US Navy prepares for attack on Iran?

Two US strike groups that include more than 100 planes and headed by two aircraft carriers, have carried out simulated attack maneuvers off the coast of Iran.

This demonstration of strength was not intended to threaten Iran, or a response to the 15 captured British sailors four days earlier, according to Cmdr. Kevin Aandahl of the US Navy. However, there is no question that it will be seen as provocative, and perhaps intended to create a response from the Iranians.

As mentioned in a previous article, an attack is almost certain, it’s just a question of when. The Bush administration have been building a case for an attack for quite some time, just as they did with Iraq, the only thing that seems to have prevented it (so far) was a good enough reason to pull the trigger. This almost came with the capture of the British sailors by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, but it is only a matter of time before “something” else develops and completes the final stage of the operation.

Cmdr. Aandahl added that the ships in the Persian Gulf are there for “regional stability and security”. Although he said the demonstration was for “Iran or anyone else”, there is no doubt who all of this is for.

Even though the invasion of Iraq in 2003 has done more to upset the stability of the Middle East, Aandahl said “If there’s a destabilizing effect, it’s Iran’s behavior”.

The only behavior that should be questioned at the moment is that of the present leadership of the United States, who seem hell bent on creating another war in the Middle East that will produce the biggest instability the region has ever seen.

It is difficult to know whether the rest of the world is just too weak to speak out against this madness, or they are giving the Bush administration enough rope to hang themselves with.

There is little chance that other countries will assist in an attack on Iran (except Britain with the help of Tony Blair), which means the US will be stretching its military force to the limits. With thousands of troops stuck in Iraq and an estimated 10,000 involved in the Persian Gulf strike force, this doesn’t leave a great deal in reserve (especially at home). In the next few days the Marine Corps will be recalling 1,800 reservists to active duty. There are more available, but they are either in their first or last year of reserve status.

It is somewhat ironic that the Bush administration wish the American public to believe that these wars in the Middle East are designed to make things safer at home, when in fact the opposite is true. The defense level in the United States is probably lower now than at any time, and one wonders how the US would cope with a major terrorist attack, when the cream of the military are stationed far away in oil rich lands.