Naval interdiction in the Gulf....(Middle East)

[American Patriot]

Naval Interdiction Exercise Said Planned for Gulf
Washington Post ^ | October 11, 2006

Naval interdiction exercise said planned for Gulf


Reuters


October 11, 2006


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Facing nuclear disputes with Iran and North Korea, the United States, Bahrain and other states will hold their first naval exercise in the Gulf this month to practice interdicting ships carrying weapons of mass destruction and missiles, U.S. officials said on Wednesday.


The exercise is taking place as the United States and other major powers are considering sanctions including possible interdiction of ships on North Korea, following a reported nuclear test, and on Iran, which has defied a U.N. Security Council mandate to stop enriching uranium.


The exercise, set for October 31, is the 25th to be organized under the U.S.-led 66-member Proliferation Security Initiative and the first to be based in the Gulf near Bahrain, across from Iran, the officials said.


A senior U.S. official insisted the exercise is not aimed specifically at Iran, although it reinforces a U.S. strategy aimed at strengthening America's ties with states in the Gulf, where Tehran and Washington are competing for influence.


"It's an effort to bring a lot of Gulf states together to demonstrate resolve and readiness to act against proliferation," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.


The Proliferation Security Initiative, established in 2003 under President George W. Bush, is a voluntary association of countries that agree to share intelligence information and work against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including through military exercises that practice interdiction techniques and coordination.


Bahrain and Kuwait are expected to be among the participating countries along with the United States, France and Britain.


Other Gulf states are still deciding whether to join the sea-based exercise, which will be preceded by "table-top" exercises at the U.S. naval regional headquarters in Manama, Bahrain, one official said.


(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...

[Jag]

2006 Tuesday 24 October

http://www.iranpressnews.com/english/source/017020.html

Ahmadinejad: “The U.S. battleships are decrepit and crumbling”

Iran Press News: Ahmadinezhad, in a transparent attempt at a pep talk and morale boost to the Islamic regime’s debilitated forces, preposterously claimed: “The 2 battleships that the Americans recently sent to the Persian Gulf are decrepit and crumbling."

The regime-run news agency, Fars reported: On Sunday morning, October 22nd Ahmadinezhad appeared at the Majles (parliament) as a defense witness of the Islamic regime’s minister of Agricultural Jihad, Mohammad-Reza Eskandari’s impeachment hearing. Following the hearing reporters posed questions about the US military movements in the Persian Gulf and the presence of the 2 American battleships in the Persian Gulf. Ahmadinejad replied: “Are you referring to those 2 decrepit and crumbling ships? There were 140 vessels at one point, they extricated them all and now these 2 have been returned.”

In the meantime the regime-run news agency ILNA reported that during a speech for various heads of the Islamic regime’s disciplinary forces in Tehran, the commandant of the revolutionary guards Rahim Safavi, expressed concern over the naval maneuvers being conducted by the 5 countries of US, Britain, France, Kuwait and Bahrain in the Persian Gulf . Safavi said: "If they take any action against us, we will respond with a blitzkrieg. Our enemies have been defeated everywhere.”

In previous reports there had only been mention of the United States and several Arab countries participating in the late October naval maneuvers in the Persian Gulf however reports indicate that the British and French navies have also joined in on these military maneuvers. This is the first American naval maneuver in the Persian Gulf that is conducted on such magnitude.

He wishes, "if only"
Jag

[American Patriot]

Are you referring to those 2 decrepit and crumbling ships?

Trying to bait some of the local terrorist cells to take them out like they did the Cole huh? Good try.

[Jag]

When I posted he wishes,"if only" I meant he (Ahmadinejad) wished our ships were decrepit and crumbling instead of the best equipped in the world. Sorry I wasn't clear about that.

Jag