Having to refresh my geography a little, came across this pic:



Interesting

If we were going to go through the trouble of nuking Iran, don't you think that all the shore facilities capable of closing the straits would be visited by some US asset?

Well let's just hope the Israelis don't order us to bomb Iran then.

There's also the possibility that Iran could take offense to the GOP rhetoric and close it in retaliation.

GAT_00: There's also the possibility that Iran could take offense to the GOP rhetoric and close it in retaliation.

If axis of evil didn't do it, this tame stuff won't.

Mr. Achmadinnerjacket, a GOP candidate is speaking in the USA.

Shut.
Down.
EVERYTHING!

vygramul: If we were going to go through the trouble of nuking Iran, don't you think that all the shore facilities capable of closing the straits would be visited by some US asset?

Nuking them is obviously dumb. Other methods exist for getting what we'd want.

Also, what does the Iranian economy make that doesn't go through that strait? This would certainly spike oil prices, but wouldn't it simultaneously bankrupt Iran? I could endure some $7/gal gasoline for that.

I'm skeptical they could actually keep the strait closed for very long if local US hardware got involved.

Philip Francis Queeg: chimp_ninja: vygramul: If we were going to go through the trouble of nuking Iran, don't you think that all the shore facilities capable of closing the straits would be visited by some US asset?

Nuking them is obviously dumb. Other methods exist for getting what we'd want.

Also, what does the Iranian economy make that doesn't go through that strait? This would certainly spike oil prices, but wouldn't it simultaneously bankrupt Iran? I could endure some $7/gal gasoline for that.

I'm skeptical they could actually keep the strait closed for very long if local US hardware got involved.

Would you be willing to sacrifice a bit more than $7 dollar gas? You know, like putting your life on the line to reopen the strait? You willing to patrol the streets in Bandar-e-Abbas?

Nope. I think attacking them is obviously dumb.

I'm just pointing out that Iran's counter-strategy of "We'll close the straits!" hurts them a lot more than us. They're counting on most Americans being too soft to even endure $7/gal gas while their economy imploded. And they'd only be able to pull it off if we didn't really need it open.

Patrolling the streets would seem unnecessary even in that scenario. The strait is 35 miles wide. There's no threat from small arms fire, RPGs, and the like. Destroying regional artillery, naval, and air resources would likely be sufficient.

Philip Francis Queeg: chimp_ninja: vygramul: If we were going to go through the trouble of nuking Iran, don't you think that all the shore facilities capable of closing the straits would be visited by some US asset?

Nuking them is obviously dumb. Other methods exist for getting what we'd want.

Also, what does the Iranian economy make that doesn't go through that strait? This would certainly spike oil prices, but wouldn't it simultaneously bankrupt Iran? I could endure some $7/gal gasoline for that.

I'm skeptical they could actually keep the strait closed for very long if local US hardware got involved.

Would you be willing to sacrifice a bit more than $7 dollar gas? You know, like putting your life on the line to reopen the strait? You willing to patrol the streets in Bandar-e-Abbas?

Doesn't take that much. No boats, not shore launch facilities, no closed straights.

This isn't to say that this is a trivial matter or that it isn't rife with difficulties, foreseen and unforeseen. But this is by no stretch of the imagination a trivial problem for the Iranians, either.

Jake Havechek: But hey, lets all jump to it to save poor little innocent Israel.

Believe it or not, the West has been farking around over there since before there WAS an Israel. So think about that before assuming everything is about them.

You can't keep 60 year old technology out of the hands of people who really, really want it.

Approves

vygramul: GAT_00: There's also the possibility that Iran could take offense to the GOP rhetoric and close it in retaliation.

If axis of evil didn't do it, this tame stuff won't.

Iran knew that doing so under Bush would only result in an attack. It isn't guaranteed from Obama.

GAT_00: vygramul: GAT_00: There's also the possibility that Iran could take offense to the GOP rhetoric and close it in retaliation.

If axis of evil didn't do it, this tame stuff won't.

Iran knew that doing so under Bush would only result in an attack. It isn't guaranteed from Obama.

What? But Obama puts us intp third and fourth wars! He's a war-monger!

PreMortem: Having to refresh my geography a little, came across this pic:

[img834.imageshack.us image 341x309]

Interesting

I can't imagine why their might be some unintended consequences to our resident moron brigade, some of whom have access to sensitive national security information.

GAT_00: vygramul: GAT_00: There's also the possibility that Iran could take offense to the GOP rhetoric and close it in retaliation.

If axis of evil didn't do it, this tame stuff won't.

Iran knew that doing so under Bush would only result in an attack. It isn't guaranteed from Obama.

Do you really believe that?

He'd have it reopened so fast it'd make the Nobel Prize Commision's heads spin.

Headso: Over the past 5 years or so we have become less reliant on foreign oil. This fact is not convenient for the drill baby drill douches, or the green power people so it is not mentioned. As that continues to happen we will become less and less interested in the middle east

How many ME countries do we have to invade while gas prices continue to rise steadily before people realize we're not there for oil?

deadcrickets: Many in the GOP were against any military level of assistance in Libya. Why?

Because Daffy Duck was, at the time, a neutered dictator. He had already opened his doors wide open for inspection and given up his arsenal of WMD's. It had been decades since he had any active role in terrorism and was currently no threat to the US.

It's a clear case of the Devil you know vs. The Devil you don't and which would be more cost effective. Currently we don't know what we'll end up with in Libya and it looks like it's trending the same way Egypt did. Not exactly the "Democratic" uprising people were hoping for. It's a done deal, but to believe there were no valid reasons to avoid military action is ignorance.

Mugato: Headso: Over the past 5 years or so we have become less reliant on foreign oil. This fact is not convenient for the drill baby drill douches, or the green power people so it is not mentioned. As that continues to happen we will become less and less interested in the middle east

How many ME countries do we have to invade while gas prices continue to rise steadily before people realize we're not there for oil?

We are and we aren't. It's far more nuanced and far more complex than trite platitudes people normally utter - as is most of life. But people want to distill everything so that one can explain it with a three-word phrase, starting with "because".

Jake Havechek: Like Saddam you mean?

Not quite. Sadam had closed his doors to inspectors, continued to finance terrorist attacks and shot missiles at our air planes. Doesn't sound the same at all.