A glance at the map says it all, the Straits of Hormuz are a potential international flash-point, since the distance apart of the nearest points of certain Iranian islands and the peninsular forming the northern tip of Oman is only just about twice the internationally generally recognised twelve nautical miles. In other words there are probably no international waters between the two states, which causes no problem for the oil tankers which sail through every day since they are merchant ships. The problem arises when warships pass through with any kind of war-like intent, and there is no genuine excuse for this.
Despite this, the United States Navy has its warships patrolling in an obnoxiously aggressive manner through from the Gulf of Oman and into the Arabo-Persian Gulf. It also has its great base out in the Indian Ocean on Diego Garcia (on which subject I wrote recently in "The Biggest Cuckoo in the World"), where its warships lie next to the giant airfield for the gross bombers stationed there to threaten the peace of the world, and the strategic planning facilities necessary to maintain this threat.
Unless it has definite business in the area, which is most unlikely given how far it is from even the nearest territory or colony of the USA, the United States Navy should retire to its own bases, and quit both the whole zone around the Gulf and also Diego Garcia, where it is distinctly unwelcome so far as the expropriated inhabitants are concerned as well as its fellow members of the armed forces of the former super-power.
If the rulers of Saudi Arabia wish these vessels to stay, they should keep them in their ports to enable their crews to enjoy themselves ashore in accordance with Saudi custom. The same can be said of any other state in the area, but it is hard to imagine that any other such state, except perhaps Kuwait or the puppet régime in Iraq, would wish to welcome this bothersome guest. In any case, as is obvious from another glance at the same map, Iraq hardly has any territorial waters, if one applies the median line principle still further to restrict the twelve nautical mile limit between Iraq and Kuwait on one side and Iran on the other.
If one thinks a little bit further afield, it now seems obvious to me (and I feel sure many others) that NATO ceased to have a genuine purpose once the Soviet Union fell apart, but it now has a totally new purpose (probably intended in the beginning by their predecessors) to provide logistical and other back-up to the aggressive actions of the rulers of the USA against any country, group of countries or other entity which they wish to treat as hostile. NATO no longer exists to protect its member states from an aggressive Soviet Union, and its present members have not yet shown clearly why they wish it to continue to exist. As for the new members, they have presumably been informed that any financial aid and preferences depend on their joining this USA dominated and led gang.
Returning to the Straits of Hormuz, some ill-informed persons among legislators in the USA seem to believe that they could, without ruining the economies of many countries with no interest in the quarrels set in motion by the successive Bush Clinton and Bush régimes, block the passage of oil tankers either moving crude oil out of Iran or refined products into Iran. They also seem to ignore that two super-powers have every interest in keeping the oil flowing from Iraq, namely China and Russia, as also has India, which will soon reach super-power status. Admiral Mullen, although a supporter of the dubious Bush régime's tactics (or lack of them) a Chief of the USA military machine, has apparently given these same ignorant legislators some strong hints as to what ruination they could bring upon their own country, but they do not seem to wish to listen.
The Iranian government has, to the annoyance of its declared enemies, shown extraordinary diplomatic delicacy in its public declarations regarding the threats being made against it, and we now have the amazing sight of Admiral Mullen, one of their closest servants, warning the Zionists not to try another USS Liberty incident (as they did 41 years ago) to cause the United States to attack Iran.
We must all keep our eyes fixed on these Straits and hope and pray that sanity comes back in time to stop any act which could be considered to be war-like on the part of the United States Navy.
© Copyright 2008 by AxisofLogic.com
This material is available for republication as long as reprints include verbatim copy of the article in its entirety, respecting its integrity. Reprints must cite the author and Axis of Logic as the original source including a "live link" to the article. Thank you!
Print This 