Sending U.S. Navy Ships into the Gulf to Escort Oil Tankers has NO STRATEGIC VALUE.

Trump would be risking U.S. ships and sailors' lives for nothing!

It is foolhardy! Even worse than RN Admiral Tom Phillips sailing with Force Z into the Gulf of Thailand in December 1941. At least Phillips was trying to stop an amphibious invasion of Malaya, not trying to affect the price of gasoline.

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CedricH · 22-25, M

The real threat to shipping are Iranian drones, so that job can, in fact, be delegated to the air force. Though… the Arleigh Burke’s Phalanx CIWS system is a useful tool for downing drones.

beckyromero · 36-40, F

@CedricH

I would not risk a single $2 billion destroyer because of Trump's concern about gas prices due to his (and Hegseth's) idiotic lack of planning for this war.

CedricH · 22-25, M

@beckyromero Well, the Iranians don’t seem to be in possession of any minelayers anymore and their anti-ship cruise missiles don’t really impress me. The US naval task force in the Red Sea repelled every single Houthi cruise and ballistic anti-ship missile, which are in essence, Iranian weapons. The US didn’t lose one ship, nor was one damaged to my recollection. A couple F-15s or F-16s went overboard during an evasive maneuver, but that was it.

beckyromero · 36-40, F

@CedricH

Remember the USS Stark?

CedricH · 22-25, M

@beckyromero I do. I can think of many ships that were damaged by enemy projectiles over the course of naval history… I still wouldn’t deploy naval assets exclusively out of harm's way because they might be struck by an enemy. We‘ll have to see if there‘s a less haphazard way to reopen the strait of Hormuz, if not, escorts ought to be considered.

beckyromero · 36-40, F

@CedricH

We‘ll have to see if there‘s a less haphazard way to reopen the strait of Hormuz...

There is. Regime change.

CedricH · 22-25, M

@beckyromero Right, but that may take weeks and the strait of Hormuz should be opened within days.

beckyromero · 36-40, F

@CedricH

I'm not worried about a brief period of higher gas prices. Trump can order release oil from the SPR in the meantime.

What I AM worried about is a hit on a U.S. destroyer and several hundred meaningless deaths because of a 50 cent hike in gas prices.

CedricH · 22-25, M

@beckyromero Fair enough. However, I do worry he might cut the campaign short in the event of a prolonged price spike.

ElwoodBlues · M

@CedricH says

Well, the Iranians don’t seem to be in possession of any minelayers anymore

That's probably true, but apparently there are other ways of laying mines.

The American officials said Iran is using smaller crafts that can carry two to three mines each to lay them into the strait. While Iran's mine stock isn't publicly known, estimates over the years have ranged from roughly 2,000 to 6,000 naval mines largely produced by Iran, China or Russia.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-mines-strait-of-hormuz/

CedricH · 22-25, M

@ElwoodBlues Interesting!