Post by mainedawg on Jul 3, 2012 18:05:31 GMT -5
In a signal to Iran, U.S. adds forces in Persian Gulf
New York Times
First Published Jul 02 2012 07:43 pm • Last Updated Jul 02 2012 07:43 pm
Washington • The United States has quietly moved significant military reinforcements into the Persian Gulf to deter the Iranian military from any possible attempt to shut the Strait of Hormuz and to increase the number of fighter jets capable of striking deep into Iran if the standoff over its nuclear program escalates.
The deployments are part of a long-planned effort to bolster the U.S. military presence in the gulf region, in part to reassure Israel that in dealing with Iran, as one senior administration official put it last week, "When the president says there are other options on the table beyond negotiations, he means it."
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But at a moment that the U.S. and its allies are beginning to enforce a much broader embargo on Iran’s oil exports, meant to force the country to take seriously the negotiations over sharply limiting its nuclear program, the build-up carries significant risks, including that Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps could decide to lash out against the increased presence.
The most visible elements of this build-up are Navy ships designed to vastly enhance the ability to patrol the Strait of Hormuz — and to reopen the narrow waterway should Iran attempt to mine it to prevent Saudi Arabia and other oil exporters from sending their tankers through the vital passage.
The Navy has doubled the number of minesweepers assigned to the region, to eight vessels, in what military officers describe as a purely defensive move.
For President Barack Obama, the combination of negotiations, new sanctions aimed at Iran’s oil revenues and increased military pressure is the latest test of what the White House calls a "two track" policy against Iran. In the midst of a presidential election campaign in which his opponent, Mitt Romney, has accused him of being "weak" in dealing with the Iranian nuclear issue, Obama seeks to project toughness without tipping into a crisis in the region.
"The message to Iran is, ‘Don’t even think about it,’" one senior Defense Department official said. "Don’t even think about closing the strait. We’ll clear the mines. Don’t even think about sending your fast boats out to harass our vessels or commercial shipping. We’ll put them on the bottom of the gulf." Like others interviewed, the official spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the delicacy of the diplomatic and military situation.
New York Times
First Published Jul 02 2012 07:43 pm • Last Updated Jul 02 2012 07:43 pm
Washington • The United States has quietly moved significant military reinforcements into the Persian Gulf to deter the Iranian military from any possible attempt to shut the Strait of Hormuz and to increase the number of fighter jets capable of striking deep into Iran if the standoff over its nuclear program escalates.
The deployments are part of a long-planned effort to bolster the U.S. military presence in the gulf region, in part to reassure Israel that in dealing with Iran, as one senior administration official put it last week, "When the president says there are other options on the table beyond negotiations, he means it."
Join the Discussion
Post a Comment
But at a moment that the U.S. and its allies are beginning to enforce a much broader embargo on Iran’s oil exports, meant to force the country to take seriously the negotiations over sharply limiting its nuclear program, the build-up carries significant risks, including that Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps could decide to lash out against the increased presence.
The most visible elements of this build-up are Navy ships designed to vastly enhance the ability to patrol the Strait of Hormuz — and to reopen the narrow waterway should Iran attempt to mine it to prevent Saudi Arabia and other oil exporters from sending their tankers through the vital passage.
The Navy has doubled the number of minesweepers assigned to the region, to eight vessels, in what military officers describe as a purely defensive move.
For President Barack Obama, the combination of negotiations, new sanctions aimed at Iran’s oil revenues and increased military pressure is the latest test of what the White House calls a "two track" policy against Iran. In the midst of a presidential election campaign in which his opponent, Mitt Romney, has accused him of being "weak" in dealing with the Iranian nuclear issue, Obama seeks to project toughness without tipping into a crisis in the region.
"The message to Iran is, ‘Don’t even think about it,’" one senior Defense Department official said. "Don’t even think about closing the strait. We’ll clear the mines. Don’t even think about sending your fast boats out to harass our vessels or commercial shipping. We’ll put them on the bottom of the gulf." Like others interviewed, the official spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the delicacy of the diplomatic and military situation.
