Why is the United States filling the Persian Gulf with Battleships?

Question

Most attacks on U.S. Troops in Iraq are by Sunnis not Shias, which populate Iran. The last National Intelligence Estimate said Iran could not possibly have Nuclear Weapons until mid next decade. Who has Iran attacked? Does anyone honestly believe Iran is a security threat to the United States? Is the U.S. trying to provoke another "Gulf of Tonkin" like pretext for a new war?

Reuters
Wednesday 23 May 2007

Nine U.S. warships carrying 17,000 personnel entered the Gulf on Wednesday in a show of force off Iran's coast that navy officials said was the largest daytime assembly of ships since the 2003 Iraq war.

U.S. Navy officials said Iran had not been notified of plans to sail the ships, which include two aircraft carriers, through the Straits of Hormuz, a narrow channel in international waters off Iran's coast and a major artery for global oil shipments.

To briang73,
Typical O'Reilly reactionary. Repeat LIES and then resort to name calling. Pathetic.

The results of an attack on Iran could be horrendous. After all, according to a recent study of "the Iraq effect" by terrorism specialists Peter Bergen and Paul Cruickshank, using government and Rand Corporation data, the Iraq invasion has already led to a seven-fold increase in terror. The "Iran effect" would probably be far more severe and long-lasting. British military historian Corelli Barnett speaks for many when he warns that "an attack on Iran would effectively launch World War III."

Answer 1

Yes, America, under Israel's instruction has gone from the good guy, to the most hated bully on the planet. Some day someone is going to knock our block off, and I have to admit, I think we deserve it.

Answer 2

As a point of note, which is often ignored here in the U.S, is that southern Iraq is mainly patrolled and held by British forces.

This is the Shia area and Iran is proven to be equipping training and helping the Mahdi Army in its increasing attacks on British troops. This is an area where for the last three years there has been mainly peace and a good relationship between the brits and the locals, but that has changed markedly due to Iranian influence.

You may also recall an incident a few weeks ago when heavilly armed Iranian special forces took a Royal Navy patrol hostage and paraded them on T.V in a total breach of international law.

Finally you have insulted another answerer and I have to support the guy on his comments regarding Iran and its support for Hamas etc. These are well known facts acknowledged by both the right and the left of the political spectrum.

Just because someone disagrees with you doesnt mean that they are automaticaly wrong and you right.

Study a wide cross reference of middle eastern politics and history and you will be better equipped to handle the truth.

Oh and by the way...Canada has a lot of oil so if its about oil why havent the U.S invaded there?

Answer 3

Not battleship's. Aircraft carrier's and a Marine assault group. Frankly that is what I would rather have done to Iraq. Why does Iran want nuclear capability at all? They have a population that mostly wants the last few decade's to end and closer tie's to the West again, including the USA. Iran's people are basically sick of this stand off and the people who rule them. They don't have decent clothes, food, or any future this way, except looking forward to being the Cuba where they are. So why don't we work to that end? Instead of worrying about nuclear capability? Fact. Israel would attack them first using the same. And would in a minute if they did show sign's of having serious capability there. This deal is a joke on that level. Israel holds all the card's. So do we. One American nuclear submarine could destroy half of Iran or more. If the current guy running Iran has any sanity at all he will not push it to that level.

Answer 4

Maybe your right. It's how the USA does business, we present a target of opportunity, and the bad guys go for it. The USS Vicente had this problem with a commercial carrier, and an F-14 tomcat tucked up under it. Both were shot down. Iranian plan, didn't work, that time. The only way to really kill one of the carriers is a suicide attack, done at hypersonic speeds, and down the stacks. No American commander wishes to be known at the first to lose a nuke powered, 70k, ton carrier to the Iranians. It might get a little paranoid in there, and those without legitimate business, should stay out.

Answer 5

Geez dick-v, it's pretty clear by your initial question and your 'edit' that you're not looking for an honest, open debate on the question. You've got a preconceived notion of the answer, and all you're looking for is someone to validate your viewpoint.

Iran not a threat? They are arming Iraqi insurgents; President Ahmadinejad has taken a clearly belligerant stance toward non-Islamic states, and, oh, yeah - THEY'RE DEVELOPING NUKES!!! And a state that has supported and resorted to terrorism in the past, with a nuclear capability, is absolutely a threat!

This is the problem in the US today - it doesn't seem like anybody wants to enter into a rational debate about anything - you've got your preconceived notions, and so do I - both based on different interpretations of the facts. I'm willing to talk and be persuaded. Are you?

Answer 6

Well, I see we have another expert on the middle east, who is prepared to take sides with the rogue country of Iran.

Indeed Iran is a threat to the US, frankly it is a threat to world peace. How much of this Islamic nonsense the world will tolerate, is quickly coming to a head. This combined with Iran equipping the insurgents in Iraq, along with Syria of coarse. In addition, it has now stoked the Palestinian fire by getting Hamas to start it's crap there. Hezbollah is right on Q, in it's saber rattling in Lebanon, and you ask why we have a couple of carrier groups in the Gulf.

Weazel, in spite of your mousy objection to the US doing what it must do, are you so stupid as to believe that Iran is not a threat to the US ? Or is it that you are just afraid that if things keep up, the US will reinstate the draft, and then you will have to take showers naked, with all those other guys?

Answer 7

Has it ever occurred to you that Iran would LOVE to get the USA to fire the first shot so they could activate all their sleeper cells in Iraq? So that Russia could step in and threaten to nuke the US? So that they could shut off oil supplies and disrupt flow to nations that need and depend on it, ie: china, who would then in turn put pressure on the USA to stop. Because we are in theory, bigger, Iran would LOVE to see us get slapped by the International union of nations, or even just Russia and China. Trade would be endangered, the economy would falter even worse in the US. Bin Fraudin would love to see the chance to side with Iran against the US, igniting yet perhaps another terror attack. The chips are stacked against the US even if we are RIGHT, to attack Iran, no matter what the reason. Iran is a cunning and evil enemy and I honestly wont miss them when there is nothing left there but a glowing mass of pulsing green energy.

Answer 8

Well, the US Navy has had at least ONE Carrier Battle Group in the Gulf since 1991...

The Persian Gulf and Straits of Hormuz are international waters, and we transit them frequently... and we're just ready and training for Iran to attack shipping and mine the area as they've done before.

Oh, and Iran IS threatening our troops by training and equipping insurgents

Answer 9

Considering the Iran finances 95 % of the terrorists in Iraq, I would say that its a good probability that were going to stick a foot in their *** here shortly.

Answer 10

Well we must not have any ships there, the U.S. hasn't had a Battleship since 1992. Do you even know the difference between a battleship and an aircraft carrier?