Posted on 12/26/2006 10:05:34 AM PST by presidio9
President Bush has decided to delay publicly outlining his new Iraq strategy until next month. In many ways, the new plan will represent a more difficult decision than the initial call to go to war in Iraq.
Even Mr. Bush has been forced to admit that post-Saddam Hussein Iraq has not turned out as expected. Mr. Bush is also buying time for the Iraqi factions -- Sunnis, Shi'ites and Kurds -- to figure out whether they can move closer to agreeing on national reconciliation efforts and trying to create a little space for newly minted Defense Secretary Robert Gates to assume his new role. When Mr. Bush announces his new approach, he will also decide how he will deal with the emerging Iranian nuclear threat. But the looming confrontation between the United States and Iran could affect something that had been unforeseen: global sea trade.
When I interviewed Donald C. Winter, the secretary of the Navy, I asked him to explain the importance of trade over the Straits of Hormuz, just off the south coast of Iran. "Hormuz is a major point that goes in and out of the north Arabian Gulf," he said. Indeed, it is a critical point; 40 percent of the world's oil passes through it every day.
But he said something even more important: "What happens in the world economy is affected by the sense of comfort -- the idea that we can engage in shipping," he explained. "The price of oil, for example, which has a very significant impact on the world economy... [Our] sense of security -- those in the sector know their [survival depends on their] ability to ship oil from where it is produced to where it is needed. And therefore, any challenge to that
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Another falsetto "The Straits of Hormuz" are falling article.
If Iran chokes off the Strait of Hormuz, that it tantamount to a declaration of war, and makes the choice of action easier, not harder for the administration in power.
I suppose if we wait long enough, we will again hear all about the Iranian navy, submarines and speedboats that will bring the US Navy to its knees.
We can't go to war for oil dammit.
Good GOD, NO!
Wait until we get in a situation where we don't have enough jet fuel for Huffington, Streisand and Clooney to fly their Gulfstreams around, and we are going to hear some serious screeching for war coming from the Liberals.
Heck, it might happen sooner if there is a gas crunch and they can't get the gas for the van to pick up their illegal landscapers.
Can we say, "The President, and the powers that be are concerned about ANY Iranian intervention by way of cruise missiles aimed at american ships?"
Such bullcrap. We've been talking about this possibility since 1978.
"Hormuz is a major point that goes in and out of the north Arabian Gulf,".
And, I did not even know that points could move - much less swim.
Interesting -- but no mention made of recent additional US Navy units, including another aircraft carrier, being sent into the area.
The other unmentioned piece of this puzzle is also worrysome: what if Iran and Venezuela act in concert to limit the supply of oil entering the world market?
Wait until we get in a situation where we don't have enough jet fuel for Huffington, Streisand and Clooney to fly their Gulfstreams around, and we are going to hear some serious screeching for war coming from the Liberals.
Heck, it might happen sooner if there is a gas crunch and they can't get the gas for the van to pick up their illegal landscapers.
Yeah...I know.
(hangs head in shame for forgetting the prime rule)
The USA would be fine since we can cut consumption 50% immediately and another 25% in a month and don't really need to import. The other oil burning countries would have a big problem since they are already as green as they can get and have to import.
I and a few other naval assets kept that chokepoint handled for many years while on deployment there in the 80's...Remember when it wasn't "cool" to be in the Persian Gulf???
Lost a few friends there as well...Before any war, or rumor of war, we were being targeted and shot at for a long time before any of the current activities taking place now...
The Superintendant of the Naval Academy, Adm. Rodney P. Rempt, was my first C.O. when I was in the fleet...
I do not believe with the leadership and the training that has been ongoing for the last 30 years is going to waste...
If there is to be a naval battle in and around the Persian Gulf, I can guarantee you it will be short, ugly, brutal and final...And Johnny Achmed sailor is going to have a very bad day...They are all good little goober targets to me, then and now...
No problem here...Move along...Move along...
ping
TANKS,Pinz,,,Did we post about this?????????????...;0)
You've hypothesized about this since I first met you. Had your crystal ball back then, huh?
It's got a tin-foil-hat,,,just like "your's".LOL.*<(;O)
Thanks for your service there. I do believe if it came down, we would be able to keep the straits open. They could cause damage in the short run since none of them have any problems with defiling the gulf with fire, wrecks and oil.
It is pretty tight through there, but the traffic is well managed...
You don't need piloting services unless you are a complete goob who can't steer and follow a chart...
The "smaller" cross traffic could cause some heartburn, but tactically it would be easy to clog it up, yet fairly easy to clear it, or steer around any appreciable problems...
Iran used to have, and I'd need to confirm, but they used to have these "big" Silkworm anti-ship missles...Not the mis-nomered C-802's that the Chinese are selling to them, some can be airlaunched, but that can be countered relatively easy...Those big landbased Silkworms are problamatic in that they are really huge...Almost as big as a "small" fighter, they are relatively fast, and in that short of an operating area could give you some problems...They also have a pretty big warhead, about 2000 lbs. of high explosive stuff, plus residual fuel makes for a pretty big bang...
But with all of that, the Iranians don't have much more that can't be dealt with in a decisive manner...I certainly wouldn't want to be around one of them when the bullets start flying...
Tin is the new fashion accessory! ;-)
With chin-strap...;0)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.