“The United States would obviously be blamed and we could possibly be the target of retaliation from Iran, striking our ships, striking our military bases,” Panetta told a forum in Washington on Friday.
[Sure it could...But any attack on our forces (naval, land-based or Air) would just bring about severe retaliatory action based upon ROE, and not necessarily at the direct orders from NCA]
Panetta privately outlined U.S. concerns in talks with Israel’s Defense Minister Ehud Barak in Canada last month, including the impact a strike would have on the world economy.
[Whaaaaaaaa...Geesh, some countries need to soldier up and rub a little dirt on their owweees...Bunch of cowards]
Analysts say Tehran could retaliate by closing the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway where about 40 percent of all traded oil passes. Global meltdown
[We gamed this all out in the 80’s, and since then, the order of battle, and other assets and capabilities, have significantly improved for our side, not theirs...If we can get Obama out of office, I can guarantee the rhetoric from the ayatollas will decrease when a Republican sits in the big chair...It happened when Reagan took office...It’ll happen again...]
Just my opinion...I hope we can keep this from going down before then...
If they believe Obama won’t do anything significant in retaliation, they’ll make a move...If he somehow bamboozles the world into thinking he might...Well...So much the better, but I will not hold my breath...
I think the straits of hormuz are too much of a wild card to call.