honestly can't blame them here. when all your neighbors have been invaded, and politicos from a superpower are just itching to make you next, you start to think 'how can I keep this from happening?'

Unfortunately, the world only offers a single solution that works 100% of the time. And it's not a pretty one.

You know what is more interesting then Iran? Carlos Mencia

Hmmm.... such a move would stop shipping past the east coast of Africa. Which would piss off the Somali Pirates.

I feel conflicted.

Here we go again...

I think this blockade could easily be removed by maybe 300 small Spartan ships.

I'm sure the U.S. Navy is shaking in their boots, wondering whatever will they do to counter an Iranian blockade.

Approve of said shenanigans

Badgers: I think this blockade could easily be removed by maybe 300 small Spartan ships.

That's a bit of a quandary there. You could say Greece has been sunk for a few months.

I'm not sure we should pay attention to some dumbfark member of their Parlaiment anymore than we'd want the world to pay attention to pissants like Louie Gohmert or Joe Barton.

This is why Obama need to put the country ahead of politics and approve the oil pipeline from Canada.

Block the shipping lanes down past Africa? That's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do.

It's so much better now that the other countries love us again.

Tehran is about to become the world's largest glass floored, self lighting parking lot.

Was he introduced as Parviz "Lord Humungous" Sarvari, Warrior of the Wastelands, The Ayatollah of Rock and Rollah? Because that would have been awesome.

The oil hits the anus when Iran closes the straits.

That was one of my top ten 2012 predictions. It's supposed to happen after Israel strikes Iran, not before. So chill out Iran. Wait your turn.

redmid17: Badgers: I think this blockade could easily be removed by maybe 300 small Spartan ships.

That's a bit of a quandary there. You could say Greece has been sunk for a few months.

I would think the generals of the Iranian army have sent a less-than-polite "stfu" to this guy.

Misconduc: You know what is more interesting then Iran? Carlos Mencia

Iran stole all their jokes from George Lopez.

Simple solution: The world makes Iran cease to exist.

Joe Blowme: This is why Obama need to put the country ahead of politics and approve the oil pipeline from Canada.

.7/10 You lose point for bad talking and stuff.

Also, I don't really understand Iran's thoughts here. Reel in your crazy, stop blustering and purposefully trying to piss people off and no one will give two shiats about what you do.

I think they have 'little man' syndrome. They just have to run their mouths to get some attention.

Yes, yes Iran we know all about your farking tanker war. The land based missile batteries, the Rev Guard speedboats, etc. What do you want, a damn cookie?

Even if, in case of overt hostilities, Iran could only keep the Strait closed for a matter of hours or days, or only manage to take occasional potshots at the tankers transiting, the price of oil would explode. $200/barrel? $300/barrel? Already, $100/barrel oil is starving economic growth around the world - this kind of action by Iran would devastate the global economy.

One wonders why there aren't more pipelines across the Nejd to Akaba or Wehj or someplace likely on the Red Sea.

I think when I was a kid they tried to close up the persian gulf, didnt end so well for them IIRC

make me some tea: Oh hell.

Eh, the last time they played this game was in 1988, they lust a Frigate, a Gunship, 5 or 6 speed boats and 2 oil platforms in 24 hours before they decided they didn't want to play any more. The truth is you block the passage of 33% of the world's oil, you lose any friends you might have had.

Iran's irrational confidence amuses me greatly.

MeinRS6: The US Navy is in a lot of danger from anti-ship missiles. If the Iranians fire enough, some will probably find their targets.

Submarines aren't. Neither are planes flying from carriers based outside of the enemy missile range.

Too bad we don't have an operational Rods From God system. This is the time and place to use such a system.

Joe Blowme: This is why Obama need to put the country ahead of politics and approve the oil pipeline from Canada.

Will that pipeline be supplying us the ~12% of the oil that we import from the mideast? If not, then what the hell does this have to do with anything?

Sun Worshiping Dog Launcher: Joe Blowme: This is why Obama need to put the country ahead of politics and approve the oil pipeline from Canada.

Will that pipeline be supplying us the ~12% of the oil that we import from the mideast? If not, then what the hell does this have to do with anything?

In truth we DO get more oil from Canada than the Middle East. This would hurt Europe more than us.

yagottabefarkinkiddinme: It's supposed to happen after Israel strikes Iran, not before. So chill out Iran. Wait your turn.

Israel has likely been striking Iran for awhile now. Those missing scientists, disabled computer systems and exploding buildings are not just random accidents.

nytmare: Block the shipping lanes down past Africa? That's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do.

so full of win

Is anyone else noting the timing of this build up to war with the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012 (with it's scary 1031 and 1032 provisions) being up for vote?

PawisBetlog: nytmare: Block the shipping lanes down past Africa? That's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do.

so full of win

Yes, it was a toto win.

But who is going to catch the rains?! WHO?????

phrawgh: Simple solution: The world makes Iran cease to exist.

We could just back the various youth movements in Iran with American muscle, and help overthrow their fetid theocracy, but I guess genocide works too.

/Yes, I'm aware that you're kidding

EWreckedSean: Sun Worshiping Dog Launcher: Joe Blowme: This is why Obama need to put the country ahead of politics and approve the oil pipeline from Canada.

Will that pipeline be supplying us the ~12% of the oil that we import from the mideast? If not, then what the hell does this have to do with anything?

In truth we DO get more oil from Canada than the Middle East. This would hurt Europe more than us.

Yup, so Iran would get rolled with the full support of NATO and the EU. Russia and China might make some noise, but they'd be happy to sell stuff under the table for cash and leave it at that.

Somewhere in the Wikileaks trove was a cable by Saudi Arabia to the US asking them to 'cut off the head of the snake' in reference to Iran.

One of the biggest fears in the Gulf countries is not that Iran will get the bomb and immediately lob it towards Israel so much as it is that if Iran has even one nuke, that whole 4 mile wide strait and all of the associated oil and gas terminals is effectively one boom away from being put out of commission at the whim of the mad Mahdist in the leisure suit.

They tried this during the Tanker wars... it didn't end well for them then, but they've expanded their in-shore navy and antiship capabilities a lot since then. They still can't go toe to toe with a modern navy with an air air, but it won't be pretty for either side if it happens.

A nuke really changes the game, though.

The policeman isn't there to create disorder. The policeman is there to preserve disorder.

ObscureNameHere: PawisBetlog: nytmare: Block the shipping lanes down past Africa? That's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do.

so full of win

Yes, it was a toto win.

But who is going to catch the rains?! WHO?????

I bless the rains, but it's gonna take some time

Iran fought Iraq to a stale mate for years.
They know what we did to Iraq.
We don't need to invade or put a single soldier on the ground, just blow shiat up until they cry uncle.

/they won't do it.