Iran Threatens To Close Strait of Hormuz

[headhuntersix]

Iran's navy chief warned Wednesday that his country can easily close the strategic Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, the passageway through which a sixth of the world's oil flows.
 It was the second such warning in two days. On Tuesday, Vice President Mohamed Reza Rahimi threatened to close the strait, cutting off oil exports, if the West imposes sanctions on Iran's oil shipments.

In response, the Bahrain-based U.S. 5th Fleet's spokeswoman warned that any disruption "will not be tolerated." The spokeswoman, Lt. Rebecca Rebarich, said the U.S. Navy is "always ready to counter malevolent actions to ensure freedom of navigation."


This from Ace of Spades blog.....

often think that conservatives make too big a deal out of strategic clarity. Sometimes (sometimes) clarity isn't such a great thing.

That said, clarity is often the best policy.

Obama has presented himself to the world for three years as a weak man embarrassed and ashamed of America's might, chiefly obsessed with making apologies and insulting old (colonialist) allies, and who flinches from the hard way.

He's been clear on his policy of appeasement towards Iran, which emboldens Iran, and which may cause them to think they really can block traffic in the Strait with impunity.

There is one snag in that chain of reasoning: It's an election year, and Obama is as a weak in the polls as he is in world leadership.

We may wind up exchanging shots precisely because Obama has presented himself as so craven, and now reaches for the military option out of a different sort of craveneness.

This could all just be saber-rattling, and Obama's own rattled saber might induce the Iranians to but their own saber away.

But many times wars erupt due to miscalculation, don't they? Miscalculations about the enemies' capabilities, intentions, and likely responses to provocations.

Do the Iranians understand it's an election year and Obama desperately needs some kind of accomplishment to add to his pile of one?
But I do know what "peace through strength" means. It doesn't just mean winning fights -- that would be a "victory at war through strength." Peace through strength means would-be enemies do not doubt your mettle or your will to carry your national interests forward, so they don't test that mettle.

It's not just the fights you win. It's the fights you win because no one attempts to fight you at all

[howardroark]

Iran's navy chief warned Wednesday that his country can easily close the strategic Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, the passageway through which a sixth of the world's oil flows.
 It was the second such warning in two days. On Tuesday, Vice President Mohamed Reza Rahimi threatened to close the strait, cutting off oil exports, if the West imposes sanctions on Iran's oil shipments.

In response, the Bahrain-based U.S. 5th Fleet's spokeswoman warned that any disruption "will not be tolerated." The spokeswoman, Lt. Rebecca Rebarich, said the U.S. Navy is "always ready to counter malevolent actions to ensure freedom of navigation."

Things that make you go "hmmmm."

[headhuntersix]

Let the inspectors in to the sites...prove your not building nukes and maybe it can all be avoided. I think u assume any attack will be followed a massive nation building debacle...we are waaay out of that business. We can't leave Afghanistan fast enough.

[Shockwave]

Let the inspectors in to the sites...prove your not building nukes and maybe it can all be avoided. I think u assume any attack will be followed a massive nation building debacle...we are waaay out of that business. We can't leave Afghanistan fast enough.

Wouldnt be the 1st time weve done something that we shouldnt/wouldnt be prudent to do.

[headhuntersix]

There is no good way out of this shit. There was an article in Janes that was repeated elsewhere that said if/when the Israeli's stop talking about hitting Iran...they're gonna hit Iran. They've been pretty quiet.

[Shockwave]

There is no good way out of this shit. There was an article in Janes that was repeated elsewhere that said if/when the Israeli's stop talking about hitting Iran...they're gonna hit Iran. They've been pretty quiet.

I would love to see Israel wipe Iran off the mapa - If it had no implications on the US by doing so.

As it is, I cant see Israel attacking Iran without us somehow getting involved... which is bullshit.

[howardroark]

Let the inspectors in to the sites...prove your not building nukes and maybe it can all be avoided. I think u assume any attack will be followed a massive nation building debacle...we are waaay out of that business. We can't leave Afghanistan fast enough.

I do think that. But even if we don't try to nation build in Iran, I don't see any endgame that would be desirable for the United States. If we attack Iran, we'll just piss them off more and give them more determination. If we destroy their government by bombing their country just as we did in Libya, then just a more radical faction will take over. If we install a pro-America government, then we will just further radicalize Iran and lead to a repeat of the Iranian Revolution. If we nation build, then we'll never get anywhere while throwing thousands of American lives and trillions of dollars down the drain.

[headhuntersix]

They can overfly Iraq now which may allow them to hit more targets and decapitate their CnC....things we'd have to help with otherwise. I'd want to destroy their Navy...hit as many major airbases...hit the Revolutionary Guards Hq....on and on. They have been practicing large scale air attacks. Gas will spike...

[howardroark]

They can overfly Iraq now which may allow them to hit more targets and decapitate their CnC....things we'd have to help with otherwise. I'd want to destroy their Navy...hit as many major airbases...hit the Revolutionary Guards Hq....on and on. They have been practicing large scale air attacks. Gas will spike...

Flying over Iraq would be a non-issue. I'm sure Saudi Arabia and the UAE would love to assist in an Israeli strike against Iran.

[headhuntersix]

They said they'd allow it a few years ago......Israel needs to refuel. They could refuel in Iraq...set down in the desert. They can infiltrate ground forces to assist, through Iraq...like they did against Syria.

[Fury]

Iran isn't going to do shit. They have MUCH more to lose from closing the Strait than we do. One missile into the oil terminal on Kharg Island = the end of Iran's economy and the regime.

[howardroark]

They said they'd allow it a few years ago......Israel needs to refuel. They could refuel in Iraq...set down in the desert. They can infiltrate ground forces to assist, through Iraq...like they did against Syria.

What do you think will happen with Iraq now that US troops left? A majority Shia country and Iran's neighbor...

[headhuntersix]

I can tell you that Iran has been all over that place for years and has alot of influence. I was last stationed in Kirkuk..up north and I still talk to my contractors regularly there. The wheels are slowly coming off the wagon between the Kurds and the Arabs. We worked so hard with the Police and the Army, the Kurds etc..and it will all go for nothing.

[howardroark]

Good news is: no matter what, the countries of the Middle East will continue selling us oil. They depend on us to buy their oil more than we depend on them to sell their oil.

[headhuntersix]

I'd prefer to drill our own until somebody develops the water engine or some damm thing...then the rags can all starve.