Posted on 05/27/2007 4:08:13 AM PDT by familyop
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran dismissed on Sunday U.S. naval war games on its doorstep as a morale-boosting exercise for American soldiers, days after a large flotilla of U.S. ships entered the Gulf in a show of military muscle.
"This coming and going (of U.S. military ships in the Gulf) is nothing new," Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini told reporters at a weekly briefing. "It seems these movements are for lifting the spirits of the American soldiers."
Tension between Tehran and Washington has been mounting in recent months over Iran's disputed nuclear plans and the conflict in Iraq, helping to send world crude prices higher over fears of possible supply disruption from the oil-rich region.
Two nuclear-powered aircraft carriers were among the group of U.S. ships which began war games in the Gulf last Thursday.
The ships, carrying about 17,000 personnel and 140 aircraft, will take part in war drills over the next two weeks, the U.S military says.
Iran frequently holds its own war games in the Gulf, earlier this year test-firing missiles which a commander said could sink big warships.
U.S. and Iranian ambassadors are due to meet on Monday in Baghdad to discuss security in Iraq, a rare encounter for the two foes which have not had diplomatic ties since after Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution that overthrew the U.S.-backed Shah.
The United States accuses Iran of fomenting instability in Iraq by supporting Shi'ite militia there. Tehran denies the charge and blames the presence of U.S. troops for the bloodshed across the border.
Iran also denies western accusations that it is seeking nuclear bombs, saying its nuclear programme is designed purely to generate electricity.
The little runt has soiled his breeches.
Iran’s right. The war games in the area are nothing new, but they had better not get to cocky. The man who is always being misunderestimated just might lay a whammy on them.
I think we are trying to lure the mullahs into firing one of their missiles at our ships.
You've got that right. The big key will be when the USS Ronald Reagan task force moves into strike range. Long range strategic bombers and cruise missiles will join the fray for something that'll make "shock and awe" look mild.
I fully expect it to happen, and soon. The President can strike for an entire month without any congressional intervention.
Part of our ‘exercises’ should include the sinking of every vessel in the Gulf flying an Iranian flag.
After their piddly-ass ‘navy’ is sunk, what are the mullahs and their butt-boy Ahmadinejad going to do?
Oh I know, let them take their protests to the U.N., they’ll be happy to listen.
And then, we should SINK the U.N.
A person could more than likely buy property next to the DNC headquarters and be safe. I started to add sound, but thought better of it.
“It seems these movements are for lifting the spirits of the American soldiers.”
.....Hmmmph.....must be working....
I feel better ALREADY.....!!!
re: are for lifting the spirits of the American soldiers
Well actually, as uplifting as seeing the most powerful armada the world has ever seen the actual bombing of the targets would be even more spirit-lifting!
I hate to sound like a warmonger, but there’s something very inspiring about the idea of giving Iran an industrial-strength ass whooping.
Oh yeah Iran, take note, we got plenty more .... back here at home.
I feel better too..
“Dream on, not going to happen. W will not attack Iran under the current circumstances. Even if they launch one of their toys in the general direction of a US ship he will just talk and ask the French to do more to stop the Islamic bomb.”
You’re wrong, he has very little choice.
If he does nothing, Iran will (fairly quickly) have the bomb, and equally importantly, Iran will have tremendous sway over Iraq and the region if the Dems win the 2008 Presidential election.
There will be some temporary pain (oil prices) if he attacks Iran, but Iran will be reduced to a military ghost of what it is right now, incapable of threatening the region. If, after that, Iran refuses to “come correct” we can destroy its oil infrastructure - leaving it no hard currency to rebuild.
BTW, for the conspiracy theorists, what do you think will happen to US oil company profits if oil goes to $100 a barrel? heh
That is very possiblistic ;-)
“Dream on, not going to happen. W will not attack Iran under the current circumstances. Even if they launch one of their toys in the general direction of a US ship he will just talk and ask the French to do more to stop the Islamic bomb.”
OK....does the name “Saddam” ring a bell...???
HE thought the very same thing.
I do not understand all the hysteria about oil company profits. On a % basis they are right in the hunt with most mainstream businesses. Do you think that they should make 6% instead of 12%? Since I own oil stocks I would be very happy to have $100 oil.
No case made against Iran. No UN action plan. No selling it in the press, in fact just the opposite, they have been soft pedaling in the press. We have NO international consensus to attack Iran. Even Great Britain doesnât want to touch it. Completely different situations from Saddam and Iraq. Besides the Bush family has an obsession with Iraq, not Iran.
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