A Navy task group is headed toward Iranian waters...

[BrewAz]

This is not a good sign. I know Karl Rove has promised an October surprise...but going after Iran? It just raises a lot of questions...and a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach....

Will the congress approve such a move? or are we still under this idea that Bush does not need congressional approval? Will the UN approve such a move or be helpless to stop it?

The November elections are 3 weeks away, are the Repubs so scared because of their own incompetence that they will try it just to get votes?? The unfortunate part is I believe that they will do just about anything at this point....

BrewAz

[leftchick]

1. It used to be called the Persian Gulf

what is it called now?

[Xipe Totec]

2. It's called Not North Korea n/t

[Igel]

12. Are Iranian waters adjacent to Oman in the Persian Gulf?

I dunno, and the maps I have aren't that explicit or clear.

I've seen it called the Arabian Gulf. Rarely. Persia hates the idea, but it's apparently common in Modern Standard Arabic. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Gulf_naming_disput... probably is close enough to accurate.

[BrewAz]

13. Iran touches a number of bodies of water...

From the border with Pakistan, Iran touches the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman. Going further W - NW (towards Iraq) you move through the Straits of Hormuz to reach the Persian Gulf.

BrewAz

[Igel]

14. Gulf of Oman would be it, then.

Tx.

[and-justice-for-all]

3. They departed on the 1st of October. nt

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. US Navy in the Persian Gulf?!

ZOMG, this is HUGH!!!1!

[NMDemDist2]

5. they sent one our last week to the Persian gulf too. I'm wondering if

the one last week is being diverted to the South China Sea to show some force in North Korea and the latest group is taking their place

I forget which group it was last week, the Enterprise? perhaps??

[magellan]

11. The Enterprise is on station in the Arabian Sea. (nt)

[pinto]

6. To be realistic, I'd bet there is always a navy task force in

the region: Persian Gulf, Straits of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

7. Iran has its own version of the supercruise anti ship missile.

Iran has hardened bunkers for its armor and airforce.
Iran has an educated population, that, no matter how they dislike their leadership, will hate any invading force even more.
Iran has fought a war, with 1,000,000 casualties, and will not hesitate to lose that many against the US.
Iran has a proud history, a long-standing culture, and a great deal of self-respect. We have George.
Iran has weapons, training, knowledge and the benefit of seeing what just happened next door, and what works and what does not. We have Rummie.
Iran has looked at Iraq in the 80s, 90s and 00s and sees how to hide its assets. We have Condi.

Guess what will be much harder than than IraqNam.

[yourout]

8. "Will the congress approve such a move?"....

Thats a good one. If the decider decides he is protecting freedom then thats that.


If he does...it might actually result in a rebellion in both the Military and the Congress.

[TheWraith]

9. This happens on a regular basis.

And I'm not just referring to the "OMG THEY'RE GOING TO ATTACK IRAN!!11!" threads. Navy carrier groups routinely go all over the place, usually to areas of instability like the South China Sea, the Persian Gulf, and elsewhere. It doesn't mean anything, nor do the endless threads of "A really serious in the know trustworthy military source forwarded me an email claiming that they're going to attack Iran in a couple of weeks, but he wants to circulate his information via internet rumors and chain letters rather than going to the media. Pass it on."

[BrewAz]

10. This is not a "sky is falling" issue for me....

As a retired Navy flier, I am aware of deployments, replenishments and the cycle of on station duty.

For me this is an issue of: Given all that has been said, all of the UN debates and the administrations position on Iran, the recent Israeli conflict in Lebanon, the Republican congress mis steps and political backlash and the Rove promise of an October surprise....Is this it? IS this the last thing the power hungry Repubs can do to shore up the base?

I am just hoping not....

BrewAz