Iran claims right to close the Persian Gulf
Yes, the whacky nutjobs in Tehran are threatening to close the Straits of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf as retaliation for economic sanctosn which have taken Iran’s oil off of the global market says Associated Press;
The remarks by Heshmatollah Falahapisheh came as EU nations on Monday agreed in Brussels on an oil embargo against Iran as part of sanctions over the country’s controversial nuclear program.
I’d remind the crackpots in Tehran, as well as our own crackpots in Washington that Jimmy Carter threatened military force to keep the persian Gulf open in his State of the Union Address on January 23, 1980 in what is now referred to as the Carter Doctrine;
Let our position be absolutely clear: An attempt by any outside force to gain control of the Persian Gulf region will be regarded as an assault on the vital interests of the United States of America, and such an assault will be repelled by any means necessary, including military force.
The original “war for oil” doctrine was aimed at the Soviet Union after their invasion of Afghanistan, but we’ve used as justification to station carrier groups in the Gulf as well, as the Persian Gulf War when Saddam Hussein threatened the Gulf States.
And how much sense does it make to close the Gulf when Iran deends on the Gulf for it’s on oil shipments. What a bunch of babies. I guess they’re just spoiling for a fight with this weak Administration, like they did with Carter Administration.
Category: Barack Obama/Joe Biden, Jimmy Carter, Terror War
Yeah,well good luck with that assholes. Really? What were you expecting from a bunch of Death cult worshipers and Camel humpers?
The Abraham Lincoln just sailed through the Straits this weekend.
Memo to liberals and Paulbots (but really, what’s the difference?)
Shit like THIS is why we have a Navy, assholes.
Saudi has the ability to ship oil from western ports, so flow will be diminished, but not cut off. We aren’t buying Iranian oil, but those who are would increase demand on other sources. In the end Iran will have essentially zero income while the straits are closed and be seen by its business partners as unreliable, while driving a short term price spike based on fear. In the end, it isn’t in the best interest of Iran, but then we have to assume that they are rational actors.
@4: Right on, Bobo. However, if we assume they are rational, then we are the stupid ones. Just like any negotiations with the taliban; we assume they are rational, yet history provides many examples as to why they are not.
No, the Rational Actor model for decision has never really been a valid one at National levels with modern governments. Take a look at “Essence of Decision” by Dr. Graham T. Allison (JFK School of Govt).
What you are really dealing with are decisions driven by bureaucratic sets and subsets within national level government who push/pull for their on programs and inputs to be adopted as policy, and is often driven my personalities and personal power/influence. In short, governmental politics at subset levels. A good example of this would be the process that LBJ employed with his cabinet and the NSC when working through the process of deciding whether or not to fully engage the US in SVN in 64-65.
The other model is the organizational process model, where many decisions are driven purely by what can best be described as SOPs and adherence to same. Allison’s example if the shoot down of one of our U2s over Cuba during the missile crisis; Khrushchev was incensed and demanded answers as to why the Soviet ADA battery had fired when the US clearly already knew of the presence of ICBMs on Cuban soil…the answer…the SAM Battery Commander was following standard Soviet SOPs–engage unauthorized AC violating Soviet/Eastern Block air space. Only one problem there…they were in the Soviet Union or the Eastern Block.
IMHO, the governmental/bureaucratic process seems to be what is at work in this case, as between the Mullahs, the Revolutionary Guards, and the pure government organizational functionaries, there are many moving pieces at work for the Iranians.
I’m thinking it would take about 15 minutes to sink their entire navy…maybe a few hours to wipe their air force out….This might be fun to watch now that I’m retired.
Spigot – now you are going to make me buy the book. I did manage to find a review, though. The biggest problem with the rational actor model is understanding the concepts behind rationality. As seen through our Western lens, other European nations can be seen to act rationally in various confrontations. As the actors deviate from our societal norms, rational actions deviate accordingly. When applying the rational actor model, one always has to consider what the actor would consider rational, not what we would consider rational.
Iran can claim whatever they want. I think we can conclusively claim the right to say “Fuck you I’ll do whatever I feel like”
Bobo, it’s an excellent book for anyone interested in International Relations/Politics.
I first read it in grad school and Dr. Allison’s thought and theories provided the foundation for my Master’s Thesis.
CI @ #7 “I’m thinking it would take about 15 minutes to sink their entire navy…maybe a few hours to wipe their air force out”
And then 10 years with 200,000 troops on the ground and over a trillion American dollars while we rebuild them and make sure they have good roads and nice hospitals. America doesn’t have a good history with “destroy and leave.” We would hang around to make sure their little Iranian great grand kids got a good education.
Fine, let ’em eat their own growing stockpile of oil.
We should be drilling within our own boundaries, we have over 200 years worth of oil, coal and natural gas.
F**k Iran, f**k the entire middle east.
As previously stated, Iran has the right to TRY to close the Strait. We also have the right, given that logic, to send a select group of mullahs to an express metting with Allah.
I would like to say as an aside, that this is the Big E’s last deployment. USS Enterprise (CVN-65) has lived a storied career much like her predecessors, her first deployment was to the Cuban Missile blockade. It was promised that she would last 50 years, and by God the Admirals are keeping that promise. She’s notible for being involved in Vietnam, DS, and was one of the first on scene in A-stan after 9-11.
she was even the ship they filmed Top gun on. Makes you pretty freaking proud doesn’t it?
… and our Navy has the right to sink everything in sight if fired upon, which I’m sure will be reported with great gusto by our lefty media swine.
Let them try, see what happens. I doubt they will close it Jonn as you stated, even if they could do it for a prolonged period of time, they simply couldn’t afford it.
Like Ron White says ” At that point, I had the RIGHT to remain silent, but I no longer had the ability”.
My advice to the Mullahs is simple. Don’t let your allegator mouth write checks your mosquito ass can’t cash.