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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Iranian Navy Exposes a US Navy Weakness
2011-02-17
Opinion Piece from Galrahn of Information Dissemination.

There are two ships heading for Syria from Iran. One is the second rate 1500 Ton POS corvette Alrand and the 33,000 Ton supply ship Kharg, which may be a concern for what it could be carrying.

One point of this piece is that by sailing this duo on this route, the Iranian MMs have pushed the cost of crude up 1.8% or $0.67/bbl.

In the piece, Galrahn discuss what to do about them.

RTWT.
Posted by:Alaska Paul

#10  Can't eat sand we need to drill.
Posted by: anonymous2u   2011-02-17 19:24  

#9  Hope somebody has eyes on other potential Iranian-Syrian-Hezbollah supply chains, because this reeks of hey!-look-at-me! diversion tactics.
Posted by: Mitch H.   2011-02-17 16:36  

#8  I am really surprised the "Somali Pirates" didn't attack these ships. Happens all the time ;-)
Posted by: Cyber Sarge    2011-02-17 15:28  

#7  It doesn't matter if they are all third rate now (and likely to blow up at any point).

Or even, according to some analysts, vapourware. Because vapour is something a great many people in that part of the world believe in more firmly than hardware and software.

Agreed, Alaska Paul. Muqata raises an important point.
Posted by: trailing wife   2011-02-17 12:27  

#6  Interesting views over at the Muqata blog:

4:46 PM Iran denies it canceled request to cross Suez. Says transit plan is still on.

UPDATE: Iran cancels request for Naval ships to cross Suez.
No explanation given for the cancellation.


The big talk in Israel (besides the incredible 7.8% growth of IsraelÂ’s GDP last quarter) are the Iranian warships coming down the Suez Canal and traveling to Syria to spend a year docked in their port.

TheyÂ’re not really very impressive warships from what I hear (a supply ship and a converted frigate).

But attacking Israel with them is hardly the point.

TheyÂ’re not even trying to demonstrate a quid pro quo after Israel sent a submarine (allegedly nuclear armed) through the Suez and towards Iranian waters last year.

Perhaps at best they have a secondary mission of getting some arms to the Palestinian (Hamas) terrorists in Gaza.

And I guess one could reasonably worry theyÂ’ve got a dirty bomb on board.

But, I think itÂ’s about something else entirely.

A few days ago these same Iranian ships docked in Saudi Arabia. Now they are on their way to Syria (and Lebanon).

This isn’t an Iranian show of Power – how strong their fleet is.

This is an Iranian show of Influence.

This is about how long their tentacles are growing, how influential their country is becoming, and what countries the US might soon be losing.

This “flotilla” is a message to the US that Iran views itself as a waxing global superpower untouchable by waning US influence.

Iran will have nuclear weapons, satellites, ICBMs, naval fleets, and military industries. It doesnÂ’t matter if they are all third rate now (and likely to blow up at any point). Their point is that they are on the rise and the US canÂ’t do anything about that.

In terms of global perceptions, Saudi Arabia is more likely to align now with Iran in the long term – despite the comments on Wikileaks – because Iran’s sphere of influence is growing and replacing America’s wishy-washy, unreliable alliance.

There are other messages in these ships, not all to Israel or the US either. Because thatÂ’s what these ships are about, not an attack, just a warning shot over the bow.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2011-02-17 11:17  

#5  I don't see a weakness in the U.S. Navy but a weakness in the present administration.
Posted by: JohnQC   2011-02-17 10:50  

#4  Submarines will work nicely too, in a pinch.
Posted by: Mike   2011-02-17 10:36  

#3  Mines are easy to place covertly, anonymous and quite capable of destroying a ship. Just sayin...
Posted by: No I am The Other Beldar   2011-02-17 10:13  

#2  Galrahn nails it: it's what the Kharg is delivering to Syria for trans-shipment to the Hezbies. As a naval ship Kharg won't be searched by port authorities, nor by Suez authorities. The Alrand is just there as 'escort', though as Galrahn notes, she's a lousy ship for that.

Galrahn thinks our response should be PR: get photos of an Arleigh Burke class destroyer alongside of the Alrand just to illustrate who's got the strong horse and who doesn't.

Well yes, that might help.

I think my response would be a little more active. And a lot more nefarious.
Posted by: Steve White   2011-02-17 09:07  

#1  It's not the navy's fault that American People keep electing idiots.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2011-02-17 04:09  

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