DEBKA is not a credible news source. Why are posts from these teenagers still allowed here?
While the world is transfixed on the death throes of the Gaddafi regime in Libya, a high-stakes showdown is occurring along the Suez Canal between Iranian warships and a formidable force of American naval might.
The delayed entrance of two Iranian warships into the Suez Canal is the result of five American warships blocking the Iranian cruiser and missile destroyer. The aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, escorted by missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf and supply ship USNS Arctic, took up position blocking the Iranian ships from entering the southern entrance into the Suez. Nearby another aircraft carrier, the USS Kearsarge, with a large force of Marines, appears ready to follow the Iranian warships if they choose to enter the canal. This would put the Iranian ships between the two aircraft carriers.
The USS George Washington carrier and the USS Carl Vinson have also deployed in the Gulf of Aden, which is between Yemen and Somalia, south of the Red Sea entrance to the Suez Canal. Together they pose a deterrent to further Iranian warships arriving. The USS Abraham Lincoln has also left its port in Bahrain.
Why is the U.S. doing this?
The U.S. is concerned that Iran is trying to take advantage of the destabilization of North African countries by extending their influence, presenting a show of force against Israel and possibly to supply long-range missiles to Hezbollah.
“If the ships move through the canal, we will evaluate what they actually do. It’s not really about the ships. It’s about what the ships are carrying, what’s their destination, what’s the cargo on board, where’s it going, to whom and for what benefit,” State Department Spokesperson P.J. Crowley said.
Stuck in the middle of the Suez, the U.S. might exert its right to board the Iranian ships according to U.N. sanctions. Sanctions passed last year allow for the inspection of Iranian cargo ships. However, from what I am able to determine, the sanctions apply only to cargo ships. The boarding of another nation’s warships is usually not allowed. Indeed, it is usually considered an act of war.
The Iranians would be foolhardy to resist such firepower, but they are also unlikely to allow Americans to board their ships. By displaying such a force, the U.S. is hoping that the Iranians will back down. Undoubtedly, there is a lot of nail biting on both sides.