Knock-Knock: Aircraft Carrier Seen As Barometer Of Tensions With Iran

[ThunderBlade + 231]

Ordered by the White House to the Persian Gulf, the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier has become a 100,000-ton barometer of the tensions between Iran and the U.S. So far, the Lincoln and its accompanying ships have yet to enter the gulf through the Strait of Hormuz. It has been filmed by the U.S. Navy on Friday carrying out exercises with other American warships in the Arabian Sea, which is over 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) away. While U.S. military officials aren’t publicly explaining the delay, it may be to calm nerves before the ships pass through the strait, a narrow waterway where Iran often shadows American vessels. In December, about 30 Iranian Revolutionary Guard vessels trailed the USS John C. Stennis aircraft carrier and its strike group through the strait as Associated Press journalists on board watched. One small vessel launched what appeared to be a commercial-grade drone to film the U.S. ships. Other transits have seen the Iranians fire rockets away from American warships or test-fire their machine guns. The Guard’s small fast boats often cut in front of the massive carriers, running dangerously close to running into them...

 

https://apnews.com/375bc94066f845debf7d42003f7ca7a6?utm_medium=AP&utm_source=Twitter&utm_campaign=SocialFlow

 

[Pavel + 384]

That's a very expensive barometer.

[francoba + 93]

meanwhile, Iraq between two fires:

Iraqi president doesn't want country to become battleground for U.S.-Iran fight

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iraqi-president-barham-salih-doesnt-want-country-to-become-battleground-for-proxy-us-iran-fight/

 

[pinto + 293]

4 minutes ago, francoba said:

meanwhile, Iraq between two fires:

Iraqi president doesn't want country to become battleground for U.S.-Iran fight

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iraqi-president-barham-salih-doesnt-want-country-to-become-battleground-for-proxy-us-iran-fight/

 

Rocket hits Green Zone in Baghdad as tensions flare between U.S. and Iran

[rainman + 263]

it doesn't smell good, time for rationality

[50 shades of black + 254]

May, 2008: "Bolton: Striking Iran 'Is Really The Most Prudent Thing To Do'"

https://thinkprogress.org/bolton-striking-iran-is-really-the-most-prudent-thing-to-do-fbed518d058b/

 

Again May, but now under other (more dangerous) circumstances...

[Ward Smith + 6,615]

Any side bets on Trump's response if His sailors get detained by Iran? 

Versus say, his predecessor? 

[BenFranklin'sSpectacles + 762]

On 5/20/2019 at 4:29 PM, ThunderBlade said:

Ordered by the White House to the Persian Gulf, the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier has become a 100,000-ton barometer of the tensions between Iran and the U.S. So far, the Lincoln and its accompanying ships have yet to enter the gulf through the Strait of Hormuz. It has been filmed by the U.S. Navy on Friday carrying out exercises with other American warships in the Arabian Sea, which is over 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) away. While U.S. military officials aren’t publicly explaining the delay, it may be to calm nerves before the ships pass through the strait, a narrow waterway where Iran often shadows American vessels. In December, about 30 Iranian Revolutionary Guard vessels trailed the USS John C. Stennis aircraft carrier and its strike group through the strait as Associated Press journalists on board watched. One small vessel launched what appeared to be a commercial-grade drone to film the U.S. ships. Other transits have seen the Iranians fire rockets away from American warships or test-fire their machine guns. The Guard’s small fast boats often cut in front of the massive carriers, running dangerously close to running into them...

 

https://apnews.com/375bc94066f845debf7d42003f7ca7a6?utm_medium=AP&utm_source=Twitter&utm_campaign=SocialFlow

When the US was defending Kuwait in Gulf War I, the naval threat from Iraq was irrelevant.  It made sense to sail in as close as possible purely for convenience.  Today, the threat is from Iran's navy, which is strongest in the narrow Persian Gulf.  Meanwhile, the US has bases to the East in Afghanistan/Pakistan, bases to the NW in Turkey, bases to the West in Iraq/Saudi Arabia, bases to the SW in the UAE/Oman, and an aerial Global Strike capability that didn't exist 30 years ago.  The only angle the US hasn't covered is South of Iran from the Gulf of Oman/Arabian Sea - an angle perfect for carrier groups.  The US could obliterate Iran even without carrier groups, and they know it. 

The US also has a US president that has damaged entire economies with a single tweet and a National Security Advisor itching to topple regimes.  Plenty of intimidation there. 

That said, what possible military reason could the US have to sail an expensive, blue-water navy through a narrow strait?  Is that just a way to say, "I own you, you know I own you, and now your citizens know it too."? 

[BenFranklin'sSpectacles + 762]

On 5/20/2019 at 4:56 PM, 50 shades of black said:

May, 2008: "Bolton: Striking Iran 'Is Really The Most Prudent Thing To Do'"

https://thinkprogress.org/bolton-striking-iran-is-really-the-most-prudent-thing-to-do-fbed518d058b/

Again May, but now under other (more dangerous) circumstances...

It's clever how Trump found the most aggressive subordinate possible.  Bolton's aggression puts all options on the table, ensuring that Trump gets what Trump wants.  However, Trump retains ultimate control.  It's a perfect team.