Posted on 11/18/2006 10:15:36 AM PST by PghBaldy
As the American President George W. Bush steps up threatening rhetoric against Iran to force it suspend its nuclear program, calling for worldwide isolation of Tehran until it “gives up its nuclear ambitions,” experts predict that the coming days would see a much violent step by Washington against the Islamic Republic.
What asserts the experts’ fears is the fact that on October 31, two nuclear-powered carriers, the USS Eisenhower and USS Enterprise, arrived in Bahrain, accompanied by their carrier strike groups. And on November 9th, the USS Iwo Jima, and the USS Boxer also arrived.
Is President Bush up to something? Asked Rense.com
On October 11, American officials announced that the U.S., Bahrain and other states will hold their first naval exercise in the Gulf to practice interdicting ships carrying weapons of mass destruction and missiles.
The exercises, organized under the U.S.-led 66-member Proliferation Security Initiative and the first to be based in the Gulf near Bahrain, across from Iran, came as Washington and the European Union member states are pushing for imposing sanctions including possible interdiction of ships on North Korea, following its announcement of carrying out nuclear test, and on Iran, which the U.S., backed by Israel and the EU, claims is preparing to produce nuclear weapons.
Iran considers Washington- sponsored war games in the Persian Gulf, off the Iranian coastline as a provocation aimed at creating a situation of direct confrontation between the U.S. and Iranian naval forces in the Persian Gulf, although a senior U.S. official insisted that the exercise is not aimed specifically at Iran.
About the exercises, which experts say reinforces a U.S. strategy aimed at strengthening America’s ties with the Gulf states, which Tehran and Washington are engaged in a fierce competition to win influence over, the official, speaking on condition of anonymity claimed:
"It’s an effort to bring a lot of Gulf states together to demonstrate resolve and readiness to act against proliferation."
"Reports say the U.S.-led naval exercises based near Bahrain will practise intercepting and searching ships carrying weapons of mass destruction and missiles.
Iran's official news agency IRNA quoted an unnamed foreign ministry official as describing the military manoeuvres as dangerous and suspicious. The Iranian foreign ministry official said the U.S.-led exercises were not in line with the security and stability of the region. Instead, they are aimed at fomenting crises, he said." (quoted in BBC, 23 October 2006)
But some analysts reject the idea that the U.S. plans for another war while its army is struggling in Iraq after the situation there worsened beyond the Bush administration and its war allies’ expectations.
The Proliferation Security Initiative is a global initiative, launched in 2003 under President George W. Bush with the aim of stopping shipments of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), includes a group of countries willing to share intelligence information to combat proliferation of WMD, including through military exercises.
North Korea has already announced having nuclear weapons capability, but Iran rejects the United States and other major powers’ accusations that its developing a nuclear weapons program, insisting its nuclear program is solely aimed at peaceful purposes, including power generation.
Well said.
Like the proverbial question about where the 800 pound gorilla sits....Anywhere he damned pleases.
What are the four U.S. Carriers doing in the Gulf?
Dessert Storm was indeed a rout. But it was not a WAR won by the total defeat of the enemy with an unconditional surrender.
Dessert Storm ended with a CEASE FIRE, not an unconditional surrender..
The devil is in the details -- and FACTS...
Semper Fi
Watched it on the local news. The sight was extremely impressive.
'specially when Air Force One can be refueled in flight.
Screw em...
Most of the "keyboard warriors" and "Bush Worshipers" in the forum wouldn't recognize a leader if one bit them in the ass.
A "leader" wouldn't stand by while our warriors are used for target practice by an enemy granted sanctuary in neighboring nations who support the enemy and give MAJOR support which contributed to the death of OUR warriors - and NOT deliver a case of kick ass to the sonsuvbitches on THEIR territory..
I haven't read of any smoke or rubble in Syrian, Pakistani or Iranian cities -- have you?
A "leader" would have ordered the "termination with extreme prejudice" of ALL militant "clerics" like Fat Sadr and his shiitehead thugs.. The fact they haven't been fed to the worms, conviced me we had NO PLAN to rid the area of the REAL threat -- ISLAMIC LUNATICS.
Iraq is on the fast track to make Vietnam look like a victory -- unless America begins to fight this as a war for our SURVIVAL, giving NO REGARD to how many of the enemy must be killed to force them back into their TURD World stupor...
A military hammer is useless and no deterrent if it doesn't drive the nails under the surface. Our enemy will NOT hesitate to use ANY weapon available...
Semper Fi
That's for The President of the United States to know, and for Ahmanutjob to worry about.
And of course they are loaded to the gunnels (they do have gunnels, don't they? :) ) with United States Marines and their "toys"
Cue the tiny violins.
I'll cry them a great big crocodile tear.
"Uh, why are we still there then?"
We are not. The war in Kuwait ended in 1991.
"Japan attacked us on December 7th, 1941....Pearl Harbor? USS Arizona?"
Since when is Pearl Harbor international waters?
Since when is an attack by a foreign country peace time?
I suppose somebody has already posted this, but here goes anyway (I'm like Laz, proudly posting without reading the thread since...).
What are the four U.S. Carriers doing in the Gulf?
Anything they want to?
5.56mm
Our uniformed military wouldn't. The information came via a leak from the five sided funny farm, reported by Bill Gertz, who is generally pretty good, and pretty accurate. Might have been deliberate misinformation.
Or the SSK might have sneaked up on batteries. Does seem unlikely though.
I can't even calculate how much useful stuff I learn at FR day after day. Thanks for posting that Torpark link.
Right on all three counts. It's an old picture.
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