U.S. Launches Show Of Force Off The Coast Of Iran

[Gold9472]

U.S. launches show of force in Persian Gulf
Aircraft carriers, warplanes feature in maneuvers off the coast of Iran

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17810017/

Updated: 2 hours, 10 minutes ago

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - The U.S. Navy on Tuesday began its largest demonstration of force in the Persian Gulf since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, led by a pair of aircraft carriers and backed by warplanes flying simulated attack maneuvers off the coast of Iran.

The maneuvers bring together two strike groups of U.S. warships and more than 100 U.S. warplanes to conduct simulated air warfare in the crowded Gulf shipping lanes.

The U.S. exercises come just four days after Iran’s capture of 15 British sailors and marines who Iran said had strayed into Iranian waters near the Gulf. Britain and the U.S. Navy have insisted the British sailors were operating in Iraqi waters.

U.S. Navy Cmdr. Kevin Aandahl said the U.S. maneuvers were not organized in response to the capture of the British sailors — nor were they meant to threaten the Islamic Republic, whose navy operates in the same waters.

He declined to specify when the Navy planned the exercises.

Aandahl said the U.S. warships would stay out of Iranian territorial waters, which extend 12 miles off the Iranian coast.

Simultaneous French operations
A French naval strike group, led by the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, was operating simultaneously just outside the Gulf. But the French ships were supporting the NATO forces in Afghanistan and not taking part in the U.S. maneuvers, officials said.

Overall, the exercises involve more than 10,000 U.S. personnel on warships and aircraft making simulated attacks on enemy shipping with aircraft and ships, hunting enemy submarines and finding mines.

“What it should be seen as by Iran or anyone else is that it’s for regional stability and security,” Aandahl said. “These ships are just another demonstration of that. If there’s a destabilizing effect, it’s Iran’s behavior.”

[Gold9472]

That's an interesting line of thought ShaddowHawk7. Something I wrote about here.

First of all, Iraq and the people fighting against Americans in Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. Bush himself, admitted that the country of Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. As for the groups of people fighting our brave soldiers... If America was invaded by Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, North Korea, Russia, or China, like America invaded Iraq, would Americans that actively opposed said invasion be an "extremist movement" or would they be patriots defending their country? I guess that depends on whether or not you are the invader or the invadees.

[beltman713]

I may have mentioned it here before, I don't know, but I work for a company that manufactures products for the military. Anyway, we just had our monthly shipments to the military increased by 60 percent per month over the next 5 months, starting in April. This hasn't happened since we invaded Iraq.

[Gold9472]

Nice.

[beltman713]

Yeah, looks like someone might be planning a summer offensive.

[beltman713]

This whole British sailors and marines getting abducted by Iran's revolutionary guard sounds like a repeat of the Israeli soldier kidnapping by Hezbollah that started that conflict.

[Gold9472]

This whole British sailors and marines getting abducted by Iran's revolutionary guard sounds like a repeat of the Israeli soldier kidnapping by Hezbollah that started that conflict.

Funny you mention that. I posted this on 911Blogger.com today...

"It seems to me that this whole situation is very similar to that of the events prior to the Israel/Lebanon war. Israel kidnapped Osama and Mustafa Muamar (the U.S. kidnapped senior officers in Iran's Revolutionary Guard), and the next day, Hamas kidnapped two Israeli soldiers (Iran kidnapped 15 British sailors), resulting in the month long war between Israel and Lebanon (possible war between the U.S. and Iran).

Very scary times.

9/11 Truth could end it all."

Granted, I said Hamas and not Hezbollah, but we can't all be perfect. I read that Osama and Mustafa's father was a member of Hamas, and got it confused. Sue me.

That's right motherfuckas... people on this site know what's going on.