US ships at risk in the Gulf?

[Gromit]

Is it wise for the US to hold naval exercises close to Iranian Territorial waters where they are sitting targets?

A 8,300-tonne guided missile destroyer, a 9,600-tonne cruiser, and a 4,100-tonne frigate were threatened by 5 little boats this week.

Is a more serious incident inevitable?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jse ssionid=XB5CVXUA4GU2FQFIQMFSFF4AVCBQ0IV0?xml=/ news/2008/01/09/wiran109.xml

[lareponse]

The term 'looking for trouble' springs to mind. And just to coincide with the presidential visit to the Middle East....

[4GS]

The Royal Navy have changed their rules of engagement after the fiasco in the Gulf last year, they will now defend them selfs with vigour.
That said if the good old U.S of A are holding Naval exercises there it looks like old fashioned saber rattling in the hope that the Iranians will be provoked into doing something akin to the Tonkin Incident which helped start U.S involement in Vietnam

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Tonkin_In cident

Does it sound familiar?

[Lonnie]

4GS has it right, when I read it, straight away I thought the US were saying to the Iranians, We dare you. and good for them.

[R1Man]

What a prat you are "threatened by 5 little boats". They are war ships you t1t, it's like a wasp v a Rhino. Read between the lines you prat. If they didn't have to pussy foot around because of lefty w@nkers like you they'd have blown them out of the water 3 miles away. Hardly threatened. I wish the old sepctics would stop pi55ing around and just exterminate these evil b4stards. To answer your question, yes they should do WTF they like around the evil ones.

[Gromit]

R1Man

'Threatened' was the word used by the Pentagon in its press release. I listed the comparative sizes of the vessels involved on either side to mock the description 'threaten. Sorry you were too thick to see that.

[whiffey]

Hopefully yes. The Americans are outside Iranian territorial waters and are probably sabre rattling, bloody good job too. 9/11and 7/7 were hardly tactful and the world game is for the very highest stakes imaginable. Come on USA, go go go !!

[persianlady]

I too think the Americans are out to provoke Iran. I think it is only a matter of time. How convenient if the Americans can get the Iranians to fire the first shot. Iran is hostile to America, Iran has oil, America needs that oil. Simple.

[whiffey]

So America goes and safeguards the oil supply, very simple. If it is necessary to engineer an incident then well and good.

[Zen]

Safe guarding the Oil supplies for themselves,not for the Uk or Europe.
Time we got together and took over the Middle East and Africa.
A bit like the old Empire days ?
Save them from theirselves..........

[R1Man]

so just plain and simple Yank bashing, now I get it!

[Gromit]

Welcome back onboard R1Man. Only six hours for the penny to drop, well done.

So, the Rhino is getting worked up by the Wasp on the eve of GWB visit to the region. Is it itching to swat or just setting a good impression for GWBs pilgrimage to the promised land?

[persianlady]

Is this not why Blair had to join forces with Bush? As the oil runs out and America has control of it as they surely will, wont we have to suck up to America to stand a chance of geting any. I truly believe that Blair had no choice but to go to war. I think he was blackmailed or somehow threatened.

[Gromit]

persianlady

I don't notice the French and Germans running out of oil because of their decision not to join Bush's crusade.

Worth noting though that of the 6 multinational oil companies in the world, 4 are American and the other two are registered in Britain (BP and Shell).

[maxximus]

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context =va&aid=7755 the same old crew proudly waving their nut-nut cards around i see. http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context =va&aid=7760 cheers gromit!

[Gromit]

Thanks maxximus.

[fletcher.5]

They are not exercises. The Western infedels have been camped there for years, why do you think 9/11 happened.
Its another case of the sabre rattling yanks attempting to brow beat the East.
The US may be the most powerful force in the world, but they do not seem to appreciate, that they are the most hated power in the world.
These b------- need to be given another lesson.even their own countrymen have resevations about their leader (no pun intended) They too realise, as do the east, how can you be controlled by a system that is shallow, hypocritical & corrupt, which has no values, morals & still has the John Wayne mentallity.