Posted on 06/22/2009 10:35:07 AM PDT by Jet Jaguar
Members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard are showing "discontent" and some are "contemplating the contingency" of defying the regime in the wake of last week's disputed election, the former crown prince of Iran contended Monday.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Defense is "on edge" over the turmoil in Iran, and has directed U.S. naval assets in the Persian Gulf to be, in layman's terms, in "non-incident mode."
U.S. military commanders are said to have been instructed to be alert to any possibility of a clash with Iranian naval assets, and to position themselves in such a way as to diminish the ability of Iran to stage an incident, however small, that could be used to rally the support of the Iranian people to the regime and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whose backers are accused of voter fraud in the national election 10 days ago.
A Defense Department official told FOX News that U.S. Central Command has sent a message to all Navy service members in the Persian Gulf region that they are "expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and to avoid any unnecessary escalation or confrontation" with Iranian ships or other military assets.
"Given the heightened sensitivities in Tehran we don't want to feed into what is already a very tense situation on their side," the official said.
Currently the aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower in in the Northern Arabian Sea supporting Operation Enduring Freedom F-18 flight missions along with its battle group, which consists of multiple support ships. Roughly half a dozen Navy ships, including destroyers, are located in the Persian Gulf.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Here you go: “don’t throw fuel on the fire which would only serve to make the mullahs appear wise. This way, attention can remain focused on the uprisings, not a national battle against a common enemy, the USA.”
If we’re nearby, those in charge can whip up nationalistic frenzy, minimizing the protests. If we back off, (not adding fuel to the fire) that can’t happen, snuffing the nationalistic frenzy.
I appreciate your honesty, btw.
In 1979, that was the Shah’s military
Now the Shah in exile is expecting the scraggy bearded IRGC to defect? I don’t think so. Their own officers will execute them. Or the people will take matters into their own hands. Best solution.
The Basij are apparently Arabs brought in from other countries.
If you haven't done so, get on Twitter and let them know. It's quick and easy to set up.
They're in it now, they had better see it through or they'll be made to regret it if they fail.
Nope, but engaging their military would help quiet the protests, change focus away from the elections.
Well, there is the point that if the protestors perceive the US as an aggressor, it might unify the Iranian public and stall the protests. However, O needs to be giving one of his elOquent speeches about freedom and liberty—heh
I would agree with your response, as they should also be on the lookout for moored mines and “Floaters”, a-la 1979-1982. It may become very tight in the PG for anything bigger than a FFG.....but wait, we don’t have anymore of them, do we?....
The fastest way to do it is send some idiots in to get themselves blown away by overmatching firepower and be victims.
I am not a TOTUS backer, but in his coward's way, the orders are correct, but we all know it is a result of his voting "present" again.
"Stopped Clock"
Defect to where? Please point to a Gulf sheikdom or emirate that would take them? I ask that rhetorically, silverleaf. We’re in complete agreement.
The Basij are apparently Arabs brought in from other countries.
&&
Really? Source?
Found someone posting something here.
Otherwise I’ve seen it on Fox several times.
They said many of the Basij were yelling at the protesters in Arabic.
http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-272814
...and 0bama saying that we should not get involved because he doesn’t want to make this a US issue...
that’s like France saying we shouldn’t get involved in the American Revolution because the British press will make it a French issue...
From what I’ve heard, the IRG may be somewhat behind this, prepping for a coup.
Cap ‘em.
Hear, Hear!
The mullahs have indeed brought in elements of Lebanon's Hezbollah and Syrian Hamas to deal with the uprising, but the problem with this approach is that they speak Arabic, not Farsi, so the people know who they are, making it easier when the appropriate time comes (if, indeed, it does!) to deal with these imported elements the people neither trust nor like.
I've read stories of at least one Guard commander (who is apparently rather high up) saying he and his men won't shot at their own people.
To get around the (potential) Guard problem, the mullahs have begun to resort to pulling Guard units from their own home regions and placing them elsewhere, to avoid the dilemma of Guard members shooting at members of their own families, but one has to wonder at what point it dawns on these guys (the Guard members in question) that the corrupt leaders who forced them to do this were merely engaged in an exercise of rearranging the chairs on the Titanic.
As a practical matter, they simply cannot bring in enough outsiders to handle this, and at some point (sooner rather than later, methinks) the police and Guard will begin to lose the necessary stomach to finish this job.
Once that point is reached, look for the military to make a move, and I doubt seriously it will be on the side of the mullahs.
Just the way I see it...
CA....
It is instructive to note that at the outset of the unrest (well, few days after it started) the military professed openly it was neutral, a stance viewed by many as an open invitation to revolution.
We'll see, won't we?
CA....
The Basij are apparently Arabs brought in from other countries. ..................................... Partially true, Khomeini brought in other Wahhabis from outside Iran. There was an influx of non Farsi speaking Mullahs after the 79 Revolution. When they came in so did their relatives. Don’t even think that the Iranians are completely ignorant of that fact,they too want them out of there. All the Iranians that I have been exposed to, have been the friendliest kind of people who are much like the Italians. When I was laid up in a Hospital, my first 2 visitors were Iranians. Get rid of that regime and you will see how friendly and good natured they really are.
How are they going to defect?
bttt
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