U.S. deploys more troops to the Middle East in response to Iranian threats to close Strait Of Hormuz - Polidicks

[QUOTE=The NyTimes]WASHINGTON — The United States has quietly moved significant military reinforcements into the Persian Gulf to deter the Iranian military from any possible attempt to shut the Strait of Hormuz and to increase the number of fighter jets capable of striking deep into Iran if the standoff over its nuclear program escalates. The deployments are part of a long-planned effort to bolster the American military presence in the gulf region, in part to reassure Israel that in dealing with Iran, as one senior administration official put it last week, “When the president says there are other options on the table beyond negotiations, he means it.” But at a moment that the United States and its allies are beginning to enforce a much broader embargo on Iran’s oil exports, meant to force the country to take seriously the negotiations over sharply limiting its nuclear program, the buildup carries significant risks, including that Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps could decide to lash out against the increased presence. The most visible elements of this buildup are Navy ships designed to vastly enhance the ability to patrol the Strait of Hormuz — and to reopen the narrow waterway should Iran attempt to mine it to prevent Saudi Arabia and other oil exporters from sending their tankers through the vital passage. The Navy has doubled the number of minesweepers assigned to the region, to eight vessels, in what military officers describe as a purely defensive move. “The message to Iran is, ‘Don’t even think about it,’ ” one senior Defense Department official said. “Don’t even think about closing the strait. We’ll clear the mines. Don’t even think about sending your fast boats out to harass our vessels or commercial shipping. We’ll put them on the bottom of the gulf.” Like others interviewed, the official spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the delicacy of the diplomatic and military situation. Since late spring, stealthy F-22 and older F-15C warplanes have moved into two separate bases in the Persian Gulf to bolster the combat jets already in the region and the carrier strike groups that are on constant tours of the area. Those additional attack aircraft give the United States military greater capability against coastal missile batteries that could threaten shipping, as well as the reach to strike other targets deeper inside Iran. And the Navy, after a crash development program, has moved a converted amphibious transport and docking ship, the Ponce, into the Persian Gulf to serve as the Pentagon’s first floating staging base for military operations or humanitarian assistance. The initial assignment for the Ponce, Pentagon officials say, is to serve as a logistics and operations hub for mine-clearing. But with a medical suite and helicopter deck, and bunks for combat troops, the Ponce eventually could be used as a base for Special Operations forces to conduct a range of missions, including reconnaissance and counterterrorism, all from international waters. For President Obama, the combination of negotiations, new sanctions aimed at Iran’s oil revenues and increased military pressure is the latest — and perhaps the most vital — test of what the White House calls a “two track” policy against Iran. In the midst of a presidential election campaign in which his opponent, Mitt Romney, has accused him of being “weak” in dealing with the Iranian nuclear issue, Mr. Obama seeks to project toughness without tipping into a crisis in the region. At the same time he must signal support for Israel, but not so much support that the Israelis see the buildup as an opportunity to strike the Iranian nuclear facilities, which Mr. Obama’s team believes could set off a war without significantly setting back the Iranian program. A key motivation for “Olympic Games,” the covert effort to undermine Iran’s enrichment capability with cyberattacks, has been to demonstrate to the Israelis that there are more effective ways to slow the program than to strike from the air. But this delicate signaling to both Iran and Israel is a complex dance. Senator John Kerry, the Massachusetts Democrat who is chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, said that the administration must strike a fine balance between positioning enough forces to deter Iran, but not inadvertently indicate to Iran or Israel that an attack on Iran’s nuclear sites is imminent or inevitable. “There are a lot of expectations to manage,” Mr. Kerry said in an interview. “People need to know you’re serious, but you must also leave room for peaceful resolution. It’s very important not to take steps that send the wrong messages here.” There is little evidence that the increased pressure is having the desired effect. Negotiations with Iran are at a stalemate, though a group of Iranian, American and European experts are expected to meet in Istanbul on Tuesday to review a recent American proposal and Iranian response. So far, though, Iran has strenuously resisted all efforts to force it to give up enrichment of uranium, starting with production of a type that is considered relatively close to bomb grade. Responding to the tightening of Western sanctions, Iran on Monday announced that it would consider proposed legislation to disrupt traffic in the Strait of Hormuz as well as missile tests, in a drill clearly intended as a warning to Israel and the United States. The Iranian legislation calls for Iran’s military to block any oil tanker en route to countries no longer buying Iranian crude because of the embargo. It was unclear whether the legislation would pass or precisely how Iran would enforce it. Senior Pentagon and military officials acknowledge that Iran has the capability to close the strait, at least temporarily, and the additional mine-clearing forces can be viewed as both concrete and spoken evidence of Washington’s commitment to make sure any closing is as brief as possible. The most significant Iranian threat to shipping came during its war of attrition with Iraq in the 1980s. Iran attacked tankers and other commercial traffic to disrupt Iraq’s oil revenues and threaten shipments from other Arab states viewed as supporting Baghdad. Iran also laid significant numbers of mines in an attempt to block transit, prompting mine-clearing operations and attacks on the Iranian Navy by American warships. Defense Department officials stressed that the recent reshaping of American forces in the Persian Gulf region should not be viewed as solely about the potential nuclear threat from Iran. “This is not only about Iranian nuclear ambitions, but about Iran’s regional hegemonic ambitions,” the senior Defense Department official said. “This is a complex array of American military power that is tangible proof to all of our allies and partners and friends that even as the U.S. pivots toward Asia, we remain vigilant across the Middle East.” While American ground troops have been withdrawn from Iraq, a force equivalent to an extra Army combat brigade has remained in Kuwait, officials said. It could have many roles to contain regional instability, but Iran is a primary concern. While it always is difficult to read Iran’s intentions, senior American Navy officers have noted that Iranian ships in the Persian Gulf have refrained recently from provocative behavior. “Things have been, relatively speaking, quiet,” said Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, the chief of naval operations, assessing actions by Iranian Navy vessels over “the last couple of months.” But that was without the pressure of the new sanctions; already Iran is exporting far less oil every day than a year ago: about 1.5 million barrels a day versus 2.5 million before the gradual imposition of earlier sanctions. While Iranian vessels have avoided any confrontations with allied warships in recent weeks, Iran expects to equip its ships in the Strait of Hormuz soon with shorter-range missiles, a Revolutionary Guards commander said on Friday, according to the semiofficial Mehr news agency. With an eye on the threat of a belligerent Iran, the administration is also seeking to expand military ties with the six nations in the Gulf Cooperation Council: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman. The United States and 19 other countries will hold a major mine countermeasure exercise in the Persian Gulf in September, said a senior military officer who noted that countries in the region were taking more steps in their own defense, including buying American-made air defense systems and other weaponry.[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/03/world/middleeast/us-adds-forces-in-persian-gulf-a-signal-to-iran.html[/url] Don't even think about it Iran.

OP are you pro-sanctions.. I'm not sure how we should take your response..

Do iiiiiiiit.

Out of Afghanistan, in to Iran. It seems like the US can't stay out of the middle east.

Conflict everywhere, can't everyone just go fuck themselves off.

[QUOTE=Chernarus;36610636]OP are you pro-sanctions.. I'm not sure how we should take your response..[/QUOTE] I'm not necessarily pro-sanctions. But the U.S. government is, and any attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz will inevitably lead to some sort of US-NATO response, and I think most citizens of this planet would like to avoid that as much as possible.

[QUOTE=DamagePoint;36611198]I'm not necessarily pro-sanctions. But the U.S. government is, and any attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz will inevitably lead to some sort of US-NATO response, and I think most citizens of this planet would like to avoid that as much as possible.[/QUOTE] Then perhaps the US and her Allies should stay out of other country's business. They are fucking around in the wrong part of the world and Russia won't put up with it forever. You wake up the Sleeping bear and we can all look forward to playing Fallout 3 for real.

Does Iran have sole control over the strait? What about the UAE or Oman?

[QUOTE=entertainer89;36613231]Then perhaps the US and her Allies should stay out of other country's business. They are fucking around in the wrong part of the world and Russia won't put up with it forever. You wake up the Sleeping bear and we can all look forward to playing Fallout 3 for real.[/QUOTE] You dont understand geopolitics do you son? Russia is in no shape to start shit.

[QUOTE=entertainer89;36613231]Then perhaps the US and her Allies should stay out of other country's business. They are fucking around in the wrong part of the world and Russia won't put up with it forever. You wake up the Sleeping bear and we can all look forward to playing Fallout 3 for real.[/QUOTE] Yeah! Only Russia should be allowed to fuck around in the Middle East!

[QUOTE=entertainer89;36613231]Then perhaps the US and her Allies should stay out of other country's business. They are fucking around in the wrong part of the world and Russia won't put up with it forever. You wake up the Sleeping bear and we can all look forward to playing Fallout 3 for real.[/QUOTE] Russia barely even has a navy anymore.

[QUOTE=entertainer89;36613231]Then perhaps the US and her Allies should stay out of other country's business. They are fucking around in the wrong part of the world and Russia won't put up with it forever. You wake up the Sleeping bear and we can all look forward to playing Fallout 3 for real.[/QUOTE] But, it was China in Fallout 3. [QUOTE=Kinversulath;36614884]Yeah! Only Russia should be allowed to fuck around in the Middle East![/QUOTE] Because that worked out so well the last time. [IMG]http://en.rian.ru/images/10735/07/107350705.jpg[/IMG]

[QUOTE=entertainer89;36613231]Then perhaps the US and her Allies should stay out of other country's business. They are fucking around in the wrong part of the world and Russia won't put up with it forever. You wake up the Sleeping bear and we can all look forward to playing Fallout 3 for real.[/QUOTE] You deserve your funnies man. Cus yano, Iran either won't or is incredibly reluctant to let in nuclear inspectors from any country, including Russia.

Part of me wants them to do it just because the US (and possibly other parts of the world) would slap their shit silly for it. But it's just more dickwaving and there's no point getting worked up over it.

I just can't wait for the new Gulf of Tonkin incident to happen so the US and Iran can start their barely justifiable war! (p.s: don't drag everyone else into it)

[QUOTE=Lonestriper;36615187]I just can't wait for the new Gulf of Tonkin incident to happen so the US and Iran can start their barely justifiable war! (p.s: don't drag everyone else into it)[/QUOTE] Blame NATO, if say England invaded them than the same response would be given to them as the US got. Also, Iran has been killing foreign nationals and fucking with people non stop, they have it coming.

[QUOTE]But at a moment that the United States and its allies are beginning to enforce a much broader embargo on Iran’s oil exports, meant to force the country to take seriously the negotiations over sharply limiting its nuclear program, the buildup carries significant risks, including that Iran’s [B]powerful [/B]Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps could decide to lash out against the increased presence.[/QUOTE] Powerful?

-Dumb as fuck post. Snip-

[QUOTE=ThePinkPanzer;36615246]Blame NATO, if say England invaded them than the same response would be given to them as the US got. Also, Iran has been killing foreign nationals and fucking with people non stop, they have it coming.[/QUOTE] Except the UK isn't going to do anything in the middle east unless the US is already doing it, same goes for the whole of NATO. They have no interest in creating a conflict where they get all their oil, while the US is invested independently in Israel and Saudi Arabia. Also, everyone has been killing everyone in the middle east forever, but its only bad when Iran does it?

[QUOTE=Lonestriper;36615362]Except the UK isn't going to do anything in the middle east unless the US is already doing it, same goes for the whole of NATO. They have no interest in creating a conflict where they get all their oil, while the US is invested independently in Israel and Saudi Arabia. Also, everyone has been killing everyone in the middle east forever, but its only bad when Iran does it?[/QUOTE] Oh I am sorry you are right, the US is just an empire who wishes to strip innocent Iran of its oil.

-snip, rude-

oh not again

[QUOTE=ewitwins;36616008]No. That's not the real question, North Korea is a half a world away. Stop that.[/QUOTE] North Korea is a major ally of Iran, and both of them are closely knit with dealing weapons. Yes it's a legitimate question.

[QUOTE=JoeSkylynx;36616060]North Korea is a major ally of Iran, and both of them are closely knit with dealing weapons. Yes it's a legitimate question.[/QUOTE] Again, no, it's not. They're two completely different regions with two completely different geopolitical situations. North Korea will probably "condemn the imperialistic agenda" of the United States and her allies, rattle it's sabre a few times, and go back to being hungry and annoying. [editline]4th July 2012[/editline] "Hey our buddy Iran is being attacked so let's risk obliteration by antagonizing the United States and our southern neighbor South Korea that even by itself has the ability to wipe us off the face of the planet"

Fuck your right... Sorry about the two stupid posts. Not thinking straight.

[QUOTE=JoeSkylynx;36616205]Fuck your right... Sorry about the two stupid posts. Not thinking straight.[/QUOTE] No worries mate

[QUOTE=Sir_takeslot;36614904]But, it was China in Fallout 3. Because that worked out so well the last time. [IMG]http://en.rian.ru/images/10735/07/107350705.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE] Well, they were still better than the US. They managed to turn Afghanistan from a shithole to a country with great education and healthcare.

[QUOTE=shian;36616616]Well, they were still better than the US. They managed to turn Afghanistan from a shithole to a country with great education and healthcare.[/QUOTE] What

[QUOTE=shian;36616616]Well, they were still better than the US. They managed to turn Afghanistan from a shithole to a country with great education and healthcare.[/QUOTE] That turned into a great place with great (male) (religious) education and free (tribal) healthcare!

[QUOTE=Zambies!;36616862]That turned into a great place with great (male) (religious) education and free (tribal) healthcare![/QUOTE] So, no education or healthcare whatsoever?