A Foggy Persian-American Gulf………….
“The Obama administration is accelerating the deployment of new (1) defenses against possible Iranian missile attacks in the Persian Gulf, placing special ships off the Iranian coast and antimissile systems in at least four Arab countries, according to administration and military officials…… The deployments are also (2) partly intended to counter the impression that Iran is fast becoming the most powerful military force in the Middle East and to forestall any Iranian escalation of its confrontation with the West if a new set of sanctions is imposed. In addition, the administration is (3) trying to show Israel that there is no immediate need for military strikes against Iranian nuclear and missile facilities, according to administration officials, all of whom requested anonymity. By highlighting the defensive nature of the buildup the administration was hoping to avoid a sharp response from Tehran…………General Petraeus also described a first line of defense: He said the United States was now keeping Aegis cruisers on patrol in the Persian Gulf at all times. Those cruisers are equipped with advanced radar and antimissile systems designed to intercept medium-range missiles. Those systems would not be useful against Iran’s long-range missile, the Shahab 3, but intelligence agencies believe that it will be years before Iran can solve the problems of placing a nuclear warhead atop that missile…….....”
I don’t buy all three reasons given for the new deployments. This is not to say there are no military justifications, there may be, but they have not been given publicly. (1) If there is no intention to strike at Iran, then there is no fear of Iranian retaliation. That country, even under the mullahs, has not initiated a war against anyone for over 200 years. It has been invaded, however, by the British, the Russians, and even by Iraq. Besides (2) countering an impression is a silly argument in this context. (3) Unless David Patraeus can’t divine the Israeli intentions these days.
Cheers
mhg
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