Iranian Missile Boats Shadowing U.S. Carrier Near Strait of Hormuz
- Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:07am by
Buck Sexton
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(AP) — Iranian patrol boats and aircraft shadowed a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group as it transited the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday.
The passage ended a Gulf mission that displayed Western naval power amid heightened tensions with Tehran, which has threatened to choke off vital oil shipping lanes.
But officers onboard the USS Abraham Lincoln said there were no incidents with Iranian forces and described the surveillance as routine measures by Tehran near the strategic strait, which is jointly controlled by Iran and Oman.
Although U.S. warships have passed through the strait for decades, the trip comes during an escalating showdown between Iran and the West over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program. The last time an American carrier left the Gulf – the USS John C. Stennis in late December – Iran’s army chief warned the U.S. it should never return.
The Lincoln was the centerpiece of a flotilla that entered the Gulf last month along with British and French warships in a display of Western unity against Iranian threats. There was no immediate comment by Iran about the Lincoln’s departure.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has said it plans its own naval exercises near the strait, the route for a fifth of the world’s oil supply. But Iran’s military has made no attempts to disrupt oil tanker traffic – which the U.S. and allies have said would bring a swift response.
Two American warships, one in front and one in the rear, escorted the Abraham Lincoln on its midday journey through the strait and into the Arabian Sea after nearly three weeks in the Gulf, which is frequently visited by U.S. warships and includes the headquarters of the U.S. 5th Fleet in Bahrain. The strait is only about 30 miles (50 kilometers) across at its narrowest point.
On one side, the barren, fjord-like mountains of Oman were visible through the haze. Iran’s coast was just beyond the horizon on the other side of the ship, but too far away to be seen.
Gunners in red jerseys manned the 50-caliber machine guns as the ships moved out of the Gulf. An Iranian patrol boat pulled nearby.
Later, just after the Lincoln rounded the “knuckle” – the nub of Oman jutting out at the southern end of the strait – an Iranian patrol plane buzzed overhead. Another patrol boat was waiting further down the coast, said Rear Adm. Troy Shoemaker, commander of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Force.
Besides Iran’s regular patrol boats, the Revolutionary Guard operates a large number of small, fast-attack boats. Some are armed with only a machine gun, while others also carry anti-ship missiles. They can be difficult to spot because they resemble the swift-moving smuggling boats that ply the strait.
Shoemaker said none of those fast boats appeared Tuesday, likely deterred by the rough seas.
He predicted before the transit that the Iranians would likely keep a close eye on the Lincoln throughout its passage, including with ground-based radars. He wasn’t surprised by the attention from Iranian forces.
“We would do the same things off the coast of the United States … It’s more than reasonable. We’re operating in their backyard,” he said. “We’ve been doing it for years.”
Several U.S. choppers flanked the carrier group throughout the transit, watching out for potentially hostile vessels and relaying real-time pictures back to the Lincoln’s crew.
Dozens of F/A-18 strike fighters and other planes in Lincoln’s embarked air wing sat parked silently on deck throughout the trip. Today was a no-fly day for their crews, though some fighters were prepped and armed, ready to launch in as little as 15 minutes should things go wrong.
Officers on board were eager to describe the transit, in which the Lincoln was accompanied by the cruiser USS Cape St. George and destroyer USS Sterett, as a routine maneuver despite the growing speculation that Israel could launch a military strike against Iran’s nuclear program.
The U.S. and allies fear Iran’s uranium enrichment program could eventually lead to the production of weapons-grade nuclear material. Iran claims it only seeks reactors for energy and medical research.
“I wouldn’t characterize … us going through the strait as: ‘Hey, this is a huge show of force, we’re coming through.‘ It’s an international strait to transit. We’re going from one body of water to the other,” said Capt. John Alexander, the Lincoln’s commanding officer, as preparations for the trip got under way late Monday.
The Lincoln is expected to provide air support for the NATO mission in Afghanistan starting Thursday. Navy brass in the Gulf say another American carrier is due back through the strait soon, but gave no firm timetables.
























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Comments (138)
elihu
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 12:20pmI‘d feel much more safe if we had a ’REAL’ POTUS as Commander-in-Chief…
Itsjusttim
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 12:28pmYou mean as opposed to one who punches more holes in a sinking ship, and then bales off the ship before it sinks into the depths?
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 12:33pmSometimes I feel like the guy in the movie the “Twilight-Zone” who looks out the window of the plane at the creature tearing apart the plane engine, but no one else sees it.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 12:40pmAnd sometimes God tries to point out to people the things that are coming. Case in point the ship captain of the 5-year-old Costa Concordia was drunk on the bad-wine while entertaining a harlot, and he ran his ship into a under-water mountain, and then he abandoned ship without the people.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 12:54pmBut people take everything for it’s face-value, and they forget about their dry-ground, and the earth of the heart, and they don’t realize that in this “Wood of the world” there are many different dimensions playing a tune to which they should be listening. And they’ll say: No, it was just a mishap, and that’s all it was.
Report Post »Jefferson
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 1:05pm“We would do the same things off the coast of the United States … It’s more than reasonable. We’re operating in their backyard,” he said. “We’ve been doing it for years.” Rear Adm. Troy Shoemaker
No joke Admiral. We’ve been “doing it” since 1953 with our CIA overthrowing their democratically elected president, and replacing him with a US backed puppet Shaw.
So a fleet of ships in “THEIR back yard” provoking THEM, and they are supposed to just roll over after 50+ years of intervention in their Govt.?
We (meaning CIA and Mossad and military) go around the world poking the all little guys in the chest, and then wonder what the hell happened when one of them breaks a beer bottle over our heads when we’re not looking.
Israel is about to start WWIII. As soon as they attack Iran, the US is going to get involved, because the US is Israel’s B!tch. Then, no telling what is going to happen if Russia and China (our banker) gets involved. Pakistan (who ACTUALLY has nukes) has already said they’ll back Iran.
This country is headed off of a cliff soon..
I expect another false flag attack here that will be blamed on local Tea Party people and or Iran, to get things popping. NDAA was meant for you, not foreigners.
Report Post »This is all according to a long term PNAC plan.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXS3vW47mOE
Itsjusttim
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 1:32pmJefferson,
Report Post »Have you ever thought for even a Milli-second that Americans in general have been getting used and abused for over a hundred years, and we as Americans are only guilty of trusting? And that the agenda has always been “Target U.S.A?” And that the reason America has been meddling in Mid-East affairs so long was to get America addicted and dependent on foreign oil, while making Americans watch cartoons like Popeye making fun of Mid-Easterners so as to have us let down our guard against the dangers of Infuriating any Islamic movement, while people with only International Interests and no national loyalty get richer and richer? While making Americans more and more arrogant so they will look over their own faults, and look over any chance of seeing the ill effects of their way? I’ve thought about this most of my life, and it’s sad others have not. Because I will tell you, being obsessed with money, success, and sports by the wider portion of society isn’t normal.
Wilbur Longshank
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 2:06pmthey said some planes were armed and could be ready to go in 15 minutes. new flas in 5 minutes a rocket could slam into the side of your ship.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 2:07pmI have to agree with you there; at the first sign of hostilities I expect Obama to cut and run, have our military be ordered not to defend itself and abandon the whole region.
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 4:47pmI‘m betting that the entire time Iran’s boats are near the carrier, there is at least one phalanx gun aimed at them, which is not only capable of shredding the enemy craft, but the incoming missile as well.
Report Post »resme
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 7:40pmNicely said Jefferson, Stay safe.
Legalize the constitution – 2012.
Report Post »ishka4me
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 9:57pmDoes Obama let Navy defend themselves or does he use same use of force as in Iraq and Afghanistan which is enemy has to shoot at you first?
Report Post »jb.kibs
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 10:52pmwhat NATO mission in Afghanistan? ;)
Report Post »supressorgrid
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 12:17pmGet the U.S.S Missouri and Iowa out of mothballs.They would own the strait.
Report Post »GeneTracy
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 3:03pmAgreed.Getting the “big sticks” out of mothballs would intimidate anybody.
Report Post »Delta D-5-3
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 3:04pmI LIKE THAT IDEA! I can just see their faces now if those two would to troll by!!! BUT, of course we’re soooo broke now they are in the process of deactivating ships, Army battalions, and Air Force squadrons. We’re so ****ed!
Report Post »martinez012577
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 8:00pmCruise missiles are more effective. No need for them.
Report Post »SoupSandwich
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 12:14pmAll the while, we are admonished by the lovely Muslim Bro-hood to keep paying aid to Egypt to keep the peace with Israel, and the members of Catholic Light/ Episc Church are trying to tell us that Israel is committing atrocities on the poor Paleostinians. Would all of the worlds malingerers and slackers and wanna be despots get some uniformity? Maybe settle on talking points or all wear the same hat even. Man. We need to send all the truth teams to Hormuz with pinwheels on their helmets and Obumma stickers for all.
Report Post »HappyHourReject
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 12:11pmThat’s actually not a Iranian destroyer….That is a Kidd class (Modified Spruance) that was originally designed for the Shah of Iran before the revolution, but were ultimately sold to Taiwan. Iranians do not have a vessel larger then corvette/frigate.
Report Post »PConvictions
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 12:22pmI am blown away by this mistake on THEBLAZE. I have been a faithful reader since it’s launch and I have never witnessed something so disgusting in my life. In fact, this exact ship has been photographed a number of times by the Chinese Defence Blog. The former USS Kidd DDG-993 is now in the ROCS called the Tso Ying. Republic of China Navy. Or Taiwan.
Report Post »bullcrapbuster
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 4:25pm@pc……Man,you are easy to blow away
Report Post »AnAmerican111
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 12:10pmI am surprised that Iran is able to row their “Warships” fast enough to keep up!
Make my day! Get rid of a Towel-Head!
Report Post »cloudsofwar
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 3:56pm@anamerican… can they row fast enough. LOL that was funny. stroke stroke
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 12:06pmNothing will happen unless the Iranians make it happen. Obama will not do anything unless he thinks it will get him elected.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 12:25pmI don’t think he cares about getting reelected if he can accomplish what he wants in this term.
Report Post »lembrandt
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:54amI am assuming that the USS Abraham Lincoln is equipped with nuclear weapons, therefore I would propose that if the Iranians make *any* sort of hostile move towards our forces in the strait, they unleash total destruction on Iran. Destroy utterly their ships in the strait and while doing that, drop a “nuke” on every one of their largest cities. Stop them in one fell swoop and end this dire threat ASAP…
Of course the pro-Islam, anti-American, criminal Obama administration would never do this, which of course is what has emboldened the radical Islamic terrorist state that is the current Iranian government. If we actually had a President that not only wasn’t trying to destroy the USA from within, but who had an international spine, we wouldn’t be in this eye-to-eye standoff in the Strait of Hormuz to begin with, not to mention that fact that the criminal Obama has given Iran implied permission to develop a nuclear bomb.
People we are in dire shape domestically and internationally and the people in charge of our government are the people who caused it – we have been the victims of a coup de etat and it just might kill us all.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 12:02pmYes, but isn’t it odd how the U.S vessels just keep traveling through the Strait back and forth? Almost like the way a carnival duck-shoot game has the ducks traveling back and forth?
Report Post »tzion
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 12:03pmLincoln is an aircraft carrier. IF they had nukes they would have to be loaded by plane and dropped (and that’s only if the President authorizes it). Carriers, unlike other ship types, don’t posses long range missiles.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 12:07pmThat’s assuming U.S nuclear weapons operate. I seem to remember Russia saying: America better not out-fit their nuclear missiles with standard war-heads. They said that a few years ago.
Report Post »rot_soldier
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 12:34pm@Itsjusttim – It’s not odd at all. It’s what we do to provoke Iran into a fight. We’ll keep running those ships back and forth until Iran attacks or we run into a mine, in which case, our government will say Iran attacked us and we will go to war.
Report Post »Zaggynuts
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 2:21pm@Itsjusttim
Russia and China will back down, as they know destruction would soon follow their attack. Both of these wanna be super powers (if you can even call them that) are behind us 10-20 years. It is just like the fighter training video china released, which ended up being edited footage from a movie. As for Russia, they may have been strong during the cold war era, however, now they better learn their place.
By the way china, where is our 750 billion (which is the dollar amount owed today) that was loaned to you before the communists came into power. That money is still owed, and needs to be subtracted from what they claim we owe them.
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:49amDRILL, BABY, DRILL ! !
That’s the answer !
Energy independence means we can tell them to take a long walk off a short boat.
Report Post »USPATRIOT101
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 12:13pmThis is such a simple answer. I’ve been saying this for years. the price per barrel for oil bounces between $85 and $110 (roughly speaking). the price just continues to climb even though the price per barrel stays in this range. Barack stated in a campaign speech before being “appointed”, that we should be paying $5.00 per gallon for fuel. This is the only way Americans reduce consumption.
Report Post »capecod1
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:45amHow long before China and Russia give Iran the approval for a strike to kick things off? Also, what are the chances that there will be a “strike” by allied forces (which will obviously be done by the axis) to get things going?
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:57amKeep in mind too that Russia and China are publicly scolding Iran, but murmuring under their breath and behind doors: go Iran.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:59amAlways remember that no matter what, the nations that control the money, control history, and the actions going on in the world.
Report Post »capecod1
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 12:18pmYou are right Tim…there is no way the axis will allow for disruption, but they want nothing more than the position of the U.S. to be weakened. With the current place holder in the White House the time is right for a covert attack on our international interests with no fear of reprisal.
Report Post »T ParT
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:44amIran knows something we don’t.
Report Post »And we got Osloba as Commander.
Itsjusttim
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:44amIf someone wanted to destroy the spirit of the American people, and make their mountains melt away, what would really make the mountains melt away? Keep in mind the enemy isn’t outside the gates, and the enemy is in the house. I think if an entire carrier group was to be wiped out, that would pretty well melt the mountains of Americans. Not that I want it to happen, but I think there is those who would like to see it happen.
Report Post »jakartaman
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:37amDo you feel lucky today punk
Report Post »Why don’t you make my day
Deda1
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:33amBlow the devil worshipers boats out of the water.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:32amHere’s a question: with more and more nations laying claim to sunken vessels in their waters near their nations, and International law ruling over the claims, if the U.S carrier group was to be struck by an EMP and rendered useless sitting there in those waters, who would get ownership over them?
Report Post »tzion
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 12:05pmAll US Naval ship are EMP shielded. They’re tested before deployment in order to be certain it works.
Report Post »okredstate
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 1:38pmTim: Go get another lolypop and then go to bed. Good grief man.
Report Post »Tandem2011
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:29amThis is what the Iranians need to see off their shores to remind them that the U.S. military is a far mightier threat to their international law violations than the mousy whispers of Obama and his State Department asking them to sit down with our reps to split hairs over the meanings of nukes “for peaceful purposes” and nukes to “remove Israel from the map.”
Report Post »martinez012577
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:28am“We would do the same things off the coast of the United States … It’s more than reasonable. We’re operating in their backyard,” he said. “We’ve been doing it for years.”
Great point he makes there. We are provoking this attack. We will be at war with Iran soon. I pray for the young men and women that will fight this war for nothing. Iran isnt a threat to the United States. Our service men signed up to protect our country, not be policemen of the world.
What will happened with war with Iran.
1. 150 dollar a barrel oil. Bad for us.
Report Post »2. Troops of ours could die.
3. We start a war with another Muslim country. Remember we dont just kill militants. Children die, and when children die they either want revenge or use it as a excuse for revenge to rally more to their cause. ( Bin Laden said on CBS in 1998 he was bring the war to our shores because of the killing of Iraqi children )
4. Alot more debt. Remember we had 5 trillion in debt before we started bombing Iraqi and Afghanistan, now we are approaching 16 trillion.
5. China, Russia, and Pakistan have all said they will either enter the war or aid Iran if they are attacked by us. Attacking a country to stop them from getting on nuke only to bring war with countries with thousands doesnt make much sense to me.
Locked
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 12:08pmSpot on analysis.
Report Post »rot_soldier
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 12:32pmit’s good to see that some folks get it. Gulf of Tonkin, Lusithania, Pearl Harbor, … I could go on and on where we went to war with another nation based on the United States provoking it. Iran knows what we are doing and is holding back because they know they will take the blame. If they attack the US in the Straits it will allow the US and our allies to wage full blown war against them.
Report Post »For all those that want this war with Iran I ask you…. Will you sign up to join the fight? Will you send your son or daughter to fight and die over in Iran for your personal gains? Probably not, but you‘re more than happy to send someone else’s child to do your bidding. If you’re not joing to step up, then shut up.
P8riot
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 1:48pm@ Martinez – “We are provoking this attack” – do you feel the same way about 9/11?
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 2:10pmNature abhors a vacuum. If the U.S. never can use an international water war such as the straights of Hormuz or the Persian Gulf, Iran might have hegemony over Saudi & the Gulf states. They would resent it but might take 1/2 a gen to effect change. Without a war price might spike with Iranian hegemony. You got to factor that in. Just because there is no war does not mean there won’t be price spikes.
Report Post »martinez012577
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 2:54pm@p8riot
Americans didnt slam planes into our own buildings. However, our foreign policy in the middle east and created the monster that did do 911.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnhJwxYsomw&feature=related
You can watch the 1998 video and see Bin Laden in his own words. See I know you are trying to get to label me a “truther” or some crap like that. I dont believe we did it, I do believe we caused it.
Bombing countries and killing their children is what fuels their hatred. They will always be a thorn in our side, but to continue to rub our wound only makes things worse.
My solution to the problem.
American energy independence. That means drilling our oil and I am for giving tax credits to convert your car to a CNG car. Also give tax credits for gas stations willing to put in the CNG pumps.
Next cut all foreign aid to everyone.
Countries that are a problem to us will die on the vine if we switch to CNG. Its their only export. Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, and Libya can all go straight to hell. I wouldnt send them a bag of rice. Our troops have died for what? Do we have more peace now? Are we safer today than we were before we invaded Iraq? Do our 900 bases in 130 different countries keep us safe? No army not China, Russia, Iran none on them not even combined will attempt to attack the United States in a land battle. Our only threat is from ourselves collapsing the whole thing around us and terror. Those bases help fuel both threats we ha
Report Post »P8riot
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 4:02pm@Martinez – Wow. Did you really say: “I do believe we caused it.”??? Did you get that idea from Jeremiah Wright who said: “the stuff we have done overseas is now brought back into our own front yards. America’s chickens are coming home to roost”???
To say that America caused 9/11 is the peak of ignorance. To believe in isolationism is pure bubble-gum and cotton-candy naivety.
According to your logic, God is the cause of all the suffering and sin in the world because Satan doesn’t like his policies.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 4:43pmMartin
Report Post »Straights (choke points) have different rules of navigation than other bodies of water. To get to our allies, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrian, UAE & Saudi Arabia we have to transit the Straights of Hormuz. That is one of our two vested & legitimate interests we have. The other is the free flow of commerce. Look up SLOC (sea lanes of communication). You might want to consider standing up to to Iran. Because of you don’t in turn I will never back you up. How could I back up the pusillanimous.
martinez012577
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 5:41pm@walk
Did you read my post? Its not about the carriers in international water. Its the reason the carriers are in the straight. They are there as air support for the upcoming invasion. Iran cannot close off the water. That is a joke to even think they can. We have every right to be in international waters. Reports say we will have 100k in troops around Iran by March. We will be bombing Iran soon.
@pa8riot
So you dont believe the 911 reports or Bin Laden in his own words on why he planned on bringing the war to our soil? LOL talk about ignorant. That exact mentality will keep us in debt, war, and on the verge of collapse. We need to wake up and realize that our founding fathers had it right. You want war? Fine declare it, but you know what? They wont. They will ignore our Constitution again and the Iran war will be the end of the United States, not because of some invasions or islamic boogieman. It will be from our currency collapsing because we are borrowing money from China to fund a war that China says they will enter or help the other side on. WAKE UP!!!!
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 5:58pmIf we bomb or invade it has to be before the dust storms come in early June or late May.
I would not invade unless I thought there were going to really nuke Israel, bomb Europe or sneak a nuke across the U.S. border.
But I just can’t tell. It is like some guy coming up to you at a bar or some other public place charging you acting like they are going to hit you. To knock you out. You know they are bluffing & keep your cool. but they keep doing it. At some point you know they really are going to charge & not bluff. People should not have to put up with that nor nations.
If things get hairy I might have to go. I kind of doubt it. But at least my kids won’t have to go. They are out of the window. I never voted for a worthless pusillanimous Democrat anyway.
Report Post »P8riot
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 6:19pm@Martinez – you seem to be backing away from your previous statements that we “caused” 9/11 and are now simply saying that we were used as a reason. Do you know the difference between being a “cause” and a being used as a “reason”? I sure hope so because there is a world of difference! To say America was a “cause” of 9/11 is to place responsibility on her shoulders for those thousands of intentional murders.
Again, do you or do you not agree with the above quoted Jeremiah Wright statement? You also failed to recognize that according to your theory of what causes something – God would be the cause of all the suffering and sin in the world because Satan doesn’t like his policies. You do see the flaw in your logic, right?
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 6:36pmMartin
3. We start a war with another Muslim country. Remember we dont just kill militants. Children die, and when children die they either want revenge or use it as a excuse for revenge to rally more to their cause. ( Bin Laden said on CBS in 1998 he was bring the war to our shores because of the killing of Iraqi children )
Still pissed off. The ground war lasted 100 hours (~4 days) & never came near an Iraqi city.
The air war used precision guided weapons. If the Iraqi government place Command & control assets right by an apartment building, that is their fault not ours. We have so many fewer civilian casualties per bomb or per ton or whatever than WWII or Vietnam or any other war. If you say there has to be 0 civilian casualties per war or a 100 or some infinitessimally small number that is saying that we can never fight because we can never assure not having civilian deaths.
Logic boy, Usama, was looking for any excuse to attack the west. He conveniently ignored all the Kuwaiti civilian casualties. Islamic governments killed American children as matter of course. They were not collateral damage. They were the target. Think Lockerbie. that was just one of many hijacking or bombings by Islamicists. Do you even keep track of how many tourists were killed in the 80s & 90s in safe places like Egypt by Islamicists. They were doing what? buying souvenirs & taking pictures of the Pyramids. Dangerous.
Usama was just looking for an excuse.
Report Post »martinez012577
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 7:34pm@walk
You say we wont invade unless you think they are really going to nuke Israel? Come on, really? We will be at war with Iran before they even have a nuke.
Your bar scene, well it depends. You see they way you are viewing it we are the ones being bothered at the bar. The problem is we are the ones provoking the fight. We have put sanctions on them ( poured a drink on the guys head ). Not just that but we are the 6-5 250 pound MMA fighter, the guy we are picking on is 5-5 140 pound sales guy from JC Pennys.
You say you might have to go but your kids wont. Well I have a 9 year old son. If we are in Iran as long as we have been in Afghanistan he could be there. My support of Ron Paul has nothing to do with me. I am tried of our country going broke chasing Muslims around.
I completely supported us killing Osama Bin Laden. I dont like us going into a country, bombing it to hell and then rebuilding it while our troops die defending them and all while borrowing money from China to do it.
Report Post »resme
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 7:43pmYou are also forgetting Saudi’s were on the planes on 9/11, WHY HAVEN’T WE BOMBED KSA YET?
Report Post »martinez012577
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 7:52pm@p8riot
I am not backing away from it! If the man said I am going to attack your country because you kill Iraqi children and you have kept your bases in Saudi Arabia, well you are a moron if you dont believe him. To even question that is just shocking. I dont blame my kids, I dont blame my wife, I dont blame my neighbors, I blame the idiot progressive warmonger politicians that have allowed us to be flat broke and at constant war.
If we had declared war on Iraq, freed Kuwait and come home we would have killed far fewer children and wouldnt have bases in Saudi Arabia. Maybe then Bin Laden would have not declared war us. I dont know for sure, I am just going on what the man said in his own words. Not my words, his words.
As far as Jeremiah Wright goes you are I have never listened to the man. What was the context of his comment? Was it about the 911 and the things Osama Bin Laden said on video in 1998?
As far as your God comment, no I am not saying that at all. You are assuming we were correct in freeing Kuwait and continuing the sanctions, no fly zone, and then bombings in Iraqi after they were pushed back out of Kuwait. Also we kept bases in Saudi Arabia. These are the causes. We disagree if they are right or wrong, but keep trying to make me out to be a truther, part of Wrights congregation, and atheist. Nice try, lol
Report Post »martinez012577
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 7:59pm@walk
Ok your attempt to demean me “logic boy” didnt work. We are talking about 911. If you watched the video I posted then you would see his reasons. Not my reasons, I didnt condone his actions. Our actions caused his reaction. His reaction has caused us to go bankrupt. He may be dead but he won the war by turning us into a banana republic. I dont think the United States has 5 years left in its current form.
He had already beaten Russia. How many Russian bases were in their holy land, Saudi Arabia? The Russians have faced terrorism also from Muslims. I am betting they have lost more lives to terrorism than we have.
You two need to pull your heads out of each others asses and look around.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 8:04pmThey use their bomb Israel rhetoric to stir up the masses to support them or because they mean it or both. I don’t want to wait around to see if it was only for the former.
We are rebuilding Afghanistan because of the Colin Powell doctrine ““If you break it you own it”. He would have severely criticized Bush for not staying there after ousting the Taliban. It doesn’t matter he stabbed Bush & every other Republican in the back when he endorsed Obama. We had the Marshall plan after WWII. It seemed to work. So the Powell doctrine has some merits. If we had ousted Sadam & the Taliban & not stayed & there were civil wars, the Democrat caucus would still be calling for Bush’s head & the head of every other elected Republican.
Having the brain damaged Senator Reid (stroke victim) say the war is lost encourages the enemy. Having Ted Kennedy drag his feet & oppose the war encourage the enemy. Can you name a war that Ted Kennedy though we should have fought? Another brain damaged manic deciding national policy by holding up votes and make the president use ever iota of political capital that he had.
the Surge worked. After the surge casualties went way down.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 8:13pmSaddam Hussein looked at the U.S. military & he looked at his military. He concluded correctly (drum roll) that he could not win. But he though if he could last long enough & the U.S. suffered enough casualties, then we would leave & he would still be in power.
Well Al Qaeda believes the same thing.
The Somalis working for General Aidid in Mogadishu believed the same thing. Read the book ‘Black Hawk Down’.
Every other tom Dick & Harry in the world who hates America believes that too.
Why do they? They turn on the TV & see that no account Cindy Sheehan being feted with lavish press coverage. They see Harry (stroke victim) Reid say “The War is lost”. They see Ted (I molest women) Kennedy in high donjon before every war vote, 1st gulf war, 2nd gulf war it doesn’t matter).
if you are tough people don’t mess with you. In 2003 Gadaffi said I don;t want any of that. He gave up his nuke & chemical weapons program. The ETA terrorist group in Spain said they were unilaterally going to stop bombing. talking tough having actually been tough matters. If not expect casualties whether you ever pan going to war or not.
Report Post »martinez012577
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 8:35pm@walk
Israel will take out a possible missile if they are threatened. You know Israel has a very advanced military right? They have over 300 nukes as well. They also have Iron doom Patriot missile batteries. They shoot down incoming missiles.
I personally dont give two craps what Colin Powell said. He is a perfect example of why we declare war and follow the Constitution. Had we declared war we would have done the job, saved money, saved American lives.
Did Saddam Hussein attack another one of our allies to cause the next Iraq invasion? Had we done our job and gone home the first time there would have been no need to continue to attack Iraq or kill their leader. Was he a bad guy? Yeah. Did he do horrible things to his people? Yeah. Is it our business? NO. If you think it is there are alot of other countries we need go “police” as well.
Al Qaeda is waiting us out regardless. You think that all the bombings we have done have made them like us? Hell if anything more Muslims are against us.
In Mogadishu we had no business being there. Again, we are not the WORLD POLICE FORCE!!!
I am all for being tough. Make it known, if you mess with us, we are going to bomb you with planes, and launch cruise missiles at you. We will level your cities and we will NOT REBUILD YOU, NO BAGS OF RICE, NO MEDICINE, NO ROADS, NO BRIDGES!!!! Funny thing is we can do my style of war from aircraft carriers and navy ships. NO need to have bases.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 9:04pmMartin
Logic boy was a moniker applied to Usama bin Laden I used Usama as an ‘appositive’ to the name logic boy.
I then showed that Usama did not give any lip service to the Muslim civilian victims of the leveling of the capital city of Chechnya using artillery. Where did more Muslims die? Who used smart bombs & who used carpet bombing it the artillery equivalent?
What I did say about you is that I would “not back you up” if you felt that we had better not transit the straights of Hormuz with our Navy & cave to Iran’s threats.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 9:34pmGulf War II is a misnomer. It is a continuation of Gulf War I.
THERE WAS NEVER a PEACE TREATY. There was an Armistice. He broke it, when he messed with the weapons inspectors. I watch the nightly news (pre Foxnews) all the Mickey Mouse roadblocks the Iraqis used to prevent inspections. Another point, 2,000 or so Kuwaitis still are unaccounted for. The Iraqis never returned them nor their bodies.
How do you like being in bed with Al Qaeda? We are on the same side. British & Qatari special forces are supporting the rebels against Assad. As we are or will. So is Al Qaeda. Some how some way, some f the aid that we give to the Syrian rebels will end up with Al Qaeda. Isn’t that the stick that the club the left beats the U.S. with over our support for the mujaheddin in 19080s Afghanistan. Of course it is.
If Assad falls, the Iranians will be Angry. He is their ally. No sh_t if we’re not already at war with the Iranians. It might be our special forces & CIA versus their special force & secret service but we are at war. The Russian foreign minister said that if Syria falls then Russia has no more influence in the Middle East. Iran is adjacent & the Russians have some influence with the, but he meant in the core of the middle east with Arabs. We already took out Libya which was friendly with Russia. The Russians arer already mad. If Syria goes, who knows what they will do. War is joined.
Consider these like the wars of the cockpit of Europe in
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 9:35pmAfter 1910 or so there was the 2nd round in 1912 & 1913. then the piece de resistance was the Great War of 1914.
Yes we are at War & Obama has no fooking clue.
Report Post »P8riot
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 2:26pm@Martinez – “keep trying to make me out to be a truther, part of Wrights congregation, and atheist.” uh… I never called you any of those names… conscience getting the best of you?
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:25amI’m just trying to figure out what they are thinking by putting air-craft carriers in the Strait when the combat jets have a range of hundreds of miles, especially when the actual area that is navigable is only about 2 miles wide.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:25amI thought id never say this, but as i get older , i have to wonder … Who the hell do we think we are ???? Please lets not borrow money from China to start another war…. Can we just worry about our borders and our country, for the next fifty years or so ? We are under invasion and occupation .. This is Not Immigration…. It is colinization !!! We are having our country stolen and bankrupted right before our eyes !!!! I dont care about iran, hell pakistan is just as crazy , and they have nukes… No more nation building and no more wars… We are BROKE !!!
Report Post »martinez012577
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:29amVote for Ron Paul. Lets end this stupid warmonger crap!
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:23am“ready to launch in as little as 15 minutes should things go wrong”.
Thats wrong! Its the “Alert Five Fighter”. When the Carrier is really on alert, a fighter sits armed and manned just inches from the catapult shuttle.
Report Post »martinez012577
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:30amI also thought that number was way to high.
Report Post »justangry
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:36amYup, they can have EVERY bird in the sky in like 20 minutes or less. I know I never missed a minute of sleep onbaord the Roosevelt. Our pilots are the best, and the marines on there made me feel VERY comfortable. And nuclear air-conditioning kicks ass.
Report Post »TXVET48
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 12:06pmWhat a surprise the Iranians would be in store for if they believed it would take fifteen minutes to launch our jets.
Report Post »okredstate
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 1:40pmChief: Even the blaze is clueless as far as military procedure goes.
Report Post »docvet
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 4:46pmThat 15 minute figure is for letting the Iranians think they have a chance to attack. Suprise, suprise, suprise. For the attackers, the last 12 minutes of the 15 will be pure hell. And don’t forget that carriers NEVER NEVER travel alone. Todays destroyers have the firepower of a whole squadron of WWII destroyers.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:21amIf I recall over the information I seem to recall over the last decade or so, Iran has many up-dated Russian air-craft, and Iran also confiscated many of Iraq’s air-force when Hussein flew his air-craft there before Desert Storm. I also recall Russia selling Iran many advanced surface to surface and surface to air missiles. Iran has GPS systems, and a well trained army with well trained special forces. I don’t think it will go quite as easy as Iraq, not mention Iran is much much larger.
Report Post »martinez012577
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:33amTheir planes are still no match for ours. Their pilots are no match for ours. This is a NFL lineman fighting a 10 year old. Iran poses no threat to us.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:35amTechnically all our planes could be rendered useless with an EMP, and so if Iran has an EMP, then they don’t need advanced planes.
Report Post »martinez012577
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:45amWell I am not sure of the EMP defense we have on our planes or ships. I am sure that has been addressed in some way. Without your EMP theory though, their planes have no chance. Their larger ships would be sunk in a matter of minutes. Their 4 advanced subs would be hunted down and killed by the large number of subs I am guess we have in the area already.
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:19amThats alright! Let them be in the open. They make better target practice with the 50cal gun emplacements set up discreetly around the deck edges.
Report Post »P8riot
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:25amThat would be the youtube video of the year! Our navy is so powerful, it would be great to see them in action again!
Report Post »martinez012577
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:38am@p8riot
I would perfer them to be protecting our country’s coasts. I dont want to see our military in action. When they are in action some of them might die. When they are in action alot of other people will die.
Since we love to have religious talks, what do you think Jesus would want us to do?
Report Post »mcchainsaw
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 12:14pmI think Jesus would want us to protect Israel.
Report Post »P8riot
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 12:54pmHello again MARTINEZ! We actually have a strange sort of friendship don’t we? Anyhow, one of the reasons I joined the Marines when I was younger was to fight evil wherever it may be; to defend the defenseless. I firmly believe that we are given strength to use it for good. What greater good could we do than to lay it down for our friend? Christ himself taught – John 15:13 – “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Are not our allies our friends? Would you allow a madman to nuke a city full of our friends? If Israel were the super power and our wives and children were being threatened with their very lives, wouldn’t you want them to help us? Ironically, Psalms 82 seems to answer all of your questions – including your religious ones –
Here’s the entire chapter :)
1 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.
2 How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.
3 Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.
4 Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
5 They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.
7 But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.
8 Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 1:16pmI am just an ex-Army guy, but the US has always demanded free transit of the seas. To maintain free transit power has to be projected. The carrier battle group does that. Keep in mind our first foreign war was with Muslims who denied the US free transit. The USMC song immortalizes that war. This is not warmongering. This is our first line of defense and offense, if need be.
Report Post »martinez012577
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 3:06pmLet me clear this up, I do not believe our carriers there are the problem. I am in complete agreement that shipping lanes should stay open.
My question is why are the shipping lanes being threatened to be closed by Iran? Sanctions and the unstoppable war that is approaching. I dont believe Iran with their 4 subs and bass boats can close the straight. That is them posturing and puffing their chests. Have you seen the map of our bases surrounding Iran?
http://www.campaigniran.org/casmii/index.php?q=node/11179
If China or hell Iran did this to us what would we think? As I said before I am all for a carrier or two being in the international waters to make sure of it, but the only reason they threatened to close the straight was over the sanctions.
On to Israel. I believe that Israel has the right to protect themselves. If they see themselves as a target they will protect themselves if we allow them to. This is the action they took in the 7 day war, and they will do it again if needed. They dont need our help for anything but diplomacy. Here I will let BN tell you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4H3Kyt1iGEE Here is Netanyahu’s speak before congress last year.
He clearly says they dont need us to protect them.. Now if countries tried to invade Israel of course we would act. The problem we have is the UN basically labeling Israel as terrorists.
We need a president that wants us out of the UN. There is only one. RON PAUL!!!!!
Report Post »resme
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 7:54pmp8t, Did you really just compare America to god?
Report Post »martinez012577
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 10:05pm@res
P8riot is a Mormon. He believes in multiple gods so who knows, the United States may have been exalted and is now a god also according to him. I mean in his eyes we have done no wrong in the world so maybe so.
Report Post »resme
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:53pm@martin, Ya Americans have become to arrogant.
Sad decline of our nation values.
Report Post »P8riot
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 2:41pmWow. Martinez and Resme… you two are made for each other… two fools in a pod. The scriptures I quoted were scriptures where Christ tells us to be willing to lay down our lives for our friends. You Paulbot isolationists have no clue what it means to be willing to do that… you’re too selfish. The scriptures I quoted also state that we are to “Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.” But according to your leader Paul, we shouldn’t do that either. Martinez loves to speak of foreign policy when he’s never served a day in his life in the military.
But of course, as long as he thinks he has “accepted Christ as his personal Savior” he’s “saved” and can go murder and rape all he wants and will still go to heaven because his works don’t matter. Such an elementary understanding of life and the gospel.
Report Post »P8riot
Posted on February 15, 2012 at 2:47pm@ Resme – “Ya Americans have become to arrogant.” – you sound exactly like Obama apologizing to the world that America has “shown arrogance”! Martinez sounds exactly like Rev. Wright that “America’s chickens have come home to roost” when he says that America is to blame for 9/11! I’m sorry, but I’m simply sick of you “freedom suckers” who enjoy the freedoms that others, like myself, have provide to you and then complain about how its provided! I LOVE AMERICA, AND YES, IT IS A SHINING BEACON OF FREEDOM, NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU FREEDOM SUCKERS COMPLAIN!!!
Report Post »P8riot
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:16amLittle do the “missile boats” know that they are probably being “shadowed” by an american sub with the commander’s finger on the trigger!
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:16amIt’s my guess that U.S forces will be made to stand down until Iran can inflict much damage on U.S forces.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:13amThe sailors are chuming the water, therefore, the sharks are following.
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:32amCould they hurt our forces? Sure they could do some damage and there would be casualties. But then no Iranian warship would be safe anywhere in the world. Any Iranian warship in the area of operations would be on the bottom in hours – a very few hours.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 1:46pmDivers are taught, to deter a shark, punch them in the nose. I say we do that to Iran
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on February 14, 2012 at 11:12amGod Bless our men and women on board.
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