Financial markets are still scrambling to figure out what exactly is happening with respect to Iranian ship movements toward the Suez Canal. The two ships have been confirmed as a supply ship and a frigate, and are said to be heading to Syria, which prompted Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman to threaten war yesterday.
But today reports emerged that Egypt had canceled the crossing through their canal and was planning to block the ships. This was immediately followed by canal officials saying this was untrue. Mysteriously, they also said they had never even received requests for the ships to pass.
At the same time, Iran’s state media quoted a naval official confirming that the ships are en route, and he said that the Iranians had already contacted Cairo officials about it. They were said to have no objections.
The fact that they apparently didn’t tell canal officials about the crossing could speak to the lingering chaos in Egypt, which just last week saw a revolution and is now under control of an interim military junta ruling by edict.
This leaves an open question of what will happen when the ships arrive, and adds another level of uncertainty to what seems, on the surface, a pretty minor story that has been blown out of proportion by Israel’s bellicose foreign minister.
But perhaps the real story is the disorganized messages coming out of Suez regarding the crossing. With the canal such an important aspect of the domestic (and global) economy, the uncertainty about what is going on is likely not a good sign.
Suez Canal workers seem to still be on strike: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM…
<confirmed as a supply ship and a frigate> 'Warships' would seem inflamatory, then: sounds like goods were being escorted and if that's not a standard practice, it should be. The idea that Iran wants to initiate hostilities is plain histrionics … unless, of course, they're 'warships.' …
And I posit that one frigate and a cargo ship is hardly what one would consider a "combat task force", either. Even if shooting did erupt, if the Israeli naval and air forces can't handle two boats their mouths are writing checks their bodies can't cash.
Everything is a warship in israel's eyes.
After this message:
Zodiac carrying two Republican Guard dudes spotted at the Sharm el Sheik. Israel goes into spoiled brat mode, throws toys out of pram. Bernanke uses this to justify QE3.
Well … so much for "freedom of the sea".
The US 5th is in the Gulf, the 6th is in the Med, plus NATO naval forces, Israel, etc, so what exactly is the threat? From where arises this hysteria?
Recall Uncle Sam failing to notify &/ request permission from Turkey when it dispatched ships to Georgia?
Assuming the 'supply ship' is exactly that- a supply ship, and given the current situation with high seas pirating on the rise, it makes sense that a cargo ship might have an armed escort. Alternately, if the frigate is supposed to be visiting Syria (or wherever) for a year as reported, it makes sense to have a dedicated supply ship to accompany it to help retain its self-sufficiency wherever it goes.
This whole issue is nothing more than an Israeli temper tantrum, accompanied by the usual histrionics and fainting spells that pop up when something happens anywhere in the world that Tel Aviv decides it doesn't like. I read in more than one report that Israel was considering the Suez transit a 'hostile act' – yeah, go ahead and start a war with Iran over this, Israel, and you see what happens. Stupidity + chutzpah = Bad day for Israel.
Since when does Israel decide which countries can use the Suez canal or does Isreal consider Egypt to be a client state. I would not bet that Israel will be in controll of anything, including itself, soon unless the attitude exhibited takes a 180 degree about face. Not soon enough IMO.
I don't like to talk about Israel, not because I am anti-semetic but because I am pro-Gentile.