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We bring to the attention of our readers, this carefully documented review of the ongoing naval build-up and deployment of coalition forces in the Middle East.
The article examines the geopolitics behind this military deployment and its relationship to "the Battle for Oil".
The structure of military alliances is crucial to an understanding of these war preparations.
The naval deployment is taking place in two distinct theaters: the Persian Gulf and the Eastern Mediterranean.
Both Israel and NATO are slated to play a major role in the US-led war.
The militarization of the Eastern Mediterranean is broadly under the jurisdiction of NATO in liaison with Israel. Directed against Syria, it is conducted under the façade of a UN peace-keeping mission pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 1701. In this context, the war on Lebanon must be viewed as a stage of a the broader US sponsored military road-map.
The naval armada in the Persian Gulf is largely under US command, with the participation of Canada.
The naval buildup is coordinated with the planned air attacks. The planning of the aerial bombings of Iran started in mid-2004, pursuant to the formulation of CONPLAN 8022 in early 2004. In May 2004, National Security Presidential Directive NSPD 35 entitled Nuclear Weapons Deployment Authorization was issued. While its contents remains classified, the presumption is that NSPD 35 pertains to the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in the Middle East war theater in compliance with CONPLAN 8022.
Commander, Sixth Fleet has both U.S. national and NATO responsibilities. He reports to the Commander-In-Chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe (CinCUSNavEur) in the U.S. chain of command and to CinCSouth when the Sixth Fleet operates as part of NATO as StrikForSouth. The principal striking power of the Sixth Fleet resides in its aircraft carriers and the modern jet aircraft, its submarines, and its reinforced battalion of U.S. Marines on board amphibious ships deployed in the Mediterranean. Altogether, approximately 40 ships, 175 aircraft and 21,000 people make up the Sixth Fleet.
The White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said it expected Iran to “miss an opportunity to accept” the incentives package.
DEBKAfile’s military sources report that Operational Brimstone, starting Monday, July 21, aimed at giving military teeth to the two-week ultimatum the six world powers gave Iran in Geneva Saturday to accept the suspension of uranium enrichment or face harsh sanctions and isolation.
After warning of punitive measures against Iran, Condoleezza Rice met the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council plus Egypt, Jordan and Iraq in Abu Dhabi. First she was briefed by Under Secretary of State William Burns.
The penalty of withholding refined oil products from Iran would be exercised by means of a partial international naval blockade of its Gulf ports.
Taking part in the 10-day exercise in the Atlantic Ocean are more than a dozen ships, including the US carrier strike group Theodore Roosevelt and expeditionary strike group Iwo Jima; the French submarine Amethyste, and the British HMS Illustrious Carrier Strike Group, as well as a Brazilian frigate.
Six vessels from the Norfolk Naval State will play the role of “enemy” forces.
About 15,000 sailors will be involved in Operation Brimstone. Both the Roosevelt and Iwo Jima will be deployed in the Middle East in the coming months.
The exercise is scheduled to end July 31, two days before the US-European ultimatum to Iran expires. Immediately after the Geneva talks ended in failure, the US State Department issued a statement giving Tehran the option of “cooperation or confrontation.”
A partial blockade of Iran’s shores, a key element of the new sanctions, would be limited to withholding from Iran supplies of benzene and other refined oil products - not foodstuffs or other commodities. Short of refining capacity, Iran has to import 40 percent of its benzene consumption and will be forced to react to the stoppage.
www.debka.com...
Originally posted by jetxnet
I don't know about Mother Shipton, but the US Navy is in a bad spot.
Iran has the Sunburn II Nuclear anti-ship missle which can be launched with mobile launchers. These launchers are very difficult to spot as they can be moved around in minutes. Iran can launch these Nuclear-tipped missles from the rocky coast above the Navy at the entry"
"IF" Iran fires first, it will be distroyed by NATO, as all NATO member MUST respond to an attack on any NATO member.
Add to that in this little group is France/UK/US and even Brazil.
The big point is that they would be attacking all NATO not just making it Iran/Russia VS US/Israel, as Iran would hope for.
BTW, brazil is NOT a NATO member country.
List of NATO countries
[edit on 23-7-2008 by jetxnet]
Originally posted by sir_chancealot
OMG! The Iranians attacked us just like the Spaniards did to the Maine in Cuba, and the Vietnamese did in the Gulf of Tonkin!!!!!!!!!!
Originally posted by jetxnet
Iran has the Sunburn II Nuclear anti-ship missle which can be launched with mobile launchers. These launchers are very difficult to spot as they can be moved around in minutes. Iran can launch these Nuclear-tipped missles from the rocky coast above the Navy at the entry point.
There is no way out. They would be trapped.
The fleet should have major coverage with the A-10 Warthogs over the rocky coast to take out any mobile launch units before they get started.
[edit on 23-7-2008 by jetxnet]