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Subscribe to RSSThe U.S. military will not allow Iran to shut down the Strait of Hormuz, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said Wednesday, adding that if Iran tries to disrupt the vital waterway, they will be defeated.
Iran’s leaders have threatened to close down the Strait unless sanctions against their critical oil shipments are lifted. The Pentagon chief said the U.S. will not allow either Iran or any of its allies to stop shipping through the Strait.
“Iranians need to understand that the United States and the international community are going to hold them directly responsible for any disruption of shipping in that region by Iran or, for that matter, by its surrogates,” Panetta said, adding, “and the United States is fully prepared for all contingencies.”
Panetta’s comments came on the heels of the Pentagon’s announcement that the U.S. Navy would accelerate the deployment of the USS John Stennis carrier group to the Gulf region. The more than 5,000 sailors will deploy about four months earlier than originally scheduled so the U.S. can maintain a two-carrier presence in the area through the end of the year.
Related: USS Stennis going to Persian Gulf early, staying longer
Speaking with his British counterpart after their early-morning meeting, Panetta said that the U.S. has invested in capabilities in the region to “ensure that the Iranian attempt to close down shipping in the Gulf is something that we are going to be able to defeat if they make that decision to do that.”
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Secretary Phillip Hammond echoed Panetta's sentiments, saying that the deployment of the USS John Stennis carrier group to the Gulf sends a “powerful signal” to Iran.
Hammond’s comments came just days after Pentagon Press Secretary George Little denied that the accelerated deployment of the Stennis was a direct response to tensions with Iran.
“This is not a decision based solely on the challenges posed by Iran,” Little said on Monday, adding that the deployment of the Stennis is not intended to send a signal to Iran.
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There will be no WW III just because Iran decides to act up. It will be shut out very fast once there is a confirmation of a hostile act in the waters. It wouldn't take long for the US to act accordingly to what may happen. The US has it's bases covered believe you & me. I served on a Carrier Task Force in the Tonkin Gulf, Yankee Station along with thousands of others. Iran yanked the British Sailors out of neutral waters with their swift boats & took them hostage for propaganda, but this isn't going to happen again. Iran will pay the price for whatever they try to do. Just to see all the power we have over their & other countries Navies also is a sight to see. One has to experience it to know, I even had goose pimples on the back of my neck just seeing about a hundred ships dotted all over the area & they were friendlies. There also is Subs hanging about underneath watching every move. Satellites above & recon all around. Once Iran leaves it's waters Goliath will be waiting for they will be fair game if hostile. I wouldn't be worried about a WW III so don't yous. Russia & China are out of this.
Yea Johnessy, you want to bet the farm on that. Russia and China are Iran's allies, and they might, or might not get involved. So don't spout your manure about no WWIII. A lot of people have served on Carrier task forces, and not all agree with you.
Israel will be nuking Iran within 3 months and all hell will break out after that. One billion Muslims will be enraged when Israel uses nukes to destroy their facilities because that's the only thing that will work against hardened deep targets. So expect Armageddon as suicide bombers come out of the woodwork everywhere forevermore--until Islam is eradicated as the cult it is.
It wont be WW3 it will just be a bonanza for the oil companies and chaos at the pumps when gas is 7 bucks a gallon for christmas. Then here will be riots and violence while the fat cats laugh.
Iran has been threatening Isreal for decades. I think that Isreal should have the first shot. It is only right.
I don't know about anybody else, but I get awfully sick and tired reading these long, pompous posts by doomsayers and Israel-haters. I don't know what their aresenal is, but I'm sure that Israel has a plentiful supply of nukes (that they made, not the U.S.), and knows full well how to use them to maximum effect, if need be. If they felt that their national survival was at stake, I dont't even for a moment think they would hesitate to use their stuff on whoever threatened their survivial. Don't forget: for most of the past two (perhaps three) millenia, Jews have not been allowed to own property, or do anything that would allow them to thrive. Why the heck do you think so many are small business-people? They wear a lot of jewelery not to show off their riches, but because the jewelery has monetary value; they wear their riches. They can't own land, so they have jewels and money. Then came 1948, and partition. Remember: Israel ofered full Israeli citizenship to Palestinians who wanted it and stayed. Some did, and they enjoy full citizenship to this day. Most, however, did not. They chose to listen to their Jew-hating neighbors and left - to become refugees and beggars in their adopted lands. Their hosts did not want them, did not like them, and treated them badly for the most part.
To the doomsayers: I get the distinct impression that you guys want there to be a war in the mid-east, and for Iran to win. Have any of you ever been in actual combat? Been there, done that - in Viet Nam. Let me tell you: it ain't a whole lot of fun. You don't know from one second to the next whether this will be your last breath. Terror? Yes. Anger? Yes. Unspeakable relief when this episode is over and you're still alive? That, too. Even if you don't have all your parts any more, or you've been wounded. You're still alive, and some of the people who tried to kill you are dead. You see, I don't like war. People get hurt. People get killed. Usually, it's the wrong people getting hurt or killed. So please take your hate-filled speech and get on some other stump. You don't really anger me so much as you tire me. Yes. I get so tired of your prattle and noise that I'd like to take a big swatter and swat you down to shut you up. You want the U.S. to lose in the mid East? You've made your point, and loudly so. Now, shut up and go away.
So I just went and did what I decried: wrote a long (hopefully not pompous) post. Sorry.
Your post was inspiring and informative, Fred, and we thank you very much.
I wish the US to remove its presence from the middle east. If it provokes a war with the Islamic Republic of Iran then yes, I hope it is defeated. Aggressors should always be defeated.
Your e-mail was pompous by far, and many people are sick of zionists egging on a Crime Against Peace and are tired of killing other peoples in other cultures. Israelis definitely are not superior and to think so is pompous, smug, and racist, and comptemptuous among others.
Yeah, Israel most likely has nuclear weapons of mass killing, and has them illegally, and are hypocritical in their sanctamonious stance. I get "so tired" of people who want to kill. Maybe you might know that Vietnam was pursued based on lies. Maybe you know 2 million innocent Vietnamese were killed, maimed, etc. Maybe you know agent orange was used, which many U.S. service personnel have complained about for years and which was not recognized by the government for years as a source of medical problems.
Maybe you know that massive fire bombing was used to kill anyone, including innocent women and children. We don't own the Middle-East to lose; ever heard of the Monroe Doctrine for the Americas. You don't own the internet or this site either, become humane and people will support you, there are many who won't go away to appease you and your support of killing innocents to further a fascist and hypocritical "agenda".
Truthin: (1) Before you start on a tired rant, try to realize that I was bringing historical facts to light about Israel. Does that make me a "Zionist?" I don't think so. Yes, some 2 million (or so) civilians were killed in Viet Nam, mostly by the VC and the NVA. But you don't want to see that; it doesn't fit in with your biases. As for Agent Orange, thanks to it I have both Type 2 Diabetes and Ischemic Heart Disease. You should be pleased.
(2) What is your definition of "peace?" Is it simply the absence of war? That can be achieved by simply yielding to Islamist wishes and invoke Sharia law all over the world. Would that satisfy you? Perhaps. But not me. I kind of like the quality of life I have, modest that it be. And who is the racist, Israel or the Arab world? Israel wants to be allowed to exist; the Arab world, it seems, wants to utterly destroy Israel. Again, who is the racist. Also, remember this about the Arabs: if they once held the land, they consider it to still be theirs. Spain, for instance.
(3) As for Israel's nukes, how is it that they have them illegally? Do they want to kill? Only if they have to. Who wants to eradicate whom? Answer that.
From the general tone of your posting, I get the impression that you have never been closer to combat than a John Wayne movie.
I never said that I own either the internet or this site. As a combat veteran, I'll warrant that I'm probably a magnitude of order more humane than you. You see, I've had to take life to keep from being killed. Re-read my comment about not liking war. Also, I didn't say to go away; I said for some tiresome dodos to shut up. Now come down off your high horse and re-read my post; you'll find it ain't pompous. No. It's straightforward - and to the point.
I don't agree with your "historical" facts, because they are "your" "facts" of the situation, they are not the facts of the situation. Many people don't "hate" Israel or want its demise as such, but they see injustices even if you don't.
Many people do not want an insane "war" in the Middle-East, so you must get your impressions from those who are calling for such an insanity. Do you have any facts as to how many Vietnamese people were killed by which entity, it was a wrongful "war" and caused 2 million deaths. Why should I be pleased with your condition caused by agent orange, I only pointed out that the "government" denied any medical consequences for years, and you prove the "government" wrong.
Most Muslims do not want "Sharia" law all over the world, any more than you want Christianity practiced by everyone at your command. All religions have valuable precepts for living, to go with text that isn't as valuable for living. Remember this, most people are happy where they live, as are Iranians; would many like to change conditions from time to time, yes, same as here. Racists are ones who don't love everyone as equally in their heart as possible.
How is it that Israel has illegal nukes, ask them, and then be aware that they are not entitled to be sanctamonious about it. It would be best if the whole world disarmed from these world killing weapons of hatred towards life in any form and destruction.
You don't know how many times I have faced death or not; every human life is fragile and is not guaranteed the next second. As of now we all face death in one way or another.
It discredits you and is false to believe you are "more humane than I", people are "humane" based on their respect for all life. As far as not telling people to "go away", read your sentence that says exactly that along with "shut up", not a friendly reminder of conversing on the subject. In any event, it is better to work for peace, as Chrisitanity teaches, "Blessed are the peacemakers ... children of God".
You don't like what I said because you disagree with what I said. However, you can't simply say so. Instead, you launch into a long-winded critique of points you imagine I made and then preach ad nauseum. Come down off your pulpit and quit preaching.
Thanks for the "sermon", you didn't address the issues, as such, but you seem somewhat genial. Have a good one.
Don't know how old Fred Craven is, but you must be so old you have dementia.
WE CARPET BOMBED THE COUNTRY, WE DROPPED NAPALM, WE DROPPED AGENT ORANGE..... and somehow you are saying it wasn't us??? Sure, they were dropping agent orange in their own country???
Were we worried about Vietnam attacking us? with what? water buffaloes?
Afghanistan is landlocked. What the hell can they do to us? No missles, no rockets, no boats, no planes.
Do you really believe that none of the million+ people a year who illegally cross our southern border, are Iranian agents? Do you really think they are going to do nothing if we attack? or are they going to do something like Bin Laden did?
Leon, you go girl!
I think they are getting what they want. The US to spend a fortune to send navy personal and ships sooner, and for longer. This will not do our ecconomy any favors. I really doubt they are going to follow through with shutting off the shipping lane. More of a game to them. Buys more time, that's all. Their military is not hurting.
One of the 2 reasons we should be there.The other being to see the suez canal does not get closed.
critical times hard to deal with, will be here. they cry peace an security and then sudden destruction will come.
I almost hope they try something big.
As one very powerful man once said; "I believe we have awoken a sleeping giant".
Woodshed, I believe it was a Japanese general speaking after Pearl Harbor, and his full statement was, "We have awakened a sleeping giant and filled him with a terrible resolve." We heard it repeated frequently after 911.
Thank you Cassandra. Yamamoto ?
i said it before, they will not allow the USA to leave the Mideast after the Afghanistan war. it can't happen, too much money at stake. on top of that they will never fight the war, it will be Americans doing it. one may ask who are 'they'. they are the Israeli lobby in the US, the military industrial complex, Saudi Arabia, military contractors, etc. Romney and the right wing are also committed to a continued mideast war.
Perhaps it would be useful to point out that Japan entered WW II at a point where they locked in a unwinnable war in China, had no international trading partners, a currency that worthless on the international market, and a six month oil reserve. Iran is not as isolated as 1941 Japan but they do not have a ton of friends and it certainly appears that one of the best friends, Syria's Alawite Assad regime, may evaporate. If that happens Iran may well feel that their options are "use or lose it". As for their military being a pushover, I wouldn't count on that. By western standards their air force is outmoded and their navy is miniscule but anyone who has done even a cursory study immediately notices that they have come up with some very creative solutions to their unique set of military problems. Just because they are militarily "inferior" does not they are not very dangerous.
Wars are easy to start and hard to finish.
Yeah Big Talk, but how many of our so called "Allies" are going to help us out on this?? Most of the oil if not All the oil passing thru the Strait goes to Europe, and that is why Europe should be protecting the Strait not the U.S. Seems we will be fighting yet Another War for Israel. Looks to me like the U.S. has become Israel's B---H.
Are we willing to use nukes to keep it open?
We should be threatening to turn Tehran to dust.
Go on Panetta rattle the saber I guess your rich oil and defense contracting buddies need more money. Nothing changes all a bunch of propaganda to make the rich richer.
The problem isn't Iran so much as Russia. Putin is backing Assad in Syria, and he's backing Iran as well. When the S#!T starts (and it WILL) look for China to view Israel as the root cause. Russia will jump in backing Iran, and then China will come after the US and Israel (mainly motivated by economic interests) and then it actually WILL be WWIII.
Israel reportedly does not possess many geological resources i.e., oil, uranium (for its nuclear arsenal), etc.; so it must have trading partners on the world market to acquire these raw materials. This is often overlooked when the topics of nuclear weapons, fuel prices, et. al. are brought up.
In any event, it may be safe to say that any armed confrontation in the Strait of Hormuz will result in stratospheric oil prices mirroring the 1973 Arab oil embargo (which was directly attributed to Israel). For those that were too young (or not yet born), LONG gas lines and physical violence were almost the norm for a tank of gas in many parts of the country. Filling up a large, thirsty SUV could get VERY expensive.........
If IRAN starts to "block" the STRAIT of HORMUZ......."triggering" a U.S. response.....it is going to be an "Iraq style" war......we will go straight in, and DISMANTLE all of Iran's NUCLEAR AMBITIONS. It will be an "Iraq style" complete DESTRUCTION of their facilities. We will intend to "own" Iran. I guess they still remember....."Shock and Awe" of Iraq, and it could happen to them, and maybe including the EXECUTION of the Ayatollah.
After all, it will be PAYBACK time for what they did to our EMBASSY in 1979. In world war II, Japan conducted the same Agression at PEARL HARBOR in order to dominate SOUTHEAST ASIA. They wanted to create a "Greater East Asia co-prosperity Sphere." Actually.....Japan was WINNING all of their wars, since 1904, when they conducted a war with Russia.
That is......."until they messed with UNCLE SAM." And then the Sh-t hit the fan. All of these wars really start with AGRESSOR countries forming "military dictatorships" in their own countries.
And then....they get AMBITIOUS.
Nice "analysis" with a preconceived constrution, factually one sided, and deficient. "Payback time", yeah what about 1953 and the 1980's regarding the "balancing of the Middle-East" costing a million lives with the use of wmd's, and you bring in 1979 with no deaths to support your war-mongering and imperialism. We need better "leaders" who understand.
Anyone who beleaves that accepting the threats and closing our ears to the ongoing production of material needed to produce nuclear weapons by country's that have no intention to comply with any forms of UN inspections / regulations is living in a make beleave world. Further any country who's leaders publicly threten other countrys by way of deadly force thru the use of such weapons has no right to be allowed to continue the production of such materials. Iran simply needs to learn the hard way that thay must comply with the policys of the global community or face the ramafications for the're actions. This is the fact of the matter. Thru strong and dedacated leadership we will acheave a peacefull coexistance with all nations that are willing to cooperate . Those nations who refuse to do this will eventually wake up to having the're prodictatorship forms of government overthrown by there own countrymen in the attempts to prosper with others. Americans, these are critical times to secure the safety and best intrests for your children and thr're's vote for change.
Lokks like we just can not wait for another war. If they thought Iraq was difficult (only took ten years!), wait until they invade Iran. 10 times as many people, difficult terrain, etc. This will be a test of our drones. I am sure we will target thousands of defenseless people and call them terrorists.
Amazing how many gutless wimps who were never in the military talk about kicking ass. Reminds me of a football game, where the fat slobs in the stands talk about how tough they are when the players on their team win. No matters who wins, the fat slobs are fat slobs. The gutless wimps who were never man enough to go into the military are the ones talking about kicking ass. These are the same tough guys who are afraid of the Taliban hiding in their closet or under their bed. Terrified wimps. Let someone else die so THEY can claim to be tough. All the government officials telling is how tough they are, when they are going to spend someone elses life and money, not their own.
HEY TOUGH GUYS......WHY DON'T YOU JOIN UP? AND BE SURE TO SEND A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS TO THE TREASURY FOR THE WAR YOU LOVE. You do not have to pay the minimum tax, I am sure the IRS will take your money if you want to overpay. So send in a little extra to support you war games