Posted on 10/15/2006 2:43:50 AM PDT by familyop
Washington: Facing nuclear disputes with Iran and North Korea, the United States, Bahrain and other states will hold their first naval exercise in the Gulf this month to practise interdicting ships carrying weapons of mass destruction and missiles, US officials said on Wednesday.
The exercise is taking place as the United States and other major powers are considering sanctions including possible interdiction of ships on North Korea, following a reported nuclear test, and on Iran, which has defied a UN Security Council mandate to stop enriching uranium.
The exercise, set for October 31, is the 25th to be organised under the US-led 66-member Proliferation Security Initiative and the first to be based in the Gulf near Bahrain, across from Iran, the officials said.
A senior US official insisted the exercise is not aimed specifically at Iran, although it reinforces a US strategy aimed at strengthening America's ties with states in the Gulf, where Tehran and Washington are competing for influence.
"It's an effort to bring a lot of Gulf states together to demonstrate resolve and readiness to act against proliferation," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The Proliferation Security Initiative, established in 2003 under President George W. Bush, is a voluntary association of countries that agree to share intelligence information and work against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including through military exercises that practise interdiction techniques and coordination.
Those interested in more info on the PSI can go to:
http://johnib.wordpress.com/2006/10/12/proliferation-security-initiative-psi-one-response-to-the-north-korean-test/
Thank you for posting this article. I was told to watch the news. Now I know.
bttt
"US to hold naval exercises in the Gulf"
With belly dancers?
My son isn't a belly dancer, I suspect it will be with destroyers and aircraft carriers.
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