I may have Just found a way to save the US about $100 billion in military expense.

Photo above – Can you believe a half dozen Iranian PT boats are blocking this place? WTH!!!

Today’s headline: “Iran shuts Strait of Hormuz to international shipping. Vows to sink US Navy”. Wait, my bad - that’s been Iran’s press release every month for the past decade. (see link below).

I’m going to side with the “America First” crowd this time. Let the other “great powers” in the region handle this problem. If you look at a map of the “Strait of Hormuz” you will immediately notice that it doesn’t come anywhere near the USA. It’s 11,239 miles as the crow flies from Hormuz to Washington DC. The US Aircraft Carrier “Abraham Lincoln” is already on station in the gulf. A second carrier – the “Ford” - is racing there at top speed. And it's not just these carriers. Each aircraft carrier “strike group” has at least 11 other ships: attack submarines, destroyers, guided missile cruisers, and a couple of supply ships for good measure. Zowie – 22 ships. And 11,000 miles from home. No wonder its so expensive to defend ourselves. (sarcasm alert)

I get it, though. Russia has nukes, and a zany dictator. Iran has a zany dictator, but no nukes. So here we are. Protecting some else’s oil tankers instead of people in Europe. I don’t specifically blame Trump for this. It was Biden’s decision to ignore Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in the first place. And to give Iran a path to become a nuclear armed adversary.

Let’s look at the map again. There are PLENTY of other nations ringing the gulf with more skin in the game than us. Saudi Arabia. Kuwait. United Arab Emirates. Oman. Qatar. Bahrain. Everyone who has planes and missiles made in the USA, please stand up. Wow . . . lots of you.

I’m not sure it takes 22 American ships to make Iran behave. "Rational” arab nations should step up to the plate. The Iranian navy is nothing but a handful of plastic PT-type speedboats, and a couple of midget submarines. It does have a few of hundred-foot-long soviet era frigates, but their big onboard gun is just 76MM - smaller than what an Abrams tank packs.- To put this in perspective, each American aircraft carrier is 1,100 feet long and displaces 100,000 tons. The Iranian frigates? Less than 300 tons. This could be described as “asymmetrical warfare”, no?

How about we ring up Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed B. Salmon at his palace. “Hey – you’ve got 200 front line jet fighters in your air force. 700 other planes. Are they going to stay in the hanger forever? We saved your hash 20 years ago when Iraq invaded, but maybe it’s time for you to stand up for yourself. If you need help, Egypt might say yes. Both you guys hate the Ayatollah and the radical shi’ites who are trying to topple your governments. The CIA and Pentagon can share some satellite pics if you need help finding some 40-year-old frigate.”

I’m just sayin’ . . .

Iran shuts off vital shipping lane for first time in 40 years - and threatens to sink American ships

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/iran-shuts-off-vital-shipping-lane-for-first-time-in-40-years-and-threatens-to-sink-american-ships/ar-AA1WxTMu?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=6995a55573984010bf869ea6f4e23be4&ei=140

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hippyjoe1955 · 70-79, M

Let's be perfectly honest. The only reason the Straight could be blocked is because of US/Israeli aggression. Yes I know that the the US is owned by Israel and does its master's bidding but no nation is justified in attacking Iran at the moment. Iran has done nothing worthy of attack or boycott or sanction. Now if only the same could be said of the US and its puppet master Israel.

jackjjackson · M

@hippyjoe1955

hippyjoe1955 · 70-79, M

@jackjjackson So tell me what egregious thing that Iran has done that deserves to be bombed into the stone age for? Please be honest.

jackjjackson · M

I’m simply discussing widening a clogged waterway.

However since you asked here is a a partial history lesson. I suppose you’ve forgotten.

Overview of Iran's Bad Acts
Iran has been involved in various actions that have drawn international criticism. These actions include human rights violations, support for terrorism, and aggressive military posturing.
Human Rights Violations
Crackdown on Protests: The Iranian government has violently suppressed protests, resulting in thousands of deaths and detentions. Reports indicate that security forces have used live ammunition against demonstrators.
Oppression of Women: New laws have intensified the repression of women, including severe penalties for defying compulsory veiling laws. This includes the potential for the death penalty for peaceful activism against these laws.
Support for Terrorism
Proxy Groups: Iran has been known to support various militant groups across the Middle East, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and other factions in Iraq and Syria. This support often includes funding, training, and military resources.
Military Aggression
Threats Against the U.S. and Allies: Iran has issued warnings of retaliation against the U.S. and its allies in response to perceived threats or military actions. This includes targeting U.S. military bases and interests in the region.
Corruption and Governance Issues
Widespread Corruption: Corruption is rampant within the Iranian government, affecting various sectors and undermining public trust. Transparency International ranks Iran poorly on its Corruption Perception Index.
These actions contribute to Iran's complex relationship with the international community and have significant implications for regional stability.

@hippyjoe1955

hippyjoe1955 · 70-79, M

@jackjjackson So the protests put down by the regime were started by Israel and the US and it was the US and Israel agents that did the killing. The security forces who were the main targets were unarmed The violence included burning mosques and churches but didn't burn any synagogues. Hmmm. The rest of your twaddle is hardly worthy of sending in the US Navy. The fact is Israel wants to own the world like they own the USA. They have got rid of Libya, Syria, Iraq and are working on Lebanon and Iran. Do try to get your head on straight for a change. You are cheering for the wrong side. Let's do a comparison. How many wars has Iran started since 1979? Answer NONE. How many wars has the US started in that same time frame. How many regime changes has the US engaged in? Do you see a pattern there? OH and BTW guess which is the fastest growing religion in Iran? If you guess Christian you would be right.

jackjjackson · M

Quite the bloviation. Please cobble together some facts to disprove what I wrote and some facts to prove what you wrote or shut TH up and

@hippyjoe1955

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SusanInFlorida · 31-35, F

@hippyjoe1955 upvoted. iran is the only nation I can name which has both "beard police" and "abaya police"

hippyjoe1955 · 70-79, M

@SusanInFlorida Actually that is old news and no longer true. Nice try though. The fact remains that if Iran wanted all their men to wear beards and all their women to wear hijabs it is no business of the ISA (Israeli States of America). Some very good friends of mine from church fled Iran 30 years ago. Their church in Iran was burned down and their pastor was shot as he stood at the altar. They recently went back. Very very different country according to them. Christians are not persecuted like they were when they initially fled. In fact Christianity is the fastest growing religion in Iran. They were quite surprised how when the fled the country with bullets flying over their heads as they left they now felt at peace in the nation of their birth. No they are not moving back. They built a life in Canada and are not about to abandon it.

jackjjackson · M

I’ve never encountered a single Israeli you antisemite. @hippyjoe1955

jackjjackson · M

Hooked on poutine and maple syrup. @hippyjoe1955

hippyjoe1955 · 70-79, M

@jackjjackson Never eaten poutine and I detest Maple Syrup. Not sure what your point is beyond you don't have one. ISA (Israeli States of America) are on the side of evil again. Going to war with Iran serves no purpose for the average American. I doubt that you are old enough to remember the useless Vietnam war but how did Afghanistan work our for you? Trillions of dollars spent and Afghanistan is still standing and still living by the codes it inflicts on itself.

jackjjackson · M

Poor attempted whataboutisms. No potential nukes in Vietnam and Afghanistan. . @hippyjoe1955

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