U.S. Persian Gulf forces cautioned on Iran

[struggle4progress]

Source: CNN

By Barbara Starr
CNN Pentagon Correspondent

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. military commanders in the Middle East were sent a message reminding American forces to maintain discipline and prudence if they encounter any Iranian military forces during potential unrest surrounding Iran's presidential election, CNN has learned.

This so far is the only acknowledged U.S. military reaction to the unfolding situation in Iran.

Two U.S. defense officials with direct knowledge of the highly classified message confirmed the details to CNN but said the issue is so sensitive that they could not divulge whose signature was on the message. It was distributed via secure communications in recent days. The officials talked with CNN on condition they not be identified.

Both underscored that the message is not an indication U.S. forces are at any higher state of alert. However, the U.S. military is extremely concerned, they said, that given unrest in Iran, any encounter between U.S. and Iranian units could inadvertently escalate ...

Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/13/us.military.iran/

[tocqueville]

1. I hope Sarkozy sends reinforcements to our base in Dubai

the 150 kt version should be sufficient

[shadowknows69]

2. Sufficient for what? Starting WWIII?

Because about the stupidest thing we could do right now is get militarily involved in what may become an Iranian Civil War; And I think Tehran has closer fish to fry right now then to think about haphazardly attacking us or Israel.

[SkyDaddy7]

3. I think the caution is due to...

Iran feeling as if we are going to actually jump in the fight, and after dealing with 8yrs of Cheney/Bush who could blame them...Call me an Obama Kool-Aid drinker but I seriously doubt Obama is that stupid. Now, if Cheney/Bush were still in the White House I would be extremely worried.

[shadowknows69]

4. I know Obama isn't anywhere near that stupid.

But you're right. With Bush, the bombs would probably already be dropping on the protesters in order to "liberate" them.

[tocqueville]

6. This election is Obama's first international policy defeat

the US administration thought that the Cairo speech would do wonders. But it's not by appeasing hijab-tooters and quoting the Coran that you win anything. The electios in Lebanon were seen as a victory by the US but in reality the Hezbollah kept all its seats and lost majority only because the Christians (specially due to Aouns stupidity) sided with the Sunnis.

The modern Arab world is now very worried about Iran's nuclear ambitions and warmongering. And if they have to choose between the mollahs and the West, they won't side with the mollahs, that's for sure.

[SkyDaddy7]

7. Policy Defeat?

What policy was defeated? And how could a fixed election defeat what Obama's message to the Muslim world?

[tocqueville]

10. It's obvious....

the Obama's Cairo "overture" was defeated by Ayatollah Khameini, who doesn't give a shit about Obama "reaching to Muslims". It didn't work in Lebanon and didn't work in Iran. The fact that the election was rigged is unimportant, it could have been rigged towards Mousavi, if the mollah's had decided so.

[SkyDaddy7]

12. So, you are saying...

Obama's idea of reaching out to the Muslim World is a failure? Not that I am saying you agree with the Republican Mitt Romney, however, on the Sunday morning news shows Romney was saying the exact same thing you are. However, the argument was made that Obama's speech was a success in Lebanon and the sudden outpouring for reformist Mousavi in Iran had a lot to do with Obama reaching out and the Iranian people wanting someone who will work with the West.

I can't help but find your idea to be very ODD...I never heard Obama say the point of his speech was to prevent Hezbollah from taking power in Lebanon and preventing them from winning any seats whatsoever...Nor did I hear Obama say his speech was focused on defeating Ahmadinejad in the up coming election? So, if these were not pre-planned objectives Obama intended on achieving through his speech to the Muslim World then how could anyone say Obama failed at anything?

The speech was meant to be a new beginning between America and the Muslim World. It was never meant to all of a sudden defeat all opposing parties in the middle east. To even suggest Obama failed in reaching out to the Muslim World is absurd.

[tocqueville]

15. the idea of reaching out to the Muslim world

isn't wrong in itself. It's the way he did it. He pandered to the conservative forces by talking about religion, instead of pandering to progressive forces (which are not the ones that another religious wacko like Romney has in mind). His message was a huge disappointment among French muslims, specially women (I bet that his approval rating there fell with 90%). Algerian secularists were enraged.

Obama's speech was maybe a "success" in Lebanon in that the Hezbollah kept ALL their seats. That the new government is more "pro-american" depends on local Christian configurations and not about the speech, despite all the wishful thinking of some. Regarding Iran the groups that want to live as westerners are already convinced and Obama's speech peripheral. The first thing that Iranian women do when they come to the west is to throw away the hijab and burn it, so hearing a voice saying that "he'll go to justice to preserve their freedom of religion" must have sounded totally outlandish...

The idea was that if Obama "reaches out" to "moderate Islam" the masses will have a tendency to isolate the extremists. Of course nobody expected a "sudden victory" but expectations rose regarding the two recent elections. Of course Obama couldn't explicitely name parties of leaders in his speech, but the intentions were clear and results expected.

The cardinal mistake Obama is making is not understanding that "moderate Islam" is a red herring. There is either a religious traditional Islam or a nascent secular "Enlightment Islam" and it's that one that must backed and that the broad muslim masses secretely long for. There is nothing in between. Either the Church and the State are separated, or they are not. A thing that the US hasn't been understanding for centuries in its own country, so one can imagine the results when they try to apply it to others...

[SkyDaddy7]

18. I respect your opinion but I disagree...

The speech had nothing to do with trying to sway the two recent elections. The speech had everything to do with a new beginning to a long term strategy of positive American influence rather than the idiotic Bush approach. Obama's message was not aimed at the Conservative Voices of Islam, it was aimed at Religious Freedoms...He specifically said that a women should have the choice as to how she dresses and that is not the stance of Conservative Islam.

I agree with you 100% on our failure as Americans when it comes to a high and tight wall between church & state...However, I think that further shows that the struggle to keep religious influence out of the state is an ongoing problem that simply can't be corrected overnight in any country. Obama's strategy is baby steps and long term...Maybe some expected or had the ideas you expressed that the speech was geared to influence these two elections but I do not think for a minute that was Obama's goal. The Iranians I have spoken to say they want to have a peaceful relationship with the west, especially America...And the speech was music to their ears since the Ahmadinejad regime is trying to convince Iranians America simply wants war with Iran. Under Bush the Iranians were united and now that spirit of "Nationalism" is breaking down. Ahmadinejad uses the same approach in Iran that Bush & the GOP use here, FEAR! Obama's Speech and outreach to the Islamic World is undercutting Ahmadinejad's campaign of FEAR. According to those Iranians I have spoken with Obama's outreach to Iran before his Cairo speech and the speech itself have played a big role in motivating the moderate voices in Iran for democratic reform.

As far as your claim that the speech angered French Muslims & Algerian secularist I have read nothing about it so I am not in a position to comment on it. However, I know that was not Obama's target audience.

Obama's strategy is long term and I really think it has already had way more positive results than negative. The true answers will come out in time and I honestly think that was Obama's point in the first place. He was simply laying the ground work for a much different relationship as he has enormous problems in the Islamic World to deal with.

You can call it a failure, but I think it is simply the very beginning of a new long term strategy to build a positive relationship with greater Islamic World that could pay off huge down the road. We will see?

Oh yeah, not that it means all that much but Netenyahu mention a two state solution for the very first time...Although his terms were ridiculous this is a very small step in the correct direction.

[ohio2007]

9. Iran is not going through a bout of civil war but rather , a clash of class warfare

I'm sure the mullahs are sufficiently entrenched to quash the current event.


Future unrest will be blamed on "western spy's" and result in public hangings...to remind the peasantry the theocracy has their best interests in mind...

?

wonder what kind of spike in price this will cause at the gas pump this week ?

[tocqueville]

11. there is no civil war

because one side has no weapons. The rioters are quite amateurish compared to the professional European ones and no match for the Iranian sissy cops. But it's better that it is this way, because if the police was really threatened, the Pasdaran wouldn't hesitate to open fire. Those guys executed 30000 political prisoners in some days under the leadership of former Ayatollah Khomeini. And his follower the current Ayatollah Khameini had his younger brother nearly beaten to death because he dared criticize him.

You can't talk to those guys. If you don't want to confront them openly, then you have to contain them until the system collapses. There is a base now among the ones that supported Mousavi. Those will take to weapons tomorrow, if we provide some of course.
It's a better solution than now unevitable Israeli strikes that will piss off everybody. That's why the Allies should flex their muscles in the Gulf and sink some Pasdaran patrol boats to cool them off. Today they think we don't dare, and they'll keep escalating.

[ohio2007]

14. Guess what you are saying then is that there is no "civil war" for them because

they have omitted a second amendment right of 'the people' .....to chop down the tree every now and then.Well, lets not go there for the sake of arguement.

btw
define "we" ;

There is a base now among the ones that supported Mousavi. Those will take to weapons tomorrow, if we provide some of course.

But as stated many times on this board, "we" don't have the right to impose "our clandestine will" or otherwise on others that hold basic fundamental rights by the balls..... with a clenched fist;

Ahmadinejad: Iranian nation, like a big river, will "wash away" straws

Tehran, June 14, IRNA – Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the Iranian nation like a big river will wash away straws and will not allow them to "show off".

http://www.irna.ir/En/View/FullStory/?NewsId=546737&idLanguage=3

Those 'fundies' have solidified their powers when they made sure the presidents private army understood they subservient to their own private guard. I recall an incident many many many years ago where a plane crashed that was carrying the Iranian presidents personal guard. So ended any rumored threats of a coup from that branch of govt.

You can't talk to those guys. If you don't want to confront them openly, then you have to contain them until the system collapses.

They have an ace or two the world is aware of and may be in the process of attempting to stop.


http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.f2acd17e4d1a4dffa33ba0d23e5b9c74.1f1&show_article=1
could be unrelated but their is a desperation and sense of urgency in these current events playing out for the return of their alleged 'mahdi'
scheduled to emerge from some pit in the earth.






Whatever course of action are taken internally in Iran over the summer,

We need to extend to them our assurances that a common enemy is being fought in the tri border areas of Iran,Pakistan and Afghanistan that is killing and poisonining Iranians living in the desparation situation as it is.

[tocqueville]

16. oh yes we have the right

"we" don't have the right to impose "our clandestine will" or otherwise...

this Iranian regime breaks international law and threatens us in different ways and has attacked us (including US allies) before through terrorism and even militarily and will do so so in the future.

we have all the right in the world to fuck with them to defend ourselves :

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said on Sunday that "brutal" repression of Ahmadinejad's opponents was closing the door to dialogue within Iran and warned that confrontation would be counterproductive.

"Brutality and never-ending military development will not bring any solutions," Kouchner said after meeting U.S. special envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell in Paris.

"If we cannot start a dialogue on this sort of a basis then we will head into an extremely dangerous situation," he told France's Europe 1 radio.

"If Iran gets the nuclear bomb coupled with an aggressive political stance, then there is naturally the risk of a confrontation with those who feel threatened," he said, in apparent reference to Israel.

http://www.iranfocus.com/en/iran-general-/iran-situation-not-good-news-french-official-17985.html

"We need to extend to them our assurances that a common enemy is being fought"

"Al Quaeda/Talibans" is no threat to Iran today. In a way they are helping Iran by bogging down NATO.

[ohio2007]

17. Sounds like you follow the verse of the previous US president and lockstep with

the Axis of evil *doctrine.
;)

review;

this Iranian regime breaks international law and threatens us in different ways and has attacked us (including US allies) before through terrorism and even militarily and will do so so in the future.

we have all the right in the world to fuck with them to defend ourselves :

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said on Sunday that "brutal" repression of Ahmadinejad's opponents was closing the door to dialogue within Iran and warned that confrontation would be counterproductive.

"Brutality and never-ending military development will not bring any solutions," Kouchner said after meeting U.S. special envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell in Paris.

"If we cannot start a dialogue on this sort of a basis then we will head into an extremely dangerous situation," he told France's Europe 1 radio.

"If Iran gets the nuclear bomb coupled with an aggressive political stance, then there is naturally the risk of a confrontation with those who feel threatened," he said, in apparent reference to Israel.

"The will of the people is the only legitimate foundation of any government, and to protect its free expression should be our first object."
-Thomas Jefferson


"Bring it on"
-"W"

AQ and Taliban run the drug trade that gets its funding through Iranian addicts.

I believe Barack first said:
"We need to extend to them our assurances that a common enemy is being fought"


Of course, some folks here insist the CIA is behind and protecting the poppy farmers annual harvests so if you want to harm Iran

It's time to flood the Iranian market with cheap heroin. Seems the CIA is just waiting for BHO to sign off on operation counter coup d'état
:sarcasm:

[hack89]

13. Or that Iran does a Falklands and provoke a war to distract it's population. nt

[tocqueville]

5. WWIII with who ?

The only thing those guys understand is muscles. Everybody is against them except Chavez of course. So let's contain Mahmoud before he attacks somebody.

[ohio2007]

8. oh yeah... It's June invasion season once again

US to invade Iran any day now ?
September, 2008
http://www.russiatoday.com/Top_News/2008-09-12/US_to_invade_Iran_any_day_now.html?gclid=CMT9qb37iZsCFSMeDQodJV4wpA



getting them wrong for five years now
:sarcasm: