Iran Navy Harasses US Warships

[HomerJay]

There's some folks talking about geopolitics and military matters on the level of Cliff Claven in Cheers.

I'm feeling especially snooty and aloof today.

That's why some people go postal.

[Atheist-Lite]

Smoking woodbines. That's a voice.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

After threats, Iran plays down U.S. naval moves

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Saturday it considered the likely return of U.S. warships to the Gulf part of routine activity, backing away from previous warnings to Washington not to re-enter the area.

The statement may be seen as an effort to reduce tensions after Washington said it would respond if Iran made good on a threat to block the Strait of Hormuz - the vital shipping lane for oil exports from the Gulf.

"U.S. warships and military forces have been in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East region for many years and their decision in relation to the dispatch of a new warship is not a new issue and it should be interpreted as part of their permanent presence," Revolutionary Guard Deputy Commander Hossein Salami told the official IRNA news agency.

The apparently conciliatory comments may be a response to the European Union and Washington's rejection of Iran's declaration it was close to resuming negotiations with world powers and with the Pentagon saying it did not expect any challenge to its warships.

Crude prices have spiked several times this year on fears diplomatic tensions could escalate to military clashes as well as uncertainty about the effect of sanctions on the oil market.

Along with the EU, which is set to agree an embargo on Iranian oil next week, Washington hopes the sanctions will force Iran to suspend the nuclear activities it believes are aimed at making an atom bomb, a charge Tehran denies.

There has been no U.S. aircraft carrier in the Gulf since the USS John C. Stennis left at the end of December at a time when the Revolutionary Guard was conducting naval maneuvers.

On January 3, after U.S. President Barack Obama signed new sanctions aimed at stopping Iran's oil exports, Tehran told the Stennis not to return - an order interpreted by some observers in Iran and Washington as a blanket threat to any U.S. carriers.

"I recommend and emphasize to the American carrier not to return to the Persian Gulf," Iran's army chief, Major General Ataollah Salehi, said at the time. "We are not in the habit of warning more than once."

NEW MANOEUVRES

Washington says it will return to the Gulf and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said any move to block Hormuz - through which around a third of the world's sea-borne traded oil passes - would be seen as a "red line," requiring a response.

Citing operational security, the Pentagon will not say when the next carrier will return to the Gulf but officials say it is only a matter of time and they do not expect any problems.

In the coming days or weeks, the Revolutionary Guard will begin new naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf. Salami told IRNA these would go ahead as planned in the Iranian month of Bahman which runs from January 21 to February 19.

Iran has said it is ready to return to talks with world powers that stalled one year ago, but the West, concerned about Tehran's move of the most sensitive atomic work to a bomb-proof bunker, says it must first see a willingness from Tehran to address the nuclear issue.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Friday "time is running out" for a diplomatic solution and urged Russia and China to drop their opposition to sanctions on Iranian oil.

Iran is OPEC's second biggest exporter and blocking its crude exports - through the EU embargo or U.S. moves to punish banks that trade with Iran - could have a devastating impact on its economy but there are no signs so far such pressure would force it to stop what it calls its peaceful nuclear rights.

(Writing by Robin Pomeroy; Editing by Sophie Hares)

[Clinton Huxley]

There was a story, admittedly in the Telegraph, that the RN had to practically beg to be part of a symbolic convoy that passed through the Straits of Hormuz recently. The USN commanders opined that they did not need any Allied vessel to take part, intimating the allied presence was irrelevant. Now, given the disparity in the level of USN/RN forces in the area, this is no doubt true from a military persepective but from a diplomatic perspective is indicative of the high-handed way the US treats even its allies. Its no wonder everyone else finds the US annoying.

Eventually, in a couple of hundred years, even the UK will get hacked off with this sort of behaviour...

[Gawdzilla Sama]

There was a story, admittedly in the Telegraph, that the RN had to practically beg to be part of a symbolic convoy that passed through the Straits of Hormuz recently. The USN commanders opined that they did not need any Allied vessel to take part, intimating the allied presence was irrelevant. Now, given the disparity in the level of USN/RN forces in the area, this is no doubt true from a military persepective but from a diplomatic perspective is indicative of the high-handed way the US treats even its allies. Its no wonder everyone else finds the US annoying.

Eventually, in a couple of hundred years, even the UK will get hacked off with this sort of behaviour...

Clint, it's a matter of the individual units having worked together enough to form a solid combat unit. We used to issue body bags to "observers", advising them to get in it if the shit hit the fan and they wanted their bodies returned to the world.

[Clinton Huxley]

Not exactly comparable, all NATO forces. If we can't interporate we might as well call it a day for NATO.

If I was the RN commander, I'd have told the US Admiral to jog on and sailed through the Straits on my own, the day before, with a military band playing Rule Britannia on the helicopter flight deck.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Not exactly comparable, all NATO forces. If we can't interporate we might as well call it a day for NATO.

We can work together, but NATO usually tasks zones to national forces, they don't often put them in the battle line of another country. Mistakes in signals can be costly. In those restricted waters I suspect that certain USN units might be left behind as well. It's not a reflection on the other country, just sound combat sense.

If I was the RN commander, I'd have told the US Admiral to jog on and sailed through the Straits on my own, the day before, with a military band playing Rule Britannia on the helicopter flight deck.

And there would have been no complaint from the commander of the USN forces.

Imagine if you have a precious aerial acrobatic team, like the Blue Angels or the Red Arrows, and someone wants to "tag along". Do you allow it?

[Clinton Huxley]

This was a symbolic show of strength, not a combat exercise. The ships just sailed through the Strait in a line. A British and a French ship did eventually take part, so I don't think there was any real potential clash of procedure.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

This was a symbolic show of strength, not a combat exercise. The ships just sailed through the Strait in a line. A British and a French ship did eventually take part, so I don't think there was any real potential clash of procedure.

And if the shit hits the fan everybody has to know what to do RFN.

"Blue Tango Six". How would you execute that command?

[klr]

Not exactly comparable, all NATO forces. If we can't interporate we might as well call it a day for NATO.

If I was the RN commander, I'd have told the US Admiral to jog on and sailed through the Straits on my own, the day before, with a military band playing Rule Britannia on the helicopter flight deck.

... which would have been publicised by the Iranians straight away as an example of in-fighting between the US and UK. The politics of the situation demanded that US, UK and France presented a "united front", whether or not they could operate effectively together in a tight corner.

IMHO of course.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

... whether or not they could operate effectively together in a tight corner..

Easy to say from a few thousand miles away.

[Clinton Huxley]

My money is on US ego rather than any rules-lawyering, as the root of this.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

My money is on US ego rather than any rules-lawyering, as the root of this.

Neither of us are there.

[klr]

... whether or not they could operate effectively together in a tight corner..

Easy to say from a few thousand miles away.

That's for the politicians to answer for if things go all pear-shaped, and the forces can't operate together.

My money is on US ego rather than any rules-lawyering, as the root of this.

The spirit of Admiral King lives on in the USN

[Clinton Huxley]

Admiral King! That's the name I was trying to remember. One day, the US will find itself without allies at all. And that will probably still be fine for it. Probably.