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U.S. Navy Hangs Back in Persian Gulf as Questions Mount About Defecting Iranian Revolutionary Guard
Fox news ^ | June 22, 2009 | Katherine Herridge

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 ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bhodod; bhoiran; bhomiddleeast; iran; oef; revolutionaryguard; usnavy; usseisenhower
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1 posted on 06/22/2009 10:35:07 AM PDT by Jet Jaguar
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To: Jeff Head

Ping


2 posted on 06/22/2009 10:36:52 AM PDT by Jet Jaguar
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To: nuconvert

Ping


3 posted on 06/22/2009 10:40:08 AM PDT by StilettoRaksha
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To: Jet Jaguar
more of the “present” we have become familiar with.
4 posted on 06/22/2009 10:40:24 AM PDT by reefdiver (So how's that HOPE & CHANGE working out for ya ?)
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To: Jet Jaguar
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.

Short Version: Obama has ordered our Navy not to fire back if attacked.

5 posted on 06/22/2009 10:41:04 AM PDT by pabianice
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To: Jet Jaguar

Whoa! A lot of Iranians, many military, defected around 1979. We could be seeing a second wave.


6 posted on 06/22/2009 10:42:06 AM PDT by SueRae
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To: 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.

True or wishful thinking? Anyone have inside info?

7 posted on 06/22/2009 10:42:16 AM PDT by colorado tanker ("Lastly, I'd like to apologize for America's disproportionate response to Pearl Harbor . . . ")
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To: Jet Jaguar

**Questions Mount About Defecting Iranian Revolutionary Guard**

Wow, I had not heard this, but then I don’t have a working TV.


8 posted on 06/22/2009 10:42:22 AM PDT by Salvation (With God all things are possible.)
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To: pabianice

I’m certainly no fan of zero, but to me, this makes sense. let the candle snuff itself out, 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.


9 posted on 06/22/2009 10:43:37 AM PDT by Travis T. OJustice (I can spell just fine, thanks, it's my typing that sucks.)
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To: colorado tanker
True or wishful thinking? Anyone have inside info?

Considering the source I'd say probably wishful thinking. But if it is true, and if those you would expect to be most loyal to the regime are talking about deserting, then it doesn't bode well for the current Iranian government.

10 posted on 06/22/2009 10:44:56 AM PDT by Non-Sequitur
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To: Jet Jaguar

Perhaps false information, to start the defections.


11 posted on 06/22/2009 10:47:48 AM PDT by Kakaze (Exterminate Islamofacism and apologize for nothing.....except not doing it sooner!)
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To: Travis T. OJustice

Let their hope for freedom be snuffed out? I don’t get it.


12 posted on 06/22/2009 10:49:44 AM PDT by Mark was here (The earth is bipolar.)
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To: pabianice
I can appreciate having the Navy position themselves so they wouldn't necessarily have to defend themselves. It's one thing for the US civilian leadership to speak out and support freedom. It's not like it's a secret or anything, we've only been doing it for 233 years. And ZerØ has been far too timid in that regard IMO.

But having our forces engage, even defensively, Iranian assets at this particular time, would be a detriment to the freedom movement taking place in Iran. I'm not saying they shouldn't defend themselves if the situation warrants, just that they should try and avoid being in the position to have to do so.

13 posted on 06/22/2009 10:51:31 AM PDT by AFreeBird
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To: Mark was here
I don’t get it.

I can tell.

14 posted on 06/22/2009 10:52:16 AM PDT by Travis T. OJustice (I can spell just fine, thanks, it's my typing that sucks.)
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To: Travis T. OJustice

Well explain your self better for dolts like me.


15 posted on 06/22/2009 10:54:17 AM PDT by Mark was here (The earth is bipolar.)
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To: Jet Jaguar

If the Iran Gov’t is really splitting apart, the US Navy should really watch out for rogue elements launching anti-ship missiles.


16 posted on 06/22/2009 10:54:21 AM PDT by PGR88
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To: Jet Jaguar

***...”expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and to avoid any unnecessary escalation or confrontation” with Iranian ships or other military assets. ***

Don’t worry! Obama and friends will find a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of VICTORY!


17 posted on 06/22/2009 10:54:38 AM PDT by Ruy Dias de Bivar (A modern liberal is someone who doesn't care what you do so long as it is compulsory.)
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To: Travis T. OJustice
Giving moral support to the protesters is, in no way, throwing fuel on the fire.

I agree that we should take no provocative military action yet, but the protesters need our support...they need to know we are with them.

18 posted on 06/22/2009 10:56:55 AM PDT by SonOfDarkSkies (Obama: "Enough about me, let's talk about you...what do you think of me?")
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To: Non-Sequitur

It’s interesting to me that they’ve sent this Basij militia into the streets instead of the Guards. It may be a lot of Guardsmen won’t fire on their own civilians. Just speculation.


19 posted on 06/22/2009 10:57:01 AM PDT by colorado tanker ("Lastly, I'd like to apologize for America's disproportionate response to Pearl Harbor . . . ")
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To: pabianice

No, I think it’s more of a case of “don’t do anything that would make yourself a target.” He wants our assets there to steer clear and keep an eye on things, but not to put themselves in a position where I’manutjob or the mullahs could stage an attack and then scream to the world when the USN defends itself.

}:-)4


20 posted on 06/22/2009 10:57:47 AM PDT by Moose4 (Hey RNC. Don't move toward the middle. MOVE THE MIDDLE TOWARD YOU.)
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