Posted on 12/09/2008 10:40:57 AM PST by Fennie
Iranian ships and submarines have deployed an undisclosed number of Iranian troops and weapons at the Eritrean port town of Assab, according to opposition groups, foreign diplomats, and NGOs in the area.
The city of Assab sits at the Horn of Africa in the Arabian Sea. As such, Assab offers a strategic position as the world nervously eyes the precarious routes through which a seaborne oil traverses daily.
Local sources have reported that Iran recently sent soldiers and a large number of long-range and ballistic missiles. The military basing came after Iran signed an accord with Eritrea to revamp the Russian-built refinery used by the Eritrean Oil Company, also known as Assab Oil Company.
(Excerpt) Read more at thecuttingedgenews.com ...
Lots going on in the Horn of Africa.
Pirates operating out of Somalia (some of them captured an Iranian ship carrying radioactive materials for some unknown purpose).
Al Qaeda was driven out of Mogadishu (Somalia) by Ethiopian troops who are still occupying it. Ethiopians were supposed to withdraw but are suddenly increasing their troop levels apparently.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g7OaI4_kjeHA-o4UhlmP7vlWmrrwD94V83180
We have a major special forces base in Djibouti, right next door to Eritrea.
Eritrea is of course at war with Ethiopia and has been for years.
And Eritrea is at a choke point on the Red Sea. From there they could choke off sea traffic to the Saudis’ Red Sea ports, while simultaneously closing down the Persian Gulf to oil traffic.
Somewhere in there is the answer to what Iran is doing in Eritrea.
Meanwhile... Back at the US ranch... The MSM fixated on the Palin campaign wardrobe cost!!!
Remember how the "last straw" in the June 1967 "Six Days War" was the bottling up of the Gulf of Aqaba/Eilat by the Egyptians at Sharm-el-Sheikh?
Just north of Djibouti, Djibouti.
Mind like a steel trap.
After long being a part of the Kingdom of Ethiopia, in 1995/6 Eritrea received it’s independence, pressure being applied by the Saudis and Pakistani to coerce the USG and Ethiopia to accept the creation of virtually the last new nation in the world.
Last year, there were persistent reports of Pakistan’s ISI financing and arming groups that were part of Somalia’s Islamist councils, overthrown temporarily by the Ethiopians.
Eritrea, in it’s short existence has proved to be the vanguard and the tip of the spear of the WorldWide Jihad.
good point
a 2 pronged assault on carriers both in the Gulf and Suez simultaneously
Knowing their deployment, we now have two bottlenecks where they can shoot from with the least time of flight for airborne millie assaults against our ships
Also, there may be enough range to attack Israel from that point, too. Due to most of Israel’s deployment of Patriots in the northeast to deflect inbound from that direction, this would necessitate a splitting of forces to defend from the south, too
THis is a two-fer for an aggressive state. And definitely a cause for pre-emptive action by the US or Israel. There is NO legitimate reason for Iran to do such a thing
UNLESS they are doing it to create an excuse to fire upon us, a lose lose situation, one they can exploit and act innocent while we bomb outside their nation, they ‘respond’ within ours and Israel, their plan all along
Lets not forget Iran has plans to build and assist the Venezuelans with projects. Could be another cover to get troops equipment into our hemisphere.....
Seems like the standard test pattern of a new president’s Radical islam reception. America seems to have the world’s shortest memory ...
also lets not forget Venezuelas relationship with cuba. They are one in the same.
Actually, by doing this they would effectively control the Suez canal. And, of course, the tanker traffic that goes through it.
Couple that with control of the Straits of Hormuz, and you end up with Iran having a stranglehold on a significant amount of the world's oil.
Always assuming, of course, that this story is even remotely accurate.
One air route from Israel was along the west coast of Saudi Arabia now they can monitor bombing sorties from. Israel
Yeah. Like I said the choke point is the only advantage I see here.
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Question: Why are there Iranian natinals on Chinese oil wells in the GUlf off Cuba?
Dude - they are so way past that. Now it's what dress Michelle is going to wear to the inaugural.
Good point; I scouted around looking for a mainstream source and couldn't find one. Found this:
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