destroy Cobra unless those powers wanted to instead use Cobra as an excuse to benefit themselves with their own dirty deeds. The one if not only thing that makes modern age politics act effectively and immediately is money.

Now let this thread begin it's march to closing...

[bitetheasp]

Pretty long. They are clearly batshit insane.

[GI Joe Eternal]

Victor Bout is basically Destro...

[Ford]

He'd be taken out in a drone attack in no time. Then there would be the endless supply of "Number 2's" to take care of.

[CrimsonGuard101]

They would take over...no countries have the back bone anymore to do anything about anything anymore..lol...it would be easy for CC to just walk into every nation and just throw the swicth and take control...then it would be the US (GI JOE the REAL American hereos) to defeat them like it always has come to pass...to save the world from Cobra..a ruthless fashionista orginaization determined to Prada the world! (had to be more politically correct)

[Viper6]

I don't understand what you're trying to say here exactly. But yes, as soon as this "Real Life Cobra Commander" did anything to make himself "relevent"(attack the US with his weather machine), the political powers that be would/could quickly destroy Cobra unless those powers wanted to instead use Cobra as an excuse to benefit themselves with their own dirty deeds. The one if not only thing that makes modern age politics act effectively and immediately is money.

Now let this thread begin it's march to closing...

im sayn that ten years after 9-11 bin ladin wasnt as relevant to AQ as joe public is led to believe, it was a political victory and tacticaly entirely too late.

[steve_smmr]

i think of it this way: you know all those small militia groups that are scattered all over the country? some just rural militia, some white power/KKK types, some religious/religiously detatched? what if some dude came along with a slick tongue and unified all of these groups?

if there was such a person in real life, would it really be that farfetched that they would use a real, small american town as a secret headquarters?

[GIJoeFan2012]

Cobra enemies wearing disguises and realistic flesh tone masks are not too far fetched. There was a case where an asian guy got on a plane wearing a "elderly white man" silicon mask. He fooled a lot of people until they caught on to him. Scary, isn't it?

Edit - I just thought of this.....if there really is an evil guy who talks in a lisp and a raspy voice, I don't know if people would take him seriously.

[CrimsonGuard101]

i think of it this way: you know all those small militia groups that are scattered all over the country? some just rural militia, some white power/KKK types, some religious/religiously detatched? what if some dude came along with a slick tongue and unified all of these groups?

if there was such a person in real life, would it really be that farfetched that they would use a real, small american town as a secret headquarters?

He needs to unify the Joe community first..if he cant do that he might as well give the hell up lol..cause no way hes going to apease all of those fanatics you just mentioned..that would be a true test of his power..

[steve_smmr]

He needs to unify the Joe community first..if he cant do that he might as well give the hell up lol..cause no way hes going to apease all of those fanatics you just mentioned..that would be a true test of his power..

oh, trust me. that was all silly and hypothetical. of course he can't appease them all... but all it takes is a little bit of deception and the right incentive... maybe not let all these other groups know that they're all under the employ of the same man?

sorry, i have a love of far-fetched fictional politics.

[Mermaniel]

I dunno. If the world economy would crash and crap hit the fan and some billionaire wanted to start a revolution agaisnt the money hungry capitalist governments, i think alot desperate people and ex military types might join. Alot of private security contractors are proof. It would have to be in a crazy shtf world thpugh. In the current society we live in, the wouldnt stand a chance.

[Viper6]

the world bank and council of foriegn affairs.

[GIJoeFan2012]

oh, trust me. that was all silly and hypothetical. of course he can't appease them all... but all it takes is a little bit of deception and the right incentive... maybe not let all these other groups know that they're all under the employ of the same man?

sorry, i have a love of far-fetched fictional politics.

Question: When you are talking about CC, are you picturing the Chris Latta version or the Charlie Alder version from Resolute doing all of this? The Resolute CC was the most serious version.

[steve_smmr]

Question: When you are talking about CC, are you picturing the Chris Latta version or the Charlie Alder version from Resolute doing all of this? The Resolute CC was the most serious version.

out of the two, charlie adler. i love chris latta's 80s commander, but also accept that no one in real life would sound like that all the time. :P

in my dream world, cobra commander sounds more like guy pearce, circa 'l.a. confidential'.

[CrimsonGuard101]

out of the two, charlie adler. i love chris latta's 80s commander, but also accept that no one in real life would sound like that all the time. :P

in my dream world, cobra commander sounds more like guy pearce, circa 'l.a. confidential'.

Christian Byle kinda sounds like batman all the time in that wierd raspy voice thing he does...he even did it in terminator salvation kinda lol...

[steve_smmr]

Christian Byle kinda sounds like batman all the time in that wierd raspy voice thing he does...he even did it in terminator salvation kinda lol...

ugh, i'm so tired of that man and his pflegmy 'tough guy' voice.

[MFJayman]

I could see Cobra acting as a kind of international support network for other terrorist, insurgent and rebel groups; funding, arming, training, and reinforcing them. Anything to undermine world governments, economies, and global stability in general.

Cobra itself would probably want to be organized into highly mobile and flexible cells, with only high-quality agents and operatives, without too much knowledge about other cells' operations.

Basically, I'd say that each Cobra "trooper" would be much more like Firefly, than the typical Blueshirt cannon-fodder mook.

[Knight-Owl]

How long would they last?
It would probably depend on who's the President.
Just saying.

[Venomfang]

Also, if Cobra ever decided to field its military in a conventional square off, it would likely be hammered by first world militaries. Cobra combat groups would essentially have no choice but to operate in swift, efficient, guerilla style combat against targets they have a high probability of destroying.

I can't help but compare Cobra with the Brotherhood of Nod from Command and Conquer fame in this regard.

You get a series of terrorist organizations rallied together under some common cause, common leadership, and common funding, and go about usurping power in third world nations ranging from Africa, the Middle East, to Asia, possibly South America too.

Once you achieve this, you assign your lieutenants to run the areas relevant to their origin, then give them enough (but not everything) to continue the will to fight for you.

Examples include Hamas joining Cobra in the belief that Cobra can give them the means of defeating Israel and establishing an Islamic State. In exchange, Hamas dedicates some of its manpower to the ambitions of Cobra.

Cobra courts the IRA in the belief that it can attain an Irish state fre of British influence. In exchange, manpower/funding.

Guerilla/Communist organizations in South America, receive support from Cobra, in turn, manpower/money.

Once the aims of Cobra are met, Cobra begins its true goals, purges opposition within its ranks, and then rallies the money/material/manpower to become a serious threat to world powers. By then, it should, through hacking and corporate espionage, be able to create an arsenal capable of going toe to toe with first world powers in direct military confrontation.

This, however, would likely prove devastating, as their infrastructure would still be too weak. Second world nations and rogue states/paper tigers would likely be the best targets, examples being Afghanistan, North Korea, Venezuela, etc.

By doing this, it would show the world that they're "Not that bad" and actually doing the world powers a political favor in removing "unstable, rogue states" and replacing them with puppet governments in-line with Cobra doctrine.

Once the local populations are pacified, and the industrial power is there, THEN Cobra could begin World War III.

The time it takes to do this could be decades if not a century, I would think.

[CrimsonGuard101]

Don;t forget the aliens.

Chariots of the gods man. They practically own... South America...

[GIJoeFan2012]

If CC really existed, what do you guys think he would do on his free time? Me personally, I would be sitting on my throne, eating rich foods, and drinking wine.

[Tyroc]

Cobra could believably exist as a Private Military Contractor with the power to destabilize small nation states . After initially recruiting only those from 1st World militaries, the lure of greater profits could easily see such a company start employing ex military and security personnel from countries with less than stellar civil rights reputations. (ex Honduran death squad personnel, Serbian and Bosnian para-military personnel etc).

A company as powerful and influential as Blackwater / XE / Academii could go down a much darker path and start contracting its services to other nations or actors after their first world contracts get terminated, eventually fighting on behalf of actors labeled as 'terrorists' by some countries. The line between political actor and terrorist can sometimes be a very fine line depending upon which side you're on.

[Jinx723]

Ever wonder what would happen if your favorite villain existed in the real world?

Let's pretend the GI Joe comics, toys, and cartoons don't exist and this is an alternate earth where CC is real.

Here, CC is a normal man who blames the government for his problems. One day, he ends up in a car accident, disfiguring his face and killing his wife and child. Later, he puts on a hood and creates his own army(who are crazy enough to join him).

Would they last in the real world? Would we be screwed? No monters, no laser guns, no goofy commander......I'm talking about REAL ammo and a SERIOUS leader.

It'll be better than all of these politicians and 1% that are ruining our country.

[Troynos]

Cobra would be one of those survialist groups you hear about in the woods of Montana.

That's all they'd be.

[cobracobra]

Well depending on what president you have in office. Obama has taken allot of terrorists so far. I would love to see him take out Cobra Commander.

[Jmacq1]

Cobra could believably exist as a Private Military Contractor with the power to destabilize small nation states . After initially recruiting only those from 1st World militaries, the lure of greater profits could easily see such a company start employing ex military and security personnel from countries with less than stellar civil rights reputations. (ex Honduran death squad personnel, Serbian and Bosnian para-military personnel etc).

A company as powerful and influential as Blackwater / XE / Academii could go down a much darker path and start contracting its services to other nations or actors after their first world contracts get terminated, eventually fighting on behalf of actors labeled as 'terrorists' by some countries. The line between political actor and terrorist can sometimes be a very fine line depending upon which side you're on.

I agree that this would be the most likely path to a "Cobra" that most strongly resembles what we see in the toons and comics...with all the heavy military equipment and weaponry. There are already PMCs that are large and powerful enough to destabilize many third-world countries. If in theory one PMC could absorb several others to sort of become a "Super PMC" and then went rogue, we could end up with something like Cobra. Though I suspect once they "went Rogue" they wouldn't last long after they made their first attack on a "first world" country. Still, if they confined most of their activities to third world nations they could likely get away with quite a bit before anyone would move against them.

Incidentally, I thought it was interesting that Cobra (at least initially) seemed to be getting portrayed as a PMC in Retaliation.

Cobra would be one of those survialist groups you hear about in the woods of Montana.

That's all they'd be.

And this is the most realistic outcome of the "Used Car Salesman/Pyramid Scheme" storyline. No pyramid scheme is gonna make the kind of money that'd be necessary to fund and equip a group like Cobra. In reality they'd be a bunch of disgruntled folks holed up somewhere, blurring the line between a "militia" and a cult, and they'd probably get wiped out or rounded up by federal law enforcement (who would probably have several informants within said group).

[Raw Dog]

I could see Cobra existing in the real world as a world wide criminal organization more so than a terrorist one. I think that if they started small, and just kept gobbling up other criminal organizations until they eventually controlled almost all criminal organizations they could effectively last indefinitely. They would just need to be smart, really good at what they do, and enough time to eventually unify such a diverse population of those engaged in nefarious activities. I don't think one guy could see it from its inception to fruition, but a lineage or system based on succession could eventually get you there.

[seyms]

If Cobra was Cobra Industries in the real world (i.e. A Walmart-Blackwater-Halliburton-Serco-Goldman Sachs-BP style combination) it would last forever. It would be central to the conventional economy and everything else.

[seyms]

Still, if they confined most of their activities to third world nations they could likely get away with quite a bit before anyone would move against them.

Unless, of course, said third world nations had plenty of oil or LNG, then we in the West would be crying "foul" and getting ready to "liberate". Tee-hee.

[Viper6]

If Cobra was Cobra Industries in the real world (i.e. A Walmart-Blackwater-Halliburton-Serco-Goldman Sachs-BP style combination) it would last forever. It would be central to the conventional economy and everything else.

this to is truth.

[Lantern_Lad]

I think there are a few groups in the South that may fit the bill.

[hectorxd]

I remember maybe 10 years ago reading about a terrorist group called cobra in the middle east. Ill post it if I find it.
Here is another cobra army:
Civilians Fleeing as Rival Troops in Brazzaville Keep Fighting - NYTimes.com (http://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/11/world/civilians-fleeing-as-rival-troops-in-brazzaville-keep-fighting.html)
A quote from that article:
"Officials close to Gen. Denis Sassou-Nguesso, a former dictator whose 5,000-member Cobra militia was battling Government forces, told radio France Info that hundreds of people had been killed."

[sbartek1974]

They do exist . Alqueda, Muahdin , Hammas, and many more extreamist or terrorist groups i cant spell. No different than Cobra

But from the looks of Cobra's arsenal, they would be more heavily funded than the other terrorist groups.

[CrimsonGuard101]

I think there are a few groups in the South that may fit the bill.

I think all of the north is Cobra...hey its Blue and Gray all over again...wheres my Gen. Lee....

[sithlordsmart]

He would probably get away with it until we got a real man in there to get the job done.

You saw what happened to Bin-Laden.

What I "saw" wasn't the work of one man..... He just happened to be in the right place when we had better than average proof.

[Crazy Legs]

If Cobra had in the real world MARS, Extensive Enterprises, and certain countries buying their tech it would turn into a world war with no front. It would be madness because Cobra is global.

And if they actually had weather dominators and pyramids or darkness.......

[CG82]

Cobra would have to be far right wing political party made up of charismatic and likely ex-military veterans that manages win a many elections in the USA or abroad and/or it would have to exist on the level of SPECTRE from James Bond where it is basically unseen. I think the comics tried combining both of those but they get too cartoonish but its the type of medium though. So it is hard to say really, they could last for many decades in one form or another.

[sharky]

Cobra in the real world? I'm envisioning something along the lines of Chad Vader. LOL!

[GIJoeFan2012]

Cobra Commander would be the man behind the curtain. Even if there was a chromed face guy leading them into battle, it could easily be a subordinate who was chosen to be a double while the real leader was sitting in a bunker somewhere cackling and giving a monologue. There was a dictator who used doubles not too long ago until he was found hiding in a hole.

That is clever, using a double to take your place! Has CC ever done that in the cartoons and comics?
If the leader wanted to, he could fake his death by using his double. So if ALL of the members of cobra get arrested or killed, everyone will believe the leader perished during battle. Meanwhile, the real leader will create a new identity and a new life.

Another problem is he has to worry about Starscream-like traitors in his organization. I agree with Venomfang, FBI can bribe cobra soldiers, and plus, there will be people who will be jealous of him. Heck, even his right-hand man can stab him in the back.....litterally. He would have to look over his shoulders for the rest of his life.

[CobraOfficer999]

No one saw what happened to the ghost they have been telling us we have been chasing the last decade. What people fail to remember is that it was the CIA that made him who he was.

Back to the subject, these type of people do exist already. Not saying CC does or that Destro does 1 for 1, but you could argue that the CEO of Lockheed Martin is Destro and that CC is just a recurring 'ghost' that the government conjures up and labels a threat. Today it's Ahmadinejad, tomorrow it will be Kony. It's already going on.... the question is who is the real head snake?

Osama's shark shit by now, so who cares? As for the Cobra in the real world scenario, I think it would take 30 years before CC was forced to hide, maybe quicker if alot of his troops were Americans or Brits. Recruiting US and UK citizens would make Cobra incredibly vulnerable to inflintration by CIA and MI6 agents.

[Blot]

Bin Laden : Years active - 1979–2011
Kim Jong-il : Years as CinC - 1994–2011
Saddam Hussein : Years as President - 1979-2003
Gaddafi : Years as CinC - 1979–2011
Mugabe : Prime-Minister - 1980-1987 - first president - 1987-?

30 years looks like the going rate for Dictators with known terrorist agendas and aspirations of dominion.

[XAMOT]

Long enough to make Cobra Commander look like the worst thing since Hitler.

[SDawg]

who says cobra-la doesnt exists in the real world. lol

[Steelgrave]

Cobra does exist in the real world. Only they're not called Cobra, they're called THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. Slowly killing us all & trying to control the entire world.

[XAMOT]

Cobra does exist in the real world. Only they're not called Cobra, they're called THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. Slowly killing us all & trying to control the entire world.

You wouldn't happen to be European would you?

[Dunedain]

Sieg hiel

[crock master]

i think hasbro is cobra.i can see cobra commander funding all his shinanigns from joe collectors , ripping from the collectors club member accounts, outrageouse membership fees , thos $12 figures and inflating the market and then selling everything on ebay. (yes hasbro is holding out and selling its own stash on ebay)

[ickzer1]

A real Cobra would need their fantastic advanced technology to survive against the worlds militaries. Theyd get butt raped and spilt in half after the first major armed intrusion into a first world country otherwise.
All that sci fi nanotech, Mass, weather dominator shit is the only way they would make it against the entire damn planet.

[Trigue]

I agree that this would be the most likely path to a "Cobra" that most strongly resembles what we see in the toons and comics...with all the heavy military equipment and weaponry. There are already PMCs that are large and powerful enough to destabilize many third-world countries. If in theory one PMC could absorb several others to sort of become a "Super PMC" and then went rogue, we could end up with something like Cobra. Though I suspect once they "went Rogue" they wouldn't last long after they made their first attack on a "first world" country. Still, if they confined most of their activities to third world nations they could likely get away with quite a bit before anyone would move against them.

Incidentally, I thought it was interesting that Cobra (at least initially) seemed to be getting portrayed as a PMC in Retaliation.



And this is the most realistic outcome of the "Used Car Salesman/Pyramid Scheme" storyline. No pyramid scheme is gonna make the kind of money that'd be necessary to fund and equip a group like Cobra. In reality they'd be a bunch of disgruntled folks holed up somewhere, blurring the line between a "militia" and a cult, and they'd probably get wiped out or rounded up by federal law enforcement (who would probably have several informants within said group).

well blah I thought it would get both qoutes in there. Anyway the PMC idea is the best one I think. It's the most realistic that I think could happen. Give it about 20 or 30 or even 40 years, if first world militaries become more focused on using drones and PMCs to do thier fighting. If that happens they will have much smaller militaries, get someone with the business sense to merge a bunch of PMC's together. Or atleast work jointly, they could easily have a larger military force than any first world country..in time. The problem would be the CC type person living long enough to make his plans of world domination happen. I also maybe played hawks and splinter cell conviction too much lol.

I also loved what they did in Renegades with Cobra. The idea of it atleast. Part Wal-Mart, part Boeing, part every other defense company and part pharmaceutical with it's own private "security". All working thier way into the hearts and minds of America as this helpful company looking out for the little guy....and selling the best apple pies.

G.I. Joe Renegades - Cobra Industries Promo - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mswulcDEHVs)

[Troynos]

Cobra wouldn't last long.

What they have for equipment, the rest of the world's armies would as well.

Cobra would be the equivalent of Al Qaeada, the IRA and other such groups.

[Beckley]

I also loved what they did in Renegades with Cobra. The idea of it atleast. Part Wal-Mart, part Boeing, part every other defense company and part pharmaceutical with it's own private "security". All working thier way into the hearts and minds of America as this helpful company looking out for the little guy....and selling the best apple pies.

G.I. Joe Renegades - Cobra Industries Promo - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mswulcDEHVs)

Agree 100%, that was the genius of Renegades, Cobra already ruled the world.
Look at America, no matter how bad a corporation treats their employees, the environment, or its consumers, we'll still give them our money if they have the best prices.

[nilcam]

Cobra does exist in the real world. Only they're not called Cobra, they're called THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. Slowly killing us all & trying to control the entire world.

I agree with this completely.

[Tauron]

I think Cobra would thrive today more so than in any other part of American History. That Renegades cartoon wasn't far from the truth. While terroist organizations do exist the biggest problems that our millitary faces is private contracting and the military industrial complex. Many Vietnam Veterans in my community are very upset at the level of private contracting that has been going on over the past decade or so. This is the corporatization of our military and these private organizations are no better for our military than Wall St. is for our economy. Cobra would not have to be a terrorist group to take out America. Libery dies in silence not a with scream. Walmart, Black Water, Goldman Sachs, etc the list goes on and on. Cobra exists and is destroying our country one bit at a time.

[arthurnoah]

More importantly...would we buy their action figures? LOL

[ickzer1]

I think Cobra would thrive today more so than in any other part of American History. That Renegades cartoon wasn't far from the truth. While terroist organizations do exist the biggest problems that our millitary faces is private contracting and the military industrial complex. Many Vietnam Veterans in my community are very upset at the level of private contracting that has been going on over the past decade or so. This is the corporatization of our military and these private organizations are no better for our military than Wall St. is for our economy. Cobra would not have to be a terrorist group to take out America. Libery dies in silence not a with scream. Walmart, Black Water, Goldman Sachs, etc the list goes on and on. Cobra exists and is destroying our country one bit at a time.

If they dont attack major world sites with armed force then its not cobra. Its just business. To call em Cobra they gotta make a military move, and thats were theyd get lit up.

[Tauron]

More importantly...would we buy their action figures? LOL

LOL, excellent point! I guess Henry Paulson action figures wouldn't sell too well would they?!