Battleships, aircraft carriers, minesweepers and submarines from 25 nations are swarming into the Persian Gulf, in the largest such military exercise ever undertaken in the region, as concerns of a looming Israeli strike on Iran still linger
Countries leading the massive war games exercise inlcude the United States, Britain, France, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Fleets of warships will flood the Strait of Hormuz, the important waterway through which 40 percent of the world’s seaborne oil passes, as a show of force to deter Iran from trying to close the straits or retaliate against US assets in the region, even in response to an unprovoked Israeli strike.
Despite the unprecedented scale of the operations, chances of a US or Israeli strike on Iran have lessened considerably in recent weeks, as American refusal to back an Israeli strike have turned the tide of war-hawks in Israel. The Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains one of the few still advocating harsher postures, and he is increasingly isolated.
A torrent of military and intelligence analysis rejecting the need or viability of a preventive strike on Iran have come out in recent days. A report by dozens of former government officials, national security experts and retired military officers released Thursday concluded military action would spark an uncontrollable regional war and have counterproductive results.
“We do not believe it would lead to regime change, regime collapse or capitulation,” the report says, adding that an attack would increase Iran’s motivation to build a bomb, in order to deter further military action “and redress the humiliation of being attacked.”
The US has made it clear to both Israel and Iran that a military strike is not imminent. “I suspect the Americans have given quiet assurances through indirect channels that they have no intention of moving into Iranian national waters,” Scott Lucas, an Iran expert at Birmingham University in England, said.
“Both sides have good reasons to avoid a conflict – they have other issues to deal with right now.” Still, the war games do a good job of escalating tensions in a very uneasy region.
All those big ships chugging around in the Gulf is the US's unwitting part in this very dangerous Kabuki theater that has been produced and directed by the Israelis. The fact that the military and intelligence parts of Israel and the US all say that Iran is not a problem, so why the need to waste all this money with this show of force? Are they hoping to scare the Iranians into turning on their anti-aircraft radar sets? Hopefully some one reminded the Israelis to not try a false flag attack that could be blamed on Iran.
I think we can guarantee that the Israelis will attempt something that will inflame the situation. Netanyahoo is desperate to make his mark in the history books and since many in is own coalition government and military/intelligence services are not onboard and are actively advocating restraint, Netanyahoo may feel he has no other means except instigating an incident – and making it look like Israel wasn't involved, of course.
Very astute . . . . and I agree 100% . . . Nut&Yahoo . . . wants this war so bad he can taste it.
He will go to any length to get it.
Yes, excellent idea! The Otto von Bismarcks running our strategic think tank are out doing themselves. When a score of nations through the Mideast, Africa and Asia are making normal diplomatic relations impossible we chose this time to carry out our stupidly threatening war exericise together with Israel, our owner, and the most hated nation on earth. BRILLIANT!
Does the concept of cause and effect have no meaning for our leadership? The French have a saying. Rendered in English: "That dog is bad, he bites when you kick him".
so maybe we are protecting Iran against the ziocons….
The exercise is itself an exercise in absurdity. As Aarky mentions, why waste the effort if you don't intend to follow through?
well the U.S. Govertment is accountable to the Israelis, you must know, not the American people!!
ALL THIS BRAVADO AND BRAVA DAGEA by america all smole and no fire why? she`s broke flat broke and keep on printing greenbacks that loses value daily.
Chapter 11:40-45 of the Book of Daniel consists of *fractal* Prophecies of the conflict between the "king of the South" and the "king of the North"; the current iteration of the "king of the South" being the United States, the Israel, NATO and the other countries participating in this military exercise; the current iteration of the "king of the North" being Syria, Iran, Russia and their allies.
Daniel 11:45 very CLEARLY indicates that this "does NOT turn out well" for either the "king of the South" (who "pushes at" or "tries conclusions" with the "king of the North") OR the "king of the North".
Also, Google "Russian Response YouTube" for a description of the Caucasus 2012 war games that are being conducted by Russia beginning on September 17 in preparation for an attack by the Israel and/or the United States upon Iran (that is, "the king of the North will come storming down upon him.")
Michael
Such a rich prize…. All that oil……. Even more tempting… a possible green light for greater Is-rael
Too fat a pinata to let get away without a fight………. a try….. something… But why does the "O" allow this provocation to happen in election season….. Isn't this the tail wagging the dog AGAIN…. ???
What a wonderful way to try and calm down the situation in the M.E. and the Muslim countries, which we have so Royally pissed off. Obama is sending a very clear message: the US is Israel's lackey.
How does Obama say to the Muslim people (with a straight face) that the US wants good relations with Muslim countries, while his administration imposes deadly sanctions against Iran and continues to make provocative moves, such as this 'military exercise'?
Obama could not tell the truth if his life depended on it…
plug up the straights, then what?
The only battleships nowadays are museums.
Once all those ships are inside the Persian Gulf, aren’t they all sitting ducks?
Uh, huh. In the interim, the ME is up in arms over what they'd have us believe is an anti-Islam film. Of course, nothing wrong with that narrative or anything. Just like there's nothing wrong, inconsistent or suspicious about the official narrative of the 9/11 events.
If I didn't know better, this could be a "look over there" — while I'm raping, robbing and pillaging you over here. One of our beloved Isreal's trademark tricks.
Days of mayhem throught the Arab/Moslem world sparked by a B movie but caused by our policies aren't enough. We now provide further provocations. America is an armed madhouse.