US navy fires on boat near Dubai port

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Boreas

I thought it had been definitely established that it didn't.

John

I was trying to be kind.

At the risk of angering Big_Bill types, I do not put it above our military hawks to make such a thing occur, again...

With the "correct" President, that would get us an escalated conflict.

[beej]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I was trying to be kind.

At the risk of angering Big_Bill types, I do not put it above our military hawks to make such a thing occur, again...

With the "correct" President, that would get us an escalated conflict.

Zeke, with all due respect, I take exception to this comment and I am hardly a Big_Bill type, unless you're referring to politicians. If you're referring to leadership within the military I'd be astonished if there were a flag or general officer anywhere, active or retired, who doesn't think that our armed forces are overtasked and understaffed. I've also worked with more than a few officers of that grade in my day and I've never known one who wouldn't think such a prospect was abhorrent.

My humble 2 cents.

[piece-itpete]

I spoke to another Marine today who said yes, there is a general quiet deployment into the ME.

He also said the Marines are broke, that they are now using blanks for practice. The Armed Services attitude is becoming divergent with the general populace.

Zeke, what if our current President gets into an 'escalated conflict'? Would he then be correct?

Pete

[beej]

I just checked the answer to the question that is always posed in situations such as these: Where are the carriers?

Enterprise – North Arabian Sea

Nimitz – WestPac

Ike – Med

Lincoln – East Med

Washington – WestPac

Every one of those units is within, at max, a couple of days away from strike distance of either Syria or Iran.

[piece-itpete]

Originally Posted by beej

I just checked the answer to the question that is always posed in situations such as these: Where are the carriers?

......

Another entry into your file at Homeland Security.

Pete

[beej]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

Another entry into your file at Homeland Security.

Pete

That mo-fo is now on its third addendum

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by beej

I just checked the answer to the question that is always posed in situations such as these: Where are the carriers?

Enterprise – North Arabian Sea

Nimitz – WestPac

Ike – Med

Lincoln – East Med

Washington – WestPac

Every one of those units is within, at max, a couple of days away from strike distance of either Syria or Iran.

The Eisenhower and Lincoln could launch from where they are but they'd benefit from overflight permissions to do it. I suppose Israel and Turkey would oblige.

The Enterprise, Washington and Nimitz would absolutely need permissions to attack Syria from the other side. I suppose that would be forthcoming as well. Oman, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Iraq would be the key countries.

John

[merrylander]

Look, the Syrian rebels are operating in Damascus as it is so within a week we will probably hear that someone put a .50 cal in Assad's head - game over.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by beej

Zeke, with all due respect, I take exception to this comment and I am hardly a Big_Bill type, unless you're referring to politicians. If you're referring to leadership within the military I'd be astonished if there were a flag or general officer anywhere, active or retired, who doesn't think that our armed forces are overtasked and understaffed. I've also worked with more than a few officers of that grade in my day and I've never known one who wouldn't think such a prospect was abhorrent.

My humble 2 cents.

No issues.

1. I wouldn't consider you a "military hawk."
2. It only takes one.

You know as well as I do that there is always a percentage of "let's just turn the Middle East into glass" types out there.

If it happened once -- and I have a few other examples dating to the 1890s -- it can happen, again.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

Zeke, what if our current President gets into an 'escalated conflict'? Would he then be correct?

Pete

Not if it's manufactured.