Care to post any news sources of this?

I don't see why they would need to set up a blockade when Iran already said they were going to close down the shipping passageway themselves.

"The neo-cons are counting on such a blockade launching a war with Iran."

"neo-con grand strategy and to western control of all of the Middle East's oil supply."


That article is totally not biased at all.

Don't believe everything you hear.

We have had large carrier groups at sea for a very long time, This is not unusual considering the growing issue with Iran. Think of it as the big dog going into the neighborhood to make sure all the little dogs are playing nice

Likewise.

I still don't see any good evidence to lead me to believe what you say is true, though.

You are possibly the most naive person on this board. You remind me of Hank from King of the Hill...always putting your trust in the government and people "more qualified" to handle these kinds of disputes, never question anything the government does and always hold a firm belief that they're working in your best interest where any person with a mind of their own can see that's far from the case. When the current crisises relating to your country improve, then talk about how things for America, let alone the world, due to Western intervention are going fine.

John....you really need to check your source on this. I checked this "Lord Stirling"...even drug my Debrett's Peerage out. The title went into dormancy in 1949. Plus his age doesn't match with the last born male issue. For someone that claims more titles than the Queen holds, he certainly ought to be able to make a better website. It appears he may have bought his titles.

All that aside, he sounds like a bit of a crackpot IMO. Some of his expressions are so low brow, hardly those of an Earl. Many of his articles are also far fetched.

I wouldn't go building the bomb shelter just yet. Wink

What do you mean? Aside from the fact that Major General Jafari is quoted to say ""Enemies know that we are easily able to block the Strait of Hormuz for an unlimited period," and that he spoke to Iranian reporters after testing a new antiship missile that he said could sink "enemy ships" at a range of more than 200 miles. He said shutting down the Strait of Hormuz would be easy.

They already threatened to close it, as well.

http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/iran ... 19185.html

That's only just one site covering it, there's many more if you want to look for your self.

I do not agree with my government on every issue, If you want to rephrase and replace government with the war on terror specifically that might be more accurate.

On a side note do you have another source? Bias is going to be in almost everything but the guy who writes those articles in particular is a bit out there.

From someone on military.com when this was posted:

I guess I went a bit overboard in calling you naive (somewhat of an insulting term). But you are too trusting in those regards.

That is irrelevent to the topic. If Iran themselves are talking about closing off shipping passageways, there will be no incentive for a blockade since Iran is already doing it for them.

Yes, and it also stated that they are threatening to close it themselves, which would really mean there'd be no use for a western fronted blockade if Iran is willing to close its shipping in the first place.

From Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- More than 15,000 service members from four countries will participate in Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 08-4 "Operation Brimstone", July 21-31 in North Carolina and off the eastern U.S. coast from Virginia to Florida.

JTFEX 08-4 serves as a ready-for-deployment certification event for the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TR CSG) and the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group (IWO ESG). The exercise will also serve as a Joint Task Force Capable Headquarters sustainment event. In addition, JTFEX 08-4 will offer preliminary accreditation for 2nd Fleet's Maritime Headquarters with Maritime Operations Center (MHQ with MOC)). MHQ with MOC is a new approach to command and control for fleet commanders.

"This exercise is a tremendous opportunity to train; not only as the Navy and Marine Corps team, but with our joint and coalition partners as well," said Commander, 2nd Fleet Vice Adm. Marty Chanik.

"JTFEX 08-4 will flex our warfighting capabilities from the operational level through expeditionary strike force and strike group operations with several of our coalition partners – France, Brazil and the United Kingdom."

The exercise also marks the first time that forces from Navy Expeditionary Combat Command are participating in an East-Coast JTFEX. NECC forces operating in the littorals and riverine environment are supporting integrated operations.

"Navy Expeditionary Combat Command provides a self-contained adaptive force package with a command element tailored to support the full spectrum of operations from major combat operations to unconventional and irregular warfare," said NECC commander Rear Adm. Mike Tillotson.

U.S. and coalition naval assets underway for the exercise include the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) with associated units including the British aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal (RO 7), the Brazilian Navy frigate Greenhalgh (F-46) and the French submarine FS Amethyste (S 605). BNS Greenhalgh is the first Brazilian Navy ship to operate integrated in a U.S. strike group.

French Rafale fighter aircraft assigned to the 12th Squadron, and Hawkeye early warning aircraft assigned to the 4th Squadron will conduct carrier qualifications and cyclic flight operations with U.S. Carrier Air Wing 8 during Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group's Joint Task Force Exercise. This marks the first integrated U.S. and French carrier qualifications and cyclic flight operations aboard a U.S. aircraft carrier.

The TR CSG is made up of: USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71); Commander, Carrier Strike Group 2 (CCSG-2); Carrier Air Wing 8 (CVW-8); Commander, Destroyer Squadron 22 (CDS-22); the guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG 61); the guided-missile destroyers USS Mason (DDG 87), and USS Nitze (DDG 94) homeported in Norfolk; the attack submarine USS Springfield (SSN 761) homeported in Groton, Conn.; and the guided-missile destroyer USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) homeported in Mayport, Fla.

The IWO ESG consists of USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), Commander, Amphibious Squadron Four (CPR-4) based at Little Creek, Va.; the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (26 MEU) based at Camp Lejune, N.C.; the amphibious transport dock ship San Antonio (LPD 17); guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72); and the guided-missile destroyer USS Ramage (DDG 61), homeported in Norfolk; the dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) homeported at Little Creek, Va.; the guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) homeported in Mayport, Fla., and the attack submarine USS Hartford (SSN 768) homeported in Groton, Conn.

The Navy Expeditionary Combat Task Group (NECTG) is made up of: Riverine Group 1 staff augmented with personnel from throughout the NECC force, Riverine Squadron 1, Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron Ten, based in Jacksonville, Fla.; an air detachment from Naval Construction Forces Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11 based in Gulfport, Miss.; Navy Cargo Handling Battalion 3, based in Alameda, Calif.), and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit 6 plus EOD Support Unit based at Little Creek, Va.

In addition, the following forces are participating in the exercise simulating opposition forces: the guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64), homeported in Mayport, Fla.; the guided missile cruisers USS San Jacinto (CG 56), USS Anzio (CG 68) and USS Normandy (CG 60), the guided-missile destroyers USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79), USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81); and the guided-missile frigate USS Carr (FFG 52), all homeported in Norfolk.

It makes perfect sense. They supply 1/5th of the world's oil through that area. By cutting it off they can put pressure on demands from Russia and China to back off their enrichment.

Of course, but then again so would continuing their enrichment program and having more sanctions imposed on the country, but they seem to not care.

Besides all of this, if you really think that is the goal of the US and its allies, to blockade this striahgt which would result in retaliation from both Russia and China, then I don't think you've really thought this through. The fact that we stayed out of Russia's affairs in South Ossetia certainly shows that we know our limits and can't afford to lose them as an ally. There simply is no reason for us to do such a thing.

It can stay, as long as posts remain constructive and relevent.

Don't believe everything you hear.

U.S. rebuffs Israeli request for arms geared toward Iran strike
The American administration has rejected an Israeli request for military equipment and support that would improve Israel's ability to attack Iran's nuclear facilities.

The Americans viewed the request, which was transmitted (and rejected) at the highest level, as a sign that Israel is in the advanced stages of preparations to attack Iran. They therefore warned Israel against attacking, saying such a strike would undermine American interests. They also demanded that Israel give them prior notice if it nevertheless decided to strike Iran.

I guess I went a bit overboard in calling you naive (somewhat of an insulting term). But you are too trusting in those regards.

It's just as bad, if not worse in some instances, to be totally distrusting of government officials and qualified professionals in certain matters. Getting your news exclusively from random lunatics on internet blogs and politically extremist sources is only going to get you fed with a bunch of hysterics.

When these random lunatics can claim body counts similar to what the governments that these officials and professionals represent have, then I'll be more trusting of my alleged benefactors.

Well said. Conspiracy theorists are nothing more than people posting things on sites/blogs...which are harmless for the most part. They're not actually the ones out there slaughtering people in the name of an ideology that's not suited for the people they are trying to "liberate".