Article

2007-02-20 Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Backed by a strike group with more than 6,500 sailors and marines as well as additional minesweeping ships, the Stennis joins the carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in line with President Bushs orders for the build-up as a show of strength to Iran.

Top US Navy commander in the Middle East Vice Adm. Patrick Walsh said Iran had brought its war games over the past year into the busy shipping lanes in the Straits of Hormuz, through which two-fifths of the worlds oil supplies pass.

The moves have alarmed US officials about possible accidental confrontations that could boil over into war. During maneuvers, Iranian sailors have loaded mines onto small mine-laying boats and test-fired a Shahab-3 missile into international waters, said the US vice admiral, very close to the straits.

Posted by Anonymoose 2007-02-20 16:46|| || Front Page|| [11142 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Well, the ball is in Iran's court. There would be no confrontations by Iran that would be accidental. We are talking about 40% of the world's oil supply. This is big time stuff with big time stakes. There is enough firepower in two US carrier groups to send the MMs down the well into hell. This isn't Hizb'Allah and a missile firing on an Israeli ship off the coast of Lebanon.

Like I said, ball is in Iran's court. Do they feel lucky today. They better think this over.

Posted by Alaska Paul">Alaska Paul 2007-02-20 17:08|| 2007-02-20 17:08|| Front Page Top

#2 The ball is in Iran's court . . .

"Stennis, anyone?"

[ducks]

Posted by Mike 2007-02-20 17:15|| 2007-02-20 17:15|| Front Page Top

#3 Mike -- after enduring a day with a working co-hart in a foul mood (who knows why) I just LOL when I read that!

Thanks -- I love Rantburg!

Posted by Sherry 2007-02-20 17:23|| 2007-02-20 17:23|| Front Page Top

#4 LOL.

I think the MMs are nervous and they believe that the anti-war LLL and the Dems will keep this from happening.

Posted by DarthVader">DarthVader 2007-02-20 17:27|| 2007-02-20 17:27|| Front Page Top

#5 Halp us, Jon Kary! The satanic Americans are going to kick our islamo-heinies.

Posted by SteveS 2007-02-20 17:37|| 2007-02-20 17:37|| Front Page Top

#6 The Great Satan is powerful but very, very stupid (look at them treating these Arab dogs as if they were people). Allah's will shall prevail!

Posted by MM 2007-02-20 18:05|| 2007-02-20 18:05|| Front Page Top

#7 I hope the Stennis brought a large number of minesweepers with it. But no, let me guess, as soon as any conflict starts, the USN is greatly surprised to find itself critically short of mine countermeasures.

Posted by gromky 2007-02-20 18:19|| 2007-02-20 18:19|| Front Page Top

#8 We can but hope that twice as much planning has gone into what to do with Iran *after* it has seven bells kicked out of it. We sure as hell don't want a situation like we had in Iraq for a decade after Gulf War I.

Unless it's a democrat president, that is. Having our military idle during one of those presidencies is the best you can hope for. Sucker would probably order them to surrender.

Posted by Anonymoose 2007-02-20 18:30|| 2007-02-20 18:30|| Front Page Top

#9 Grom: not only short on surface minesweeeping assets, but the MH-53D's of yore have been retired with, I believe, no effective replacements. They could tow a sled along at a pretty good clip and clear a lot of ocean. I do not think the -53E's have been rigged for this mission. If anybody knows otherwise, please update me, thanks.

Posted by USN, ret. 2007-02-20 22:45|| 2007-02-20 22:45|| Front Page Top

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