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US sending more warships, Marines to Gulf to counter Iran’s efforts to seize commercial ships
AP ^ | 7/21/23

Posted on 07/22/2023 3:56:41 AM PDT by EBH

The U.S. is sending additional warships and thousands of Marines to the Middle East to increase security in the wake of Iranian attempts to seize commercial ships there.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday approved the deployment of the USS Bataan amphibious readiness group and the 26th Marine Expeditional Unit to the Gulf region, according to U.S. officials. The readiness group consists of three ships, including the Bataan, an amphibious assault ship. An expeditional unit usually consists of about 2,500 Marines.

(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Food
KEYWORDS: iran; marines
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As strategic situations happen in Ukraine, it seems the United States is positioning itself to step in. We cannot afford to lose control of oil exports, but if Biden hadn't shut down our own oil production this move would be unnecessary.

Couple that with the rice export news from India... Wheat from Ukraine Oil

Almost sounds Biblical these days

1 posted on 07/22/2023 3:56:41 AM PDT by EBH
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To: EBH

Lots of dust getting kicked up all over the place…


2 posted on 07/22/2023 4:31:33 AM PDT by EEGator
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To: EEGator

Yes.

But then if you are going to war with countries like Russia or China, one needs to secure the supply lines you need first.


3 posted on 07/22/2023 4:34:19 AM PDT by EBH (America Blackmailed, The True Story of the World War...Coming Soon (1/21-))
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To: EBH

Biden doubles his efforts to bankrupt the United States.

When Biden has depleted our store of munitions propping up his Ukrainian gravy train he opens a second front in the Middle East.


4 posted on 07/22/2023 4:36:07 AM PDT by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit.)
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To: EBH
Just wait until the Iranians see our ships enter the gulf under the rainbow flag.

Will they will tremble with fear? Or, well, maybe just quiver with anticipation?

5 posted on 07/22/2023 4:36:31 AM PDT by RoosterRedux
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To: EBH
We cannot afford to lose control of oil exports

I'm sorry, but I'm done with wars for oil. When you consider America was oil independent just a few short years ago, and could be again, these war drums must be ignored.

6 posted on 07/22/2023 4:37:47 AM PDT by JonPreston ( ✌ ☮️ )
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To: EBH

I’m good with us doing this. It’s actually in our national interest.

I don’t support arming and escalating in the Ukraine.


7 posted on 07/22/2023 4:40:04 AM PDT by EEGator
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To: EEGator

To clarify, I mean not allowing piracy. Not invasions.


8 posted on 07/22/2023 4:41:19 AM PDT by EEGator
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To: JonPreston
I'm sorry, but I'm done with wars for oil.

I thought oil was bad. Maybe that was last week.

9 posted on 07/22/2023 4:43:23 AM PDT by BlackbirdSST (Trump or Bust! Long live the Republic.)
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To: BlackbirdSST

“The spice must flow.”


10 posted on 07/22/2023 4:44:46 AM PDT by EEGator
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To: EBH

What ever became of that oil tanker Iran seized???

I don’t remember seeing any more news on that since Iran took it.


11 posted on 07/22/2023 4:46:35 AM PDT by Safrguns
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To: EBH

“...it seems the United States is positioning itself to step in...”

I pray you are wrong, but I fear you are right. Son is an active Marine officer we worry about this U/R thing more than any other right now.


12 posted on 07/22/2023 4:47:39 AM PDT by devane617 (Discipline Is Reliable, Motivation Is Fleeting..)
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To: EEGator
I never understood how it’s in our “national interest” to protect commercial shipping when the ships are: (1) built by foreign shipbuilders in foreign countries, (2) owned by foreign companies, (3) operated under foreign flags, and (4) operating outside any U.S. jurisdiction while (5) transporting cargo between two foreign ports.

You can’t possibly make the case that the U.S. has a compelling national interest at stake here.

13 posted on 07/22/2023 4:47:52 AM PDT by Alberta's Child ("I've just pissed in my pants and nobody can do anything about it." -- Major Fambrough)
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To: EBH
--- AP :"Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday approved the deployment of the USS Bataan amphibious readiness group and the 26th Marine Expeditional Unit to the Gulf region, according to U.S. officials. The readiness group consists of three ships, including the Bataan, an amphibious assault ship. An expeditional unit usually consists of about 2,500 Marines.

Two of these would come to about 5,000 troops. Amphibious assault on a country with almost 88 million by 5,000? This seems more like theater than planning for military action.

An "expedition" by 5K onto the land mass of Iran, with neighbor to the east of Pakistan, and across the Persian Gulf, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, and Oman suggests no real strategy. I suspect this is for political consumption at home (and Europe) -- with us as targets of the real messaging.

14 posted on 07/22/2023 4:48:00 AM PDT by Worldtraveler once upon a time (Degrow government)
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To: BlackbirdSST

We like oil as long as it’s drilled elsewhere and it’s free.


15 posted on 07/22/2023 4:50:16 AM PDT by JonPreston ( ✌ ☮️ )
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To: Alberta's Child

Oil is a global commodity that fuels the world economy.
It would be far more in our national interests to become energy independent and crush all ESG, DEI, and climate change BS.
Half of our country is our greatest enemy.
What should we do about that?


16 posted on 07/22/2023 4:50:20 AM PDT by EEGator
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To: EEGator
What should we do about that?

I have my own ideas about that, but if I were to list a thousand of those ideas I can assure you that “use U.S. military assets to protect foreign shipping interests” would not be one of them.

One option I might seriously consider would be to extend some of the provisions of the Jones Act to international shipping (it currently only applies to domestic U.S. maritime shipping). You shouldn’t get U.S. military protection in international waters unless the U.S. has a direct tangible interest in the shipping.

17 posted on 07/22/2023 4:56:02 AM PDT by Alberta's Child ("I've just pissed in my pants and nobody can do anything about it." -- Major Fambrough)
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To: EBH

What can marines do? Are they planning to board and seize an Iranian warship?


18 posted on 07/22/2023 5:00:44 AM PDT by one guy in new jersey
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To: EBH

All for CHINESE OIL!

The oil is all going to Asia. It’s their problem.


19 posted on 07/22/2023 5:07:09 AM PDT by MMusson
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To: EBH
"...the 26th Marine Expeditional Unit..."

That would actually be the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

AP must be letting the interns play editor again...terrible writing is their stock-in-trade.

20 posted on 07/22/2023 5:14:14 AM PDT by castlebrew (Gun Control means hitting where you're aiming!))
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