As tensions have continued to rise between the US and Iran, American
officials continue to try to court allies to join a naval force to
safeguard key shipping lanes off the coast of Iran. So far, they don’t have any takers.
The Trump Administration has been keen to have other nations pay for the
defense of the Strait of Hormuz, and Trump has argued that the US
shouldn’t have to cover the entire cost. US officials, however, are
clear they will be in total control of this foreign fleet of ships
they’re trying to recruit.
Some nations are okay with sending a few ships to escort their own
tankers, but diplomats say that there is a lot of resistance to being
seen as part of a US-formed fleet that would increase tensions even
further.
“Nobody wants to be on that confrontational course and part of a US push
against Iran,” an official was quoted by Reuters as saying. Pentagon
officials argue that the goal is not to encourage a confrontation,
though everyone else seems to notice this is the end-result of US
efforts in the area, and doesn’t want to be involved.
US pressure & EU inaction left Iran with ‘very few options’ except to retaliate.
https://www.rt.com/news/464608-iran-uk-tanker-analysis/
The problem with this policy is that Iran has strong coastal forces and no amount of Naval protection can overcome this fact.
This is a standard — whenever public is likely to be opposed, allies are always “resisting”, sending a few this-or-that, continuously “resisting “ until the public is no linger alert, and when it turns out later that our allies are into it up to their necks, the public is resigned to the reality. Worn out. Merkel has bern master if this art her entire career. Playing perfectly the conservative German politicians, minding national interest — while selling out Germany to EU bureaucracy. Everything from financial controls, EU financing, all globalist initiative, having ambitions in Balkans, and above all, being leader of planned migration tsunami all over Europe, absorbing quickly millions of refugees and migrants. EU is sooo concerned about Iran deal, then doing everything to put in place American sanctions. Playing a progressive well meaning power, a balance to US, and thus a PREFERABLE partner to those US threatens. That is the idea — as feeble as it is. But it is stale, and it has been for a while. The Eurasian picture is shaping up, and the global picture is getting complicated. EU can continue supporting US, damaging itself economically. US is punishing it via trade every now and then, if some rethought is suspected. But Eurasian picture is getting stronger. On edges already influencing Japan and Korea. US and EU will have to make a choice. US is trying to snatch England.
Has everyone forgotten who ruined the well- prepared and accepted agreement with Iran, to ensure it was not becoming a nuclear power??????
All this extra pressure and lies about the danger of Iran helps nobody.
Trump didn’t forget it. He called it the Worst Deal Ever, broke it, and then hired Bolton to be his National Security Advisor. He wants war with Iran no matter how many times he “tweets” that he doesn’t. The man lies every time he takes a breath
Becuz Netanyahu. Becuz his son-in-law and his jailbird father are tight, tight, tight with Netanyahu,
and bcuz our billionaire prez is a pauper compared to Mr. Adelson.
it helps the .000001% and they call the shots. capitalism and democracy gave them this power.
“The Trump Administration has been keen to have other nations pay for the defense of the Strait of Hormuz, and Trump has argued that the US shouldn’t have to cover the entire cost”
The US created the hole mess.
you break it….you fix it.
The US should protect it’s own ships,
let the rest fend for themselves.
“let the rest fend for themselves”
That should be our entire foreign policy.
“Trump has argued that the US shouldn’t have to cover the entire cost”
We shouldn’t have to cover any of the cost, seeing we are supposedly self sufficient in oil resources.
That doesn’t matter. Trump wants to control the sea lanes by force and that costs money.
As Rightster said, why should we? Why is this even our problem? We should but the f out already.
Ah, but that would exhibit sanity.
Now wouldn’t that really mind-fuck ’em?
I’ll bet the US is wondering why it is so hard to create a “coalition of the willing”. Perhaps they will wonder less when reminded of “Kuwait incubator babies”, “yellow cake uranium”, Iraqi WMDs, Libyan Terrorists, 911 hijackers, Usama bin Laden, Syrian Gas Attacks, Ukrainian Revolt (CIA coup), Venezuelan food riots, Al Quaida/ISIS… Meanwhile, Chelsea Manning continues to sit in jail for refusing to rat out Julian Assange. The world is tired of US pretenses for stealing other country’s resources and jailing truth tellers.
Maybe also because the world economy is in a much more parlous state and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz would sink the world economy into a deep recession at a time when political instability is already rapidly on the rise.
The Strait of Hormuz is an Iranian lifeline too. They have no reason to close it. The US just wants to create a pretext for a war with Iran. Just like all of the other middle east boondoggles we have created, this one has oil and the bankers written ll over it. There are many really bad reasons for starting a war with Iran, but that doesn’t mean the chickenhawks won’t do it. There are many behind the scenes forces looking to make this war happen, not the least of which is Israel. Bibi needs it to put off his corruption trial and he has Trump by the short and curlies. Trump will go it alone if need be.
Which would gin up war and obscene profits for the usual suspects–Shucky darn! Izzat a coincidence or what…? (snark)
I don’t think Iran should lose anytime in sinking 10-20 tankers in the strait of Hormuz. End of world economy.
Crippling sanctions, troops moved into the area, seizure of Iranian oil tankers, now patrolling the coast of Iran with warships. You have to be monumentally stupid not to see how this turns out, totally according to plan.
Why would anyone want to put an end to a perfect record of stupidity and lying….
The only reason Trump wants more US allied ships in the Gulf is not cost, but to avoid the blame when the war with Iran starts, by claiming the neocons goal of a blockade was a “coalition to defend shipping.” It’s just another Trump scam. Trump is nothing but a bald-faced liar and nothing he says can be considered true.
Update: I just read the article on Trump reversing himself on whether he appointed Rand Paul as an envoy to Iran. Within 24 hours he reversed what he said. How much more proof do we need that absolutely nothing Trump says can be considered true? He doesn’t even remember – or even cares – what he said literally the day before.
What’s better, his die hard followers don’t care either. They don’t care about America, only Trump.
But to their credit they love Israel more than America. But that’s okay because that’s the new patriotism. Nancy Pelosi said the capitol could crumble but it would not impact our support for Israel (google it).
Trump saw that his performance at the rally upped his approval rating among Republicans by 5%. That’s when he backtracked on criticism of his rabid rock-solid base. They, of course, mostly think the Earth was created 6000 years ago and that the Sun goes around the Earth. You can’t tell them anything that would dissuade them from voting for him again in 2020. It was surprising, though, how many establishment Republicans are taken in by his carefully-crafted BS.
We are a nation born of theft, violence, racism and lies.
Not too worry. Europeans will fall in line, soon enough. They are just stalling to make their voters believe that EU actually is a factor. Gulf not so much. It is humorous how a defense is needed while nobody seem to own being endangered. And if UK did not take Iranian ship, there would have been no British ones detained. This is a conflict nobody can define — as the cause tor belligerence keeps on shifting.
But what benefits does US accrue from getting European “powers” to join? For one, their hypocritical support of Iranian nuclear deal will be over. But militarily, what exactly are Europeans bringing to the table? What other allies? Even Saudis are being shifty. King has agreed to some US soldiers on Saudi soil. Last time, it did not work out well. MBS is not on board. This will become political football, not a way to confront Iran or anyone else.
Well said, Bianca, very well said, and I wholeheartedly agree.
Relax, these “allies” (aka poodles) will soon fall into line.