Iran's Fake Aircraft Carrier

This was an article in "The New York Times"

Iran is building what appears to be a replication of an Nimitz-class American aircraft carrier. The reasons as to why are up to debate, but "The Times" speculated that it is probably a barge built to imitate a carrier rather than actually act as a functioning warship. The article explained that Iran often tows barges out to sea for missile testing. The barges will be destroyed by an Iranian missile and the test will be filmed and broadcast as propaganda. The fact that this particular barge looks like an American ship most likely reflects the fact that this Iranian propaganda piece isn't just meant for Iranians. The article pointed out that American officials believe that Iran is most likely incapable of building a working aircraft carrier.

I think it's insidious that Iran is building a target with America's naval face on it, but hey, it's just a target. Iran's ambiguous nuclear capabilities (nuclear propulsion is basically a necessity for supercarriers) or the lack thereof seems to be reflected in Iran's creation of large floating piece of steel. Pragmatically, propaganda and show-of-force are taken care of when there is actually force to show. Mandatory conscription or even just mass voluntary conscription in a military can't compensate for a massively technologically superior military. B-2 bombers and surgical strikes can make short work of any sticks-and-stones force, no matter how massive. If Iran's military was comparable to the U.S's, it would most evidently show in the existence of it. That doesn't mean, however, that Iran is going to talk big and then NOT blow up this nice, expensive effigy. I guess we will see what comes of it.