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US Navy in military build-up to battle Strait of Hormuz ‘blockade’

Published time: March 16, 2012 12:09
Edited time: March 18, 2012 03:39
Scout in the Persian Gulf, March 2008 (image from wikipedia.org)

The US Navy has confirmed it is doubling the number of minesweepers in the Persian Gulf in an apparent move to prepare for a possible standoff with Iran over the crucial oil export route.

An additional four minesweeper and four minesweeping helicopters will join the four ships already patrolling the Persian Gulf.

The overall number of US minesweepers in the region will total eight, America’s head of naval operations Admiral Jonathan Greenert reported.

While saying sanctions and political measures are preferable to respond to Iran’s controversial nuclear program, looks like the US is getting ready for plan B.

The US has been working of an array of military measures to counteract Iran, with President Obama saying “no options are off the table.”

The Pentagon has recently asked for an additional $100 million dollars to beef up its military presence in the Persian Gulf.

About one fifth of the world’s oil passes through The Strait of Hormuz.

Earlier Tehran promised to block the primary route of oil exports from the region in retaliation to new US and EU-backed sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

In January, General Martin Dempsey, the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed Iran indeed has the ability to block the Strait of Hormuz “for a period of time,” and the US must get ready to reopen it in case of a blockade.

Comments (55)

Tommy LEE (unregistered) 20.07.2012 18:56

Do you think we just fell off a truck?We seriously wonder if in fact your brains are cooked.How about this scenerio ...the sanctions putin a cramp on your plans (to(**** up the world)The fact is it is in all your intrest to destabilize the area.It appears that having failed to provoke the west into being duped Iran is gettin desperate to pull any trigger available .You people are Evil  Russian pride ,cant wait to go down that same road Have you learned anything from the past? Chinese greed well just wait until your people are enlightened especially if your off on one of your little joint bully missions .you wanna see your biggest threat ? ...turn around .People who do you see come to the aid of the oppressed ? who are the biggest givers to those in need?Whats it going to be like in a world they would rule?Ask the the tibetins ,syrian people, wiegers .Look at what is going on in the south pacific as we speak for a clue as to what the world will become should the PLA or Soviet navies  ever govern the high seas.Better go and see what a barrel is goin for....WE (and all of your peace loving citizens) will finish anything your twisted evil minds start.

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abdul Xavier (unregistered) 04.07.2012 16:23

What i would like to convey to the world is that the dream of the Muslim extrimist/ believers to crush Israel is just a nightmare. because the holy books says the Mesiah is coming down and making his justice from Jerusalem temple, which was made by the order of Almighty. and Israel is the choosen people of God, in the blood stream of Abraham, it is foolish to claim Adam to Jesus were muslim becasue the meaning of the Arab word muslim is believer of God. Religion has no significance but the faith in God and belief in Jesus Christ that he is been sent to the world and been sacrificed to combensate the sin of mankid is the epitome for salvation. There is no doubt that the Isalelies will be punished severly. but the option of rependentance and acceptance of Mesiah as the savior is open fr then and throught that they will also attain salvation.

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daniel (unregistered) 04.07.2012 16:10

what is it with america ? it's not being at peace with the world, because it has not discovered inner peace, due to policies borne out of greed and avarice.

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