U.S. military moves carriers, denies Iran link

[JBond]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...80A29L20120111

The U.S. military said on Wednesday that a new aircraft carrier strike group had arrived in the Arabian Sea and that another was on its way to the region, but denied any link to recent tensions with Iran and portrayed the movements as routine.

The shift in the powerful U.S. naval assets comes at a moment of heightened tensions with Iran, which has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz - the world's most important oil shipping lane - if U.S. and EU sanctions over its nuclear program cut off its oil exports.

[iceberg]

one stupid event can set this firebomb in motion.

[JBond]

Should we wait like Clinton did regarding NK or should we be preemptive?

[iceberg]

to north korea? i think things are so volitale on a global basis right now any singular attack will just start another WW.

[JBond]

NK was just an example. I was referring to Iran. What should we do? What should Israel do? Things are volatile no doubt. I can't believe Obama let things get this out of hand. Part of me thinks it is intentional on his part. Overthrow regimes that are friendly and replace them with ones that hate us. Not a great foreign policy.

[VTA]

The first thing that should be done is get Obama and Hilary out of office.


Now that the prime opportunity has passed (a position of strength, when Iran was crapping peach pits, right after we took Iraq), the only thing to do is containment. Violent war is another option, but right now we don't even know who our allies in the ME are, thanks to Obama and his helping hand to the Muslim Brotherhood.


Kuwait is eventually going to want to stop being in the middle of all of this and our welcome will eventually wear thin. The whole strategy is just dumb. A prolonged, costly presence in the ME without having dominated it is costly and unfruitful.


I'm not saying we should go around dominating lands and regions, but then if we're not, we shouldn't be wasting resources trolling the area amongst potent enemies. Either commit to war or commit to not declare war. This pussy footing around is draining us.


Someone very knowledgeable and capable, in regard to worldly leadership is going to have to step up to lead this country and I'm not sure one exists in this election cycle.

[iceberg]

at least not in the US, VTA. would the leaders in our known allies be any better? UK? Israel? is Israel still considered an ally after Obama did his stupidity dance? I also totally agree with you - we have no idea what the ME is doing and to me our best bet is to get out and let THEM sort it out. but even then, that's just for now. Sooner or later it will rear it's ugly head. I'm just not sure NOW is the time to challenge it when so much of the ME is just changing in front of our eyes.

[VTA]

at least not in the US, VTA. would the leaders in our known allies be any better? UK? Israel? is Israel still considered an ally after Obama did his stupidity dance? I also totally agree with you - we have no idea what the ME is doing and to me our best bet is to get out and let THEM sort it out. but even then, that's just for now. Sooner or later it will rear it's ugly head. I'm just not sure NOW is the time to challenge it when so much of the ME is just changing in front of our eyes.

None of our allies have anything of the sort either. Israel can take care of itself militarily and there are elements on their side trying to do what Obama is doing on our side: fracture our alliance. But it like us is caught in the game of half measures and frankly the shifting of the ME is going to wear it down if it doesn't just act. Our country is spread too thin and we're not going to be able buy allies forever.

[VTA]

But they do know more than I do...

WASHINGTON — As arguments flare in Israel and the United States about a possible military strike to set back Iran’s nuclear program, an accelerating covert campaign of assassinations, bombings, cyberattacks and defections appears intended to make that debate irrelevant, according to current and former American officials and specialists on Iran.

The campaign, which experts believe is being carried out mainly by Israel, apparently claimed its latest victim on Wednesday when a bomb killed a 32-year-old nuclear scientist in Tehran’s morning rush hour.

Link

But honestly, I'm not sure I could get behind this. When they do it, it's 'terrorism', when we do it, it's 'covert action'.
I'm fully for slapping Iran who's done it's share of 'covert terrorism', but not on their level. Not because I hold to that false platitude of, 'we're supposed to be better', because you do what you must to win. But in doing this only it legitimizes the tactic and when it's done to you your grounds for complaint are basically gone and any notions of 'international law' become malleable. Then when you run out of money, they apply to you.

[JBond]

Playing the equivalency game can be dangerous. I hold the ideals and morals of what our country is supposed to stand for above that of Iran. I say we take any and all measures to cripple their weapons program because we are the better country. Arrogant... yes, but America has done more to help people around the world than any nation in history.

Another aspect that keeps getting ignored, is energy. We need it and they (the ME) have it. Until we get serious about developing our own resources we will be forced to play this high stakes game with a bunch of religious psychopaths. Unfortunately Obama and his minions are playing right into their hands with all the new restrictions and regulations. Is Obama intentionally screwing us? I think he is.