Iran threatens to create one:
A senior Iranian official on Tuesday delivered a sharp threat in response to economic sanctions being readied by the United States, saying his country would retaliate against any crackdown by blocking all oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for transporting about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply.
The declaration by Iran’s first vice president, Mohammad-Reza Rahimi, came as President Obama prepares to sign legislation that, if fully implemented, could substantially reduce Iran’s oil revenue in a bid to deter it from pursuing a nuclear weapons program…
Apparently fearful of the expanded sanctions’ possible impact on the already-stressed economy of Iran, the world’s third-largest energy exporter, Mr. Rahimi said, “If they impose sanctions on Iran’s oil exports, then even one drop of oil cannot flow from the Strait of Hormuz,” according to Iran’s official news agency. Iran just began a 10-day naval exercise in the area.
Oh, if only we had a Strategic Petroleum Reserve against such an eventuality.
Wait…
Now that “the war is over,” what US Navy assets are still operating in the Gulf?
I remember participating in Operation Earnest Will in late ’87, where we kept aircraft overhead the Straits to ensure freedom of passage.
Happy new Year to you Lex.
MikeyB
We still keep a CSG in the area, plus I’d imagine 5th fleet has a few extra destroyers on hand, not to mention all the Air Force and Army assets in the Gulf.
This strikes me as bluster. The Iranians know that shutting down the straits is the one big consequence that keeps us from taking out thier nuke program directly. If they close them what do we have to lose? Sure Obamas a feckless coward with all the spine of overboiled pasta, but he’s facing a tough reelection fight and nothing boosts Presidential approval ratings like blowing stuff up. The risks are too high, unless the sanctions spell certain death to the regime.
If he had only supported the Iranian early spring in Iran….like the one in Egypt, this all could have been a non-issue…
You have now demonstrated a greater geopolitical sense than our current President. Don’t get too cocky however, I’ve got an old carton of milk in the fridge that can make a similar claim.
As MickeyB points out, we have danced this dance before. Don’t these idiots ever learn? Or has everyone old enough to remember been purged and/or re-educated?
However, this time around we don’t have old ordnance that needs to be disposed of, one way or another. Even so, good to keep the GM’s on top of their game
Problem is a few mines, or rumors of mines, will either kick our a$$, or at least stop the traffic.
Like ASW, I suspect our AMW has atrophied significantly, in both equipment, as well as personnel proficiency. Any ship holed by a mine will be a loss to the Fleet’s numbers, for I’m sure the domestic budget cannot support the necessary rebuilding, let alone our National Will being unlike that in the days of the courageous crew of Sammie B.
I’m MUCH more worried about the coming, inevitable, Iranian EMP shot from a cargo vessel off the East Coast that will send 2/3rds of the US back to the days of the Pilgrims pre-electricity (which they’ve been practicing for) once they manage to mate a nuke warhead to their missiles. But of course I can sleep tight tonight secure in the assurance that the Obama Admin has a) a rush program to insulate the elec grid & assoc vital control systems and b) a dedicated intel tracking system to identify suspect freighters world-wide and c) an existing dedicated ABM capability targeted against just such threats.
We’ve got all that stuff, right? Good….I thought so… I’m SO relieved..it’s not like a successful EMP shot would be a nat. calamity of civilization-ending proportions and the loss of 80% of our op. thru starvation/health reasons within 10 yrs or anything, right? As Kate @ SDA says when contemplating/presenting evidence of such possible calamitous things: “It’s probably nothing…”
Relax. The good news is that Camp David is EMP shielded, as is AF One, so your leader will survive. Whew, thank the Good Lord, huh? Just get to fabricating that Faraday cage (hit the Amazon link) and buy the solar panels, the controllers, and batteries and get them shielded.
Scary part is, all the predictions of how many decades it was to take them to create a nuke has been so far off scale, not in the benefit of anyone they consider adversaries that they may well have this capability, and/or they feel they can bluff it out with The WON! on the back channels and he’ll fold in a millisecond. Sorry to say, I’m with them on this bet.
On a lighter note, when 80% are gone, you’ve lost a lot of voters. When the infrastructure is gone, they can’t use the net to pay for a campaign with stolen/fraudulent credit card numbers. We’ll not consider how one’s approval rating will decline if such an event were to occur. Ever heard of a unanimous vote against a sitting President?
VX, What I’m going to say is bucking the current narrative, and may decrease your consumption of Barbancourt.
This is keyed to your points, and cites available upon request:
a) We’ll be OK. ‘Nuf said. The Fleet will be OK, as will our grid. Some limited parts replacements may be needed for the grid. Science facts: Lightning has a EM field strength rise time of 100 nanosec. while the best EMP shots have a 5-10 nanosec rise time. Lots of lightening hits on the power grid every year.
b) The Navy has had a system for this for decades. The private sector has one also. Some intel agencies are supposed to have this data. YMMV.
c) We gots. On ships today, and the system works. Plenty of warning, correct geographical placement and practice are always pluses with this scenario.
Haiti’s GDP hardest hit.
Virgil, while I realize nearly 80% of the US population lives within 20 miles of the coasts, you can trust me when I say that if those 20 miles were rendered inert of electricity, sanitation, or even 4G cell tower access the rest of the nation would be unlikely to even notice.
It’s safe to say that those in the Washington DC area over-estimate their importance to the overall functioning of the country. It’s also safe to say that if your office view includes a beach you’re unlikely to be such a critical cog in the economic machine that you can’t be missed for a while, else every hurricane would stop the economy.
– Max
Fabulous…fill your gas tanks now before the prices spike…
Sheesh…
talk talk talk
No other reason to justify the expense of a carrier group in the Persian Gulf if someone doesn’t rattle the saber.
for those that have already been there/done that read the link and laugh at the 10 foot tall Iranians. Doom. Quake in the boots. Allah allee in come free
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/iran-outlines-key-steps-and-actors-potential-straits-hormuz-closure
Why is the official US response coming from a 5th Fleet PR Lieutenant?
If I were President:
“My fellow Americans:
Iran has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz to worldwide commerce. I have consulted with Congressional leaders and our regional and global allies, and should Iran not revoke this threat in the next 48 hours, the United States will provide Israel, at no charge, additional F-35 stealth fighters and refueling tankers to bolster its military forces. In addition, I will present to Saudi Arabia and our other close regional allies with opportunities to purchase, at their discretion, additional advanced military arms, including precision guided bunker-buster bombs.
The United States will not tolerate any attempts to interfere with, blockade, or otherwise impede commerce through the Strait of Hormuz. Regardless of Iran’s actions in the next 48 hours, I have ordered additional American forces to the region with instructions to ensure the freedom of navigation for vessels of all nations. As long as Iran takes no action that appears threatening to the strait, there will be no conflict. Should Iran appear to be preparing to carry out this threat, now or at anytime in the future, the United States and its allies will not only ensure the Strait remains navigable, but will remove Iran’s capacity to threaten maritime commerce ever again.
Thank you, and may God Bless America. Goodnight.”
Close the Straits of Hormuz? To borrow a phrase from Bush 43, “Bring it on.”
Earnest Will Part Deux. Do it now while we still have a Navy that’s up to it and before China can step up and take credit.
Momentary messiness with a substantial ‘peace dividend.”