Posted on 07/21/2008 11:11:20 AM PDT by edpc
DEBKAfile’s military sources report that Operational Brimstone, starting Monday, July 21, aimed at giving military teeth to the two-week ultimatum the six world powers gave Iran in Geneva Saturday to accept the suspension of uranium enrichment or face harsh sanctions and isolation.
The penalty of withholding refined oil products from Iran would be exercised by means of a partial international naval blockade of its Gulf ports.
Taking part in the 10-day exercise in the Atlantic Ocean are more than a dozen ships, including the US carrier strike group Theodore Roosevelt and expeditionary strike group Iwo Jima; the French submarine Amethyste, and the British HMS Illustrious Carrier Strike Group, as well as a Brazilian frigate.
Six vessels from the Norfolk Naval State will play the role of “enemy” forces.
About 15,000 sailors will be involved in Operation Brimstone. Both the Roosevelt and Iwo Jima will be deployed in the Middle East in the coming months.
The exercise is scheduled to end July 31, two days before the US-European ultimatum to Iran expires. Immediately after the Geneva talks ended in failure, the US State Department issued a statement giving Tehran the option of “cooperation or confrontation.”
A partial blockade of Iran’s shores, a key element of the new sanctions, would be limited to withholding from Iran supplies of benzene and other refined oil products - not foodstuffs or other commodities. Short of refining capacity, Iran has to import 40 percent of its benzene consumption and will be forced to react to the stoppage.
Operation Brimstone boasts two striking features:
1. It will include for the first time units of the US Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, who are trained to operate in shallow coastal waters and rivers, such as the coastal waters of the Persian Gulf and the small islands around its chokepoint, the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Revolutionary Guards marine units are posted on these islands.
The international force will have to control the islands to ensure oil shipping freed passage out to world markets.
2. The Roosevelt’s decks will for the first time host French Rafale fighter jets which will share space with US warplanes, while the only French carrier Charles de Gaulle undergoes maintenance.
Our military sources note that French warplanes have in the past performed short landings and takeoff drills on US carriers from the Charles de Gaulle, but never before taken part in a fully cooperative operational exercise.
This joint endeavor signifies that French President Nicolas Sarkozy is fully committed to a joint US-European military action if necessary to halt Iran’s progress toward a nuclear weapon.
Addressing the Knesset in Jerusalem Monday, July 21, British prime minister George Brown said: Iran must ''suspend its nuclear program and accept our offer of negotiations or face growing isolation and the collective response not of one nation but of many nations.''
Brown's spokesman said the premier did not rule out "extended sanctions in some form on the oil and gas sector" in Iran. Sources said that could involve sanctions on spare parts for Tehran's fairly limited domestic oil refining capacity.
(3) demands that the President initiate an international effort to immediately and dramatically increase the economic, political, and diplomatic pressure on Iran to verifiably suspend its nuclear enrichment activities by, inter alia, prohibiting the export to Iran of all refined petroleum products; imposing stringent inspection requirements on all persons, vehicles, ships, planes, trains, and cargo entering or departing Iran; and prohibiting the international movement of all Iranian officials not involved in negotiating the suspension of Iran's nuclear program
I know the Iranian govt would call this an act of war. Would an exercise denying petroleum products meet the technical definition....?
Even if it is an act of war the best the Iranians could launch is use photoshop to launcn some more missles so the MSM can say `Duck! They’re shooting at us!!’
Would invading another nation’s embassy and holding its diplomats hostage be considered an act of war?
Even if it is an act of war the best the Iranians could do is use photoshop to launch some more missles so the MSM can say `Duck! They’re shooting at us!!’
P.S sorry for the poor typing on the previous post ;-)
Yes, except when Jimmah Cahtah was in the White House.
It should have been except BHO’s mentor was the wet noodle in the Oval office at the time!
Yes. There is a lot a “payback” getting ready to come down on these fools. When its over, the world will be safer.
Excellent. I’m sure all Navies involved are heartily sick of the onerous ROE extant in the Strait, and look forward to tearing them up.
I believe they actually do have Silkworm missiles.
Supposedly the Japanese thought so in 1941.
This is not much different from the blockade against the Japanese in 1941. Are we trying to induce Iran into attacking our fleet first?
This is not much different from the blockade against the Japanese in 1941. Are we trying to induce Iran into attacking our fleet first?
It’s actually been done before. When the critics try to keep GWB from taking action in Iran, the way to nail the enemy is to make them attack us first. When we react strongly in self-defense, there can be no criticism. Brilliant tactic.
Such as the Kobayashi Maru test...? I believe we have a few innovative commanders out there. Perhaps they will "improvise."
I never even heard of the blockade against Japan until I went to Japan and had a few beers with the locals in my 20s.
Funny how history is written by the victors.
Yeah, it certainly isn’t taught in public (government) schools. When you corner a snake, it will strike.
It is like the bully in school.......... a face to face is going to happen no matter what you do. Might as well pick YOUR timing.
So Iran will back down, and just sit tight until after the 2009 elections, and then start crowing again, knowing that Obama will likely not use tactic?
Logical move on our part...tighten the screws until the Iranians climb down, have a revolt or do something they will not live to regret. Payback time is coming!
A-men.
They have killed a lot of Americans over the past 28 years-including the Marine barracks in Lebonon but especially since the Gulf War ended in 1991.
In 2010 their will be a regional war in the Middle East to correct everything for another 20-30 years.
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