US admiral says Navy forces are prepared to confront Iran - Polidicks

[release] MANAMA, Bahrain – The top U.S. Navy official in the Gulf said Sunday he takes Iran's military capabilities seriously but insists his forces are prepared to confront any Iranian aggression in the region. Vice Adm. Mark Fox, commander of the 5th Fleet, told reporters at the naval force's Bahrain headquarters that the Navy has "built a wide range of potential options to give the president" and is "ready today" to confront any hostile action by Tehran. He did not outline specifically how the Navy might answer an Iranian strike or an effort to shut the entrance to the Persian Gulf, though any response would likely involve the two U.S. aircraft carriers and other warships cruising the waters off Iran. "We've developed very precise and lethal weapons that are very effective, and we're prepared," Fox said. "We're just ready for any contingency." Faced with tightening Western sanctions, Iranian officials have stepped up threats to close the Strait of Hormuz if the country's oil exports are blocked. A fifth of the world's oil supply passes through the narrow waterway, which is only about 30 miles (50 kilometers) across at its narrowest point. Iran and Oman share control of the waterway, but it is considered an international strait, meaning free transit passage is guaranteed under international law. Iran's army chief, Gen. Ataollah Salehi, early last month warned an American warship not to return to the Gulf shortly after the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis and another vessel left. Another carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, entered the Gulf without incident on Jan. 22. Fox acknowledged that Iran's military is "capable of striking a blow" against American forces in the Gulf, particularly using unconventional means such as small attack boats or mines laid along shipping lanes. "We're not bulletproof. There are people that can take a swipe at us," Fox said. But he added that he has reminded officers under his command that they "have a right and an obligation of self defense" if attacked. The admiral's comments echo those of other Western officials, who say they will respond swiftly to any Iranian attempt to shut the Strait of Hormuz. Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, told CBS' "Face the Nation" last month that Iranian forces could block shipping through the strait "for a period of time," but added, "We can defeat that." In his briefing in the Bahraini capital Manama, Fox voiced support for the tiny island nation that has hosted U.S. Navy vessels for decades. "They are a long-term partner and a very important piece of our ability to do our mission," he said of the country. Bahrain has been rocked by protests led by the country's majority Shiites against the country's Sunni monarchy that erupted in force a year ago. Street battles between security forces and protesters still flare up almost daily in the predominantly Shiite villages around the capital. Fox's command encompasses the bulk of the Middle East, including the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf and a large swath of the Indian Ocean along the east African coast. There are about 25,000 sailors under his command.[/release] Read more: [url]http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/02/12/us-admiral-says-navy-forces-are-prepared-to-confront-iran/#ixzz1mFHq6LB5[/url]

Bring it on

I really hope another war doesn't start, that's the last thing the US needs.

[QUOTE=7DeadlySyns;34676417]I really hope another war doesn't start, that's the last thing the US needs.[/QUOTE] It's the last thing the world needs.

[QUOTE=Amplar;34676407]Bring it on[/QUOTE] No.

Not exactly news, but I guess its good to know anyway. [editline]Edited:[/editline] I foresee many dickwave comments.

Can we just break the Middle East off of the world and send it into space for it to be its own little chaotic planet? That's how that works right?

A war would be great for that old military industrial complex the US has lying around

[QUOTE=T2L_Goose;34676447]Can we just break the Middle East off of the world and send it into space for it to be its own little chaotic planet? That's how that works right?[/QUOTE] That's just plain out idiotic! Then where would we get our oil??

[QUOTE=yawmwen;34676559]That's just plain out idiotic! Then where would we get our oil??[/QUOTE] The gulf of Mexico, Canada and Alaska would be a nice place to look. We get most of it from Canada anyway.

Isn't the reason we're not using too much of our own oil because we're waiting to use it when the rest of the world runs out?

We have lots of oil.

[QUOTE=OvB;34676606]The gulf of Mexico, Canada and Alaska would be a nice place to look. We get most of it from Canada anyway.[/QUOTE] We can't exploit our own land for resources, that just feels wrong.

[QUOTE=yawmwen;34676708]We can't exploit our own land for resources, that just feels wrong.[/QUOTE] It would be like raping ourselves without giving the courtesy to yell "SURPRISE!"

We don't even get that much oil from Iran [img]http://www.oilheat-ny.com/images/oilheatFacts/oil_import_chart.gif[/img]

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;34679419]We don't even get that much oil from Iran [img]http://www.oilheat-ny.com/images/oilheatFacts/oil_import_chart.gif[/img][/QUOTE] Who is "we".

[QUOTE=Bittorrent;34679431]Who is "we".[/QUOTE] United States. Thought that was obvious, since this is about the American Navy.

Cool, lets waste more resources and kill more people! Thats TOTALLY what we need.

The entire world has been at war with one another off and on since we could swing fucking sticks Just get used to it and be happy that half the countries are sticking together and completely over power the other half. Now if only the other half would join up and we could get some actual shit done for everyone

not another one of these threads. Hopefully this will be a deterrent.

[QUOTE=Amplar;34676407]Bring it on[/QUOTE] :|

Fuck it. Either we do it now or get the consequences of a nuclear-armed terrorism-sponsoring state later.

[QUOTE=Xystus234;34680848]Fuck it. Either we do it now or get the consequences of a nuclear-armed terrorism-sponsoring state later.[/QUOTE] False dichotomy.

[QUOTE=Starpluck;34680903]False dichotomy.[/QUOTE] Show evidence otherwise.

So why not put an embargo on Iran until they get their shit together and stop waving their cocks in the air?

Lovely, a new war.

[QUOTE=Xystus234;34680919]Show evidence otherwise.[/QUOTE] You're exhibiting a black-and-white approach, we either strike now, or (as you implicate) we will inevitably get struck later which may not even be the case. I'm not sure what evidence you're requesting from me, you're the one who's automatically assuming they are acquiring nuclear weaponry and will also utilize them.

Bet he's itching to get some more strips and smite some more pagans. Edit: Don't start a war.

[QUOTE=T2L_Goose;34676447]Can we just break the Middle East off of the world and send it into space for it to be its own little chaotic planet? That's how that works right?[/QUOTE] Break off USA instead.

can the US stop waving their dicks please i.... we don't need another fucking war