U.S. Navy Shows Force in Persian Gulf

[seaglass]

Source: NY Times

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- The U.S. Navy on Tuesday began its largest demonstration of force in the Persian Gulf since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, led by a pair of aircraft carriers and backed by warplanes flying simulated attack maneuvers off the coast of Iran.

The maneuvers bring together two strike groups of U.S. warships and more than 100 U.S. warplanes to conduct simulated air warfare in the crowded Gulf shipping lanes.

snip

Overall, the exercises involve more than 10,000 U.S. personnel on warships and aircraft making simulated attacks on enemy shipping with aircraft and ships, hunting enemy submarines and finding mines.

''What it should be seen as by Iran or anyone else is that it's for regional stability and security,'' Aandahl said. ''These ships are just another demonstration of that. If there's a destabilizing effect, it's Iran's behavior.''



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Gulf-US-Maneuvers.html?hp

[MADem]

1. Well, if we actually get into the"coming shooting war with Iran"

as I heard some talking head bloviate the other day, that will take everyone's mind off of Alberto, now, won't it?

[seaglass]

2. Yes. This exercise I think is extremely provocative.

I know that's an understatement but the BA cannot be gone soon enough for me, they really are crazy.

[peacetalksforall]

13. "Can the country support a war with another country?" That's the

way an MSNBC bimbo asked the question in reoporting the extension / recall of Marines.

No where does anyone ask why Iranians captured 15 British Navy men from their 141' long ship by Iranians on their 8' boat?

Everything that comes out of corporate entertaining news networks is complicit.

Anyone who thinks that entertaining news networks in this country are reporting barbarian war mongering and torturing by this country responsibly is nuts. The media is complicit and should stand alongside Rumsfeld at the coming tribunal in Euroope.

We are doomed by the war manipulators who own us through tv.

General Electric
Microsoft
Time-Warner
Murdoch empire
Disney
Viacom
and many more

[MADem]

19. I know the Shatt-al-Arab. And if you look at wars between Iran and Iraq over the

eons, they always start with some gripe over WHERE the line is. Is it down the middle, is it just off one bank or the other, or is it something else entirely? Neither country agrees. Each insists their little line is the right one.

The Iranians need to let these guys go. They're fucking with the wrong crew. And they could end up mixing it up with us, when all they really want to do is generate some "good" local press and wave the sabre with this capture. The economy is so shitty, inflation rampant, public services threadbare, that they need a rallying point to inspire nationalism. Hell, how pathetic is it that the country now has so little refining capability that they have to import almost half the gas they use? There are people over there who miss the old five rial gasoline under the Shah...especially when the new Morality Police are the same as the old SAVAKH, except the latter didn't care what you wore on the street or who you held hands with.

The fact that the cheering isn't universal suggests that the people aren't buying this whole business, and fear that their 'fearless leader' might take it a smidge too far and fuck them all. They'd better not stall too long, BushCo is CRAZY, and they'll end up with a bombed nuke plant to help BushCo make their point.

[Zhade]

29. Um, they'd first have to have a nuke plant to bomb.

Where's the credible evidence they have any such plants?

[Raven]

3. This is not good, really not good.

I just dusted off my tin foil hat and wondered...convenient we had those war ships in the area when the Brits were taken...it isn't possible that George and Tony planned this, is it? IS IT???

[seaglass]

5. It is so convenient, isn't it? I am so friggin sick of this macho

game playing that is so deadly serious for the rest of us.

[Sirveri]

34. We ALWAYS have a warship in the gulf.

There is always a aircraft carrier sitting around the gulf somewhere at all times, so yeah, it's probably convenient.

[MemphisTiger]

4. This is done all the time something like this happens...

We know it and they know it so nothing will happen. It's a chest puffing contest right now, nothing more.

[seaglass]

6. That may very well be the case. To me it's macho posturing and

I'm sick of it - it is so juvenile.

[MemphisTiger]

10. Welcome to international politics

[seaglass]

11. Isn't it funny how international politics is just like boys in a

schoolyard.:grr:

[peacetalksforall]

14. The boys with their toys syndrome is real. No one is more juvenile

than Cheney. Juveniles make fortunes from war.

[Roland99]

23. "The Walls Came Down" - The Call

Well they blew the horns
And the walls came down
Theyd all been warned
And the walls came down
They juststood there laughing
Theyre not laughing anymore
The walls came down
Sanctuary fades
Congregation splits
Nightly military raids
The congregation splits
Its a song of assassins
Ringin in your ears
We got terrorist thinking
Playing on fears
Well they blew the horns
And the walls came down
Theyd all been warned
But the walls came down
I dot think there are any russians
And there aint no yanks
Just corporate criminals
Playin with tanks

[peacetalksforall]

25. Very good - thanks. Is it yours? With music? If yes, consider

sending to Democracy Now? They probably don't have staff to communicate. Just an idea.

[Roland99]

26. It's from The Call (an 80s band)

:)

[fooj]

27. I'll be humming this tune all day...

The Call...seems like a lifetime ago.

[Roland99]

28. Yet the words still ring true today. Wow, how far we've come, eh?

:(

[Centered]

16. it's all crazy

I've seen some pretty vicious girls in the school yard too though...

[Maggie_May]

7. Just woke up to read this

I started crying. I just could not take another war. Tell me please that this is just a scare tactic.

[acmavm]

8. This is an act of desperation by a bunch of thugs backed into

a friggin' corner by their own corruption (the bush** admin as if you couldn't figure that out). But their little gambit designed to take the focus off the losing wars in Afganistan and Iraq is their biggest f**k up yet. This ain't a sanctions-weary nation that they're messing with. This is a country that can (and will) fight back. And it ain't going to be pretty.

If the criminals in Washington thought Iraq would be a cake-walk, what the hell can they be thinking now?

[CrispyQ]

9. From one of my favorite characters in "Hunt for Red October"

Jeffrey Pelt: It would be well for your government to consider that having your ships and ours, your aircraft and ours, in such proximity... is inherently DANGEROUS. Wars have begun that way, Mr. Ambassador.

[global1]

12. Check Out The Following Links To Previous DU Threads Re: Impending Attack.....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3183621 - Russian Prediction Of Iran Attack By US

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2782768 - UAE Will Not Be Used In Any Attack

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x512065 - Iran Warns US Against Launching Attack

[endarkenment]

15. "simulated attacks on enemy shipping "

''What it should be seen as by Iran or anyone else is that it's for regional stability and security,''

Oh bullshit. This is just gunboat diplomacy. Fear! Obey! Submit!

[LynnTheDem]

17. Imagine if China or Iran were to do a "show of force".

Nooo, only America is allowed to threaten (terrorize) other nations and their peoples with war.

Only America is allowed to wage illegal wars of aggression (exactly like Hitler did).

And the really shocking thing is how many Americans still wonder "why do they hate us".

[armodem08]

22. exactly. imagine China or Russia had carriers off of our coast.

How long do you think * would wait before he nuked them? This is an act of outright provocation. Doesn't the UN Charter accept a situation like this as grounds for self-defensive action?

[Big Pappa]

39. China

does this all the time off the coast of Taiwan.

[Roland99]

18. Warmongerers making up for their small intellects (and small penises)

[uppityperson]

20. They don't even have to be small, just perceived as such by the bearer

Not speaking of intellect.

[Roland99]

21. Oh, I don't think there's any perception aspect to it. I think it's quite real

:)

[moodforaday]

24. Blood-boiling arrogance

Here's a bit from the BBC:

BBC NEWS | Europe | US Navy starts war games in Gulf

(...)
US Navy Commander Kevin Aandahl, based with the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, across the Gulf from Iran, said: "What it should be seen as by Iran or anyone else is that it's for regional stability and security.

"These ships are just another demonstration of that. If there's a destabilising effect, it's Iran's behaviour."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6499605.stm

Just this one little quote is so unbelieveably arrogant!

[daleo]

35. It sounds like imperial Germany in 1914

"That troop mobilization is just for regional stability, and if there's a destabalizing effect, it's France's behaviour."

[Amonester]

37. Good find!

Funny (well, not Really...) how much History repeats itself over and over... I mean, when the $tupid$ in charge never care - nor ever cared - to really study it.

[sakabatou]

30. At least saber-rattling...

But at most, what is this?

[MasonJar]

31. Maybe Bush should read a little history, with special emphasis on

Xerxes and the Spanish Armada.

[Megahurtz]

32. So THIS is Their Idea of ReDeployment???

:nuke:

[IndianaGreen]

33. More of Bush's ridiculous "My dick is bigger than yours" posturing

No one is impressed anymore about America's military might. It causes more harm to American interests than anything else.

[bamacrat]

36. Thats it use up all that expensive fuel, and wear out our planes so we will suck at war yet again.

This might backfire on us ala Iraq.

[Eugene]

38. Iran monitoring US exercises closely, unconcerned-TV

Source: Reuters

Iran monitoring US exercises closely, unconcerned-TV
28 Mar 2007 08:33:30 GMT
Source: Reuters

-snip-

TEHRAN, March 28 (Reuters) - Iranian state television said
on Wednesday Iran was not concerned about U.S. naval
exercises in the Gulf but was monitoring them closely.

A scrolling headline in English said: "Iran: 'no concern about
Pentagon's war games in the Persian Gulf ... Tehran monitors
(the U.S.) war games closely ... '".

It was not clear whether the television was quoting an Iranian
official or a statement. Officials were not immediately available
for comment.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L28597373.htm

[HuffleClaw]

40. translation: PRACTICE

they aren't fooling anyone. what will be funny (yet horribly tragic) is that when they DO attack they'll pretend it was NEVER planned, that they merely were reacting to events and whatnot.