Seems like a risky plan with little to gain. A plane shot down or a ship being struck will quickly end this political decision. No one has thought through the endgame for this misadventure.
This risky step just indicates the pressure on the world economy is greater than the pressure on the Iranians.
I’d suggest that the recent pause in combat operations was designed to set up for this operation.
They now have a CVN at the beginning of a deployment, two ARG’s at the beginning of their deployments, two minesweepers from Japan, likely have swapped out Air Force squadrons.
I’m pretty confident ADM Cooper has considered all options, planned for contingencies, and we all know that military service comes with risks and responsibilities.
My son spent the past 9 months at Camp Lemonier in Djibouti. Only essential personnel were in place the previous two months.
The Houthis tried and hit Ethiopia. Oops.
My daughter was on a DDG and was in a normal rotation left a DDG in Diego G and her ship just turned back an Iranian ship last week.
They’re an incredibly well trained team and they understand the importance and risk of the situation.
Adm. Cooper can't magically do what the politicians haven't enabled him to do.
During Ernest Will the US rotated ~80 ships in and out of the Gulf, with as many as 30 involved at one time. That was to escort just Kuwaiti tankers when Kuwait exported all of 1 - 1 1/4 million barrels per day. Before this war ~20 million barrels per day sailed through the strait. The entire US Navy deployed force today is about 66 ships. The metrics are unworkable. It would either be highly risky for our forces or ineffective or unsustainable or somewhere in between, but not effective, safe and sustained at the same time.
Interesting question: since this proclamation—as you say—appears to have been issued by the IRGC, which is neither a sovereign state nor a recognized government…surely any action they take is—under black-letter international law—piracy?
I mean…if one of the drug cartels announced their intent to keep the US out of the Caribbean…wouldn’t we treat them as pirates?
And if my view is correct…would the US not be altogether justified in eradicating any assets—military or civilian—the IRGC might use in furtherance of their declaratory purposes?
The IRGC is a division of a government which means its a government policy no different than if the CIA started announcing proclamations instead of or along side the DOD. A blockade is an act of war. Acts of war can be countered with .... wait for it... acts of war. There's no need to make sausage out of filet mignon.
The restraint on whacking the IRGC blockade assets at this time isn't international law, its domestic law- if the ceasefire is broken then the 60 day clock restarts even by Hegseth's stretched interpretation.
At the moment the IRGC is acting as a rogue agency, completely untethered from the civilians that are supposed to be in charge. The Iranian civilian government is apparently furious at the IRGC for its actions, which it appears it neither ordered nor sanctioned.
If the CIA—or DOD—were discovered to be running operations without the consent of their civilian superiors, they would rightly be regarded the same way. Indeed that’s exactly what happened with the CIA back during the 1970s, after the revelations of the Church Committee hearings.
In the Iranian gov't structure the IRGC reports to one entity - the supreme leader. What the rest of the gov't thinks matters not a whit, just as it wouldn't if the palace guard did something the rest of the gov't didn't like in a monarchy. Until the supreme leader pulls a Hirohito and countermands the IRGC, whatever they say or do is the govt saying or doing it even if the 2 sides of the gov't say different things.
My experience is that when someone does what you just did, they don't have a leg to stand on, since it takes less than a minute to type in a reference or copy a link.
It’s time to finish off the Islamic Republic once and for all.
I understand that the president is a businessman and he doesn’t want to see infrastructure destroyed let alone allow 90 million people to become destitute and he would prefer a peace full resolution.
However he is dealing with religious fanatics who will fight to the bitter end and will take everything and everyone along with them in their desire for martyrdom and paradise. They see any hesitation on our part as weaknesses to be exploited. Khomeini once said Iran is nothing but Islam is everything.
The president should channel his inner Churchill and Reagan and tell the American people that our aim was to put an end to this evil regime. Higher gas prices are a pittance compared to an atomic bomb in LA or NYC.
course they would keep saying that, till they get a hardened deployable nuke. at this point, they could have a nuke sized in a container on a ship headed into NYC
A robber with a bag over his hand who says he has a gun while robbing you may have or not have a gun.
So, You either assume he has a gun and give him what he wants or decide he doesn't have a gun and tell him to shove it.
You will either get shot or walk away unharmed.
Now, What if you really have a gun yourself, Do you use it or not?
A threat whether empty or not is still a threat.
My view is a bluff that involves millions of people killed, maimed, starved by a nuke is well worth believing such and taking action to prevent that from happening.
Iran with a weapon designed to shut down our country with EMP is a country that needs to be disarmed or destroyed.
I agree... and Im hoping we've been spending the last few weeks working the intelligence types overtime finding every leader or replacement we can, and keep an eye on them... for when the time comes to finish this...
We might have to "decapitate" down to the waist!! But so be it...
28 February, "Epic Fury" upset the status quo, resulting in Iran "closing" Hormuz. Now, we are offering to fix the problem with severely limited resources. Is U.S honestly able to succeed in escort duties? questionable. Will IRGC simply stand down? unlikely.
"re-open" Hormuz? it appears that ship has sailed.
The graphic from The Economist is absolutely brilliant. Hormuz is obviously not the only passage that free trade depends on. Please make sure "the other Sal" gets a copy.
Sal, I'm not optimistic about your assumptions that there is a plan and there is a 'list of ships willing to make the run'. Might want to check with the other Sal on that assumption shipping is willing to risk it on his word. I honestly think this is part bluff and part home politics to help get around the War Powers Act. The bluff has already been called by the IRGC, we'll see if anyone starts shooting. I don't think the insurers will take the risk without open agreement. Even using the south channel cleared previously by USN and used by the cruise ships and previous blockade runners involves risk without close escort or protection (air or Omani based IADS). Even those blockade runners had the benefit of IRGC distraction in the north of the channel with the toll gate and ships being attacked.
On the home politics side, by declaring Project Freedom, any further action disassociates from Epic Fury for the WPA clock. While I don't believe for a second this executive group cares less about restraints in the WPA, as evidenced by congressional testimony last week, it provides political relief to Senate and House supporters. It fundamentally restarted the clock.
In the end, I see this a merely a distractor or perhaps a fig leaf to the S&P 500 and oil futures.
Can't imagine that insurance companies will approve passage of the strait under these circumstances. Maybe a few cargo ships will take the risk, but loaded tankers are probably a stretch.
And insurance coverage makes all the difference. I have no problem cutting off Lloyds at the knees. Here is the GAO report on Earnest Will. Operation Freedom would be that on steroids. https://www.gao.gov/assets/nsiad-90-282br.pdf
I suspect, and I'm using my Hornblower memory cells, the only thing worse would have been to be down wind of one of those Napoleonic Spanish Galleys. My recollection was that prisoners came on board and were chained in place till they were fish food.
Yeah gonna be real awkward if there is damage taken by US vessels and we have to come to terms with our lack of salvage assets. Barely had the resources for USS Tripoli and USS Princeton mine strikes in 1991 and it was only possible with significant commercial assistance.
Based on the Bonnie Dick, how DC savy are the crews? Are they hardcore training before they go out there? As a side note, as SECWAR said he wanted to reduce useless training, I have seen an actual uptick in the annual GMT crrrrrraaaapppp I am forced to ingest!
I think it varies a lot ship to ship and the training culture and how much the command and duty section leadership cares. I remember there being noticeable changes in the immediate aftermath of BHR. Much better preplanned communications for the quarterdeck and big updates to relevant instructions for maintenance avails. That being said I would venture a guess that the average crew would still be found wanting. And yeah no amount of GMTs or ELearning will ever accomplish much. Gotta be hands on. Having been to the Repair Party Leader course, I found it to be of little value, mostly PowerPoint with a flooding trainer, gas chamber, and a single in-locker practice drill. Just a check in the box to get the required credential for the watch bill. DC is really what the crew makes it and how committed they are to quality sets and reps.
I've been out a long time... but in my head, the BHR would still exist if that fire had been at sea. I went through a couple yard periods, and still believe that a shipyard is the most dangerous place for a warship... ( but... my ship used to go to Gitmo for a month of DC training before every deployment and it was serious. What goes on today... I have no idea...)
Agreed. It was a total cluster... and having to at least partially rely on the local fire dept?? Im embarrassed for them!! And whether that disgruntled sailor actually started rhe fire or not... it reeks of the USS Iowa turret debacle... a whole bunch of folks trying to sidestep any responsibility!!!
CDR I’m glad to read your post! Yesterday, Sunday, I was concerned because that live session was no longer available.
I, too, read all my usual American and TASS news sources.
Of note, some cargo ships are permitted safe transit through the Straight of Hormuz provided they contact Iranian officials prior.
Of note, Iran offered to curb their “Peaceful” Nuclear endeavors in a nine-point proffered negotiation. However, to my knowledge, Washington is only accepting their own wishes, not Iran’s.
Of note, Iran is very clear in it’s request for United States vessels to remain clear. They, too, specify similar landmarks.
The U.S. Navy can respect Iran’s wishes and offer safe assistance, including food to those ships, in my opinion.
9 May 2026 : the Russian Remembrance Day, please keep eyes wide open! I expect Drone attacks and explosives placed to blow either there in Moscow central or other important sites.
Acknowledging what our Admiral Caudal posted, we need a “Single language” in Command and Control, our Air Craft Carrier Group and our “Strike Forces”; to engage whatever challenge is thrown our way! I defer to you CDR Salamander to kindly review this “Lexicon of Commands (words)” with us, much obliged!
As I read this morning news…
CENTCOM Africa is watching Mali on the West Coast of Africa…
China out numbers our ships about 475:295 and we can’t think of catching-up! But we can try to prevent Chinese or other Students at American Universities from sharing our science with China.
CDR, five hours West of Mara Largo, the University’s Marine Science Laboratory was completely destroyed! Two bodies of Bangladesh Doctoral Students recovered prior to that explosion. The alleged Muslim perpetrator in custody.
CDR I understand the EU may not really care about our Naval efforts in the Middle East. CDR we should be paying attention to our American Submarine efforts in the Northern Hemisphere at and around the Arctic Circle. That “Single Language of Command & Control” applies to our Nuclear Submarines as I understood Admiral Caudal to say this morning.
Of note, around Gibraltar into the Mediterranean, there is much underwater archaeology going on!
The Black Sea needs our eyes on because of the underwater pipelines!
Diplomacy is “Land Based”, but when noses are turned in a negative manner, that’s a signal to us Navy folk…pay attention!
Lastly, around 19 May is Baltimore Port Celebration Day… please encourage our readers to protect all our American Ports.
Memorial Day, we want nice and quiet, I do anyway… God Bless America! Nurse Jane
I do wonder if "the rest of the international community is more than happy to let Iran close the strait to international traffic." I suspect that it would be a different story if Trump had declared that the Hormuz Strait is nothing that the US needs and it's on them to figure out what to do about it.
"Close the strait" means no traffic, and is not the same as paying a million-dollar bounty to the IRGC to get through - which is what I suspect they would be "more than happy" to pay were the US not involved there.
Why would anyone be more than happy to pay a bribe to pass through waters they have passed through for free and by international rules should be able to freely pass through?
While they may not be happy about paying a toll they are safe in the knowledge that they can recoup the cost when they sell the oil to their feckless customer nations, many of which are only too happy to pass on the cost of the Danegeld to their customers at the gas pumps, farms and factories. It is a crap business model.
"Happy" is a direct quote from the text by our esteemed author, and I'm just playing on it. But a number of ships had already paid the toll, showing that paying it is at least a more acceptable alternate for some of them as opposed to, say, directly assisting in patrolling the Strait.
The WSJ says that there's a handful or two of ships that have paid. HOS a year ago was seeing hundreds a ships a day.
Western Europe barely has the military assets to assist in the HOS. And right now they're just buying the hydrocarbons they're missing from HOS from........... get this ---> RUSSIA.
Ya, they're funding Russia's war against Ukraine right now. Lovely stuff.
Don't believe me? Google Yamal LNG. it's not merely the central European states importing pipeline ng + oil. They hopped right back in it. In that sense they don't need those HOS hydrocarbons, at least not for the moment.
Based on early reports, this seems to be an operation to get the US flagged ships out. NYT/WSJ have 2 US flagged merchants (out of 4) moving. I find the statement “we are not close escorting” disingenuous considering 2 Burkes and flock of Army Apaches provided coordinated and direct SAM and air coverage and have shot down missiles and IRCG small boats attacking the vessels (CENTCOM reporting) and IRCG has resorted to attacking an unescorted ship and a UAE/Oman TOO. It looks like convoying, smells like it, why are we not calling it what it is unless we don’t want to extend it to all western shipping? Strange unless this to be a focused one - off mission for the US flagged ships then offer OTH assistance to others.
BTW: all four US flagged merchants were CENTCOM contracted for logistics.
"unless we don’t want to extend it to all western shipping"
We don't because we can't, the assets don't exist. We did operation Earnest Will to escort only Kuwaiti ships. At the time Kuwait exported all of 1- 11/4 million barrels daily. The US had near 600 ships then. Before this war 20 million barrels left the Gulf daily ~75% of which has been impacted. The Navy has 291 ships and only about 66 deployed for the entire planet today.
The Strait is not closed to those willing to pay the fee for passage to Iran. But the United States warned shipping companies Friday that they could face sanctions for making payments to Iran to safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz. So, the U.S. has effectively closed the Strait it now seeks to open in the latest flip of the flop.
Hopefully during this ceasefire... the biggest focus has been on locating and tracking the next 100 most senior Iranian leaders/replacements. Frankly I really think that regime change is the only way out of this that isn't going to drag on forever. Either that or eventually they get a nuke and use it, and then we kill millions ( tens of millions ??) of people who should've or tried to put their nation back on a respectable course...
Seems like a risky plan with little to gain. A plane shot down or a ship being struck will quickly end this political decision. No one has thought through the endgame for this misadventure.
This risky step just indicates the pressure on the world economy is greater than the pressure on the Iranians.
What?
I’d suggest that the recent pause in combat operations was designed to set up for this operation.
They now have a CVN at the beginning of a deployment, two ARG’s at the beginning of their deployments, two minesweepers from Japan, likely have swapped out Air Force squadrons.
I’m pretty confident ADM Cooper has considered all options, planned for contingencies, and we all know that military service comes with risks and responsibilities.
My son spent the past 9 months at Camp Lemonier in Djibouti. Only essential personnel were in place the previous two months.
The Houthis tried and hit Ethiopia. Oops.
My daughter was on a DDG and was in a normal rotation left a DDG in Diego G and her ship just turned back an Iranian ship last week.
They’re an incredibly well trained team and they understand the importance and risk of the situation.
Adm. Cooper can't magically do what the politicians haven't enabled him to do.
During Ernest Will the US rotated ~80 ships in and out of the Gulf, with as many as 30 involved at one time. That was to escort just Kuwaiti tankers when Kuwait exported all of 1 - 1 1/4 million barrels per day. Before this war ~20 million barrels per day sailed through the strait. The entire US Navy deployed force today is about 66 ships. The metrics are unworkable. It would either be highly risky for our forces or ineffective or unsustainable or somewhere in between, but not effective, safe and sustained at the same time.
Interesting question: since this proclamation—as you say—appears to have been issued by the IRGC, which is neither a sovereign state nor a recognized government…surely any action they take is—under black-letter international law—piracy?
I mean…if one of the drug cartels announced their intent to keep the US out of the Caribbean…wouldn’t we treat them as pirates?
And if my view is correct…would the US not be altogether justified in eradicating any assets—military or civilian—the IRGC might use in furtherance of their declaratory purposes?
David: Yes.
The IRGC is a division of a government which means its a government policy no different than if the CIA started announcing proclamations instead of or along side the DOD. A blockade is an act of war. Acts of war can be countered with .... wait for it... acts of war. There's no need to make sausage out of filet mignon.
The restraint on whacking the IRGC blockade assets at this time isn't international law, its domestic law- if the ceasefire is broken then the 60 day clock restarts even by Hegseth's stretched interpretation.
At the moment the IRGC is acting as a rogue agency, completely untethered from the civilians that are supposed to be in charge. The Iranian civilian government is apparently furious at the IRGC for its actions, which it appears it neither ordered nor sanctioned.
If the CIA—or DOD—were discovered to be running operations without the consent of their civilian superiors, they would rightly be regarded the same way. Indeed that’s exactly what happened with the CIA back during the 1970s, after the revelations of the Church Committee hearings.
"IRGC is acting as a rogue agency"
Speculation, and projection.
In the Iranian gov't structure the IRGC reports to one entity - the supreme leader. What the rest of the gov't thinks matters not a whit, just as it wouldn't if the palace guard did something the rest of the gov't didn't like in a monarchy. Until the supreme leader pulls a Hirohito and countermands the IRGC, whatever they say or do is the govt saying or doing it even if the 2 sides of the gov't say different things.
There's news reports about what I mentioned today. Look it up for yourself.
My experience is that when someone does what you just did, they don't have a leg to stand on, since it takes less than a minute to type in a reference or copy a link.
If I did that, you'd just make some similarly meaningless and off-topic ad hominem attack.
That's twice in two responses. I'm done with you, you ignorant buffoon.
It’s time to finish off the Islamic Republic once and for all.
I understand that the president is a businessman and he doesn’t want to see infrastructure destroyed let alone allow 90 million people to become destitute and he would prefer a peace full resolution.
However he is dealing with religious fanatics who will fight to the bitter end and will take everything and everyone along with them in their desire for martyrdom and paradise. They see any hesitation on our part as weaknesses to be exploited. Khomeini once said Iran is nothing but Islam is everything.
The president should channel his inner Churchill and Reagan and tell the American people that our aim was to put an end to this evil regime. Higher gas prices are a pittance compared to an atomic bomb in LA or NYC.
The real danger is a missile launched from a container to a high altitude detonation over Iowa.
All the more reason to eliminate this menace.
Iran says they don't have nukes.
If that is true, it is not for lack of trying.
But, but, they said they didn't have nukes or missiles that could hit diego garcia.
They may, or may not.
Question is, Do we feel lucky or not?
They weren't supposed to 4000km range IRBM's either...
course they would keep saying that, till they get a hardened deployable nuke. at this point, they could have a nuke sized in a container on a ship headed into NYC
They could, indeed. I wonder just exactly what they think will happen if they use it.
That’s why they put their peaceful nuclear medicine program in reinforced bunkers hundreds of feet below ground.
A robber with a bag over his hand who says he has a gun while robbing you may have or not have a gun.
So, You either assume he has a gun and give him what he wants or decide he doesn't have a gun and tell him to shove it.
You will either get shot or walk away unharmed.
Now, What if you really have a gun yourself, Do you use it or not?
A threat whether empty or not is still a threat.
My view is a bluff that involves millions of people killed, maimed, starved by a nuke is well worth believing such and taking action to prevent that from happening.
Iran with a weapon designed to shut down our country with EMP is a country that needs to be disarmed or destroyed.
A true Kobayashi Maru test.
The question is, do we have a James T. Kirk?
J. D. Vance comes close. >grin<
Yeah. And, Rubio. His presser this afternoon was brilliant.
What they "have" is what the talking head for leftist media finally acknowledged on "60 Minutes" - which included enough material to create 11 bombs.
Indeed!
That isn't a real thing, Tom Clancy
Time to drive up the price of virgins in Allah’s heaven.
Supply and demand!
I agree... and Im hoping we've been spending the last few weeks working the intelligence types overtime finding every leader or replacement we can, and keep an eye on them... for when the time comes to finish this...
We might have to "decapitate" down to the waist!! But so be it...
Psychotic.
28 February, "Epic Fury" upset the status quo, resulting in Iran "closing" Hormuz. Now, we are offering to fix the problem with severely limited resources. Is U.S honestly able to succeed in escort duties? questionable. Will IRGC simply stand down? unlikely.
"re-open" Hormuz? it appears that ship has sailed.
The graphic from The Economist is absolutely brilliant. Hormuz is obviously not the only passage that free trade depends on. Please make sure "the other Sal" gets a copy.
Sal, I'm not optimistic about your assumptions that there is a plan and there is a 'list of ships willing to make the run'. Might want to check with the other Sal on that assumption shipping is willing to risk it on his word. I honestly think this is part bluff and part home politics to help get around the War Powers Act. The bluff has already been called by the IRGC, we'll see if anyone starts shooting. I don't think the insurers will take the risk without open agreement. Even using the south channel cleared previously by USN and used by the cruise ships and previous blockade runners involves risk without close escort or protection (air or Omani based IADS). Even those blockade runners had the benefit of IRGC distraction in the north of the channel with the toll gate and ships being attacked.
On the home politics side, by declaring Project Freedom, any further action disassociates from Epic Fury for the WPA clock. While I don't believe for a second this executive group cares less about restraints in the WPA, as evidenced by congressional testimony last week, it provides political relief to Senate and House supporters. It fundamentally restarted the clock.
In the end, I see this a merely a distractor or perhaps a fig leaf to the S&P 500 and oil futures.
so insightful, so cynical. so dead on target!
Can't imagine that insurance companies will approve passage of the strait under these circumstances. Maybe a few cargo ships will take the risk, but loaded tankers are probably a stretch.
Remember the US is also offering war insurance now.
And insurance coverage makes all the difference. I have no problem cutting off Lloyds at the knees. Here is the GAO report on Earnest Will. Operation Freedom would be that on steroids. https://www.gao.gov/assets/nsiad-90-282br.pdf
the Sheep boat from Oz
Got (Inadvertently) down wind of one of those once. Didn't make that mistake again!!
I suspect, and I'm using my Hornblower memory cells, the only thing worse would have been to be down wind of one of those Napoleonic Spanish Galleys. My recollection was that prisoners came on board and were chained in place till they were fish food.
I’m not sure this matters but I’m wondering about the primary channels that normally commercial traffic uses.
Because of water depth etc does it normally get close to the Iran?
I realize weapons can hit anything can the traffic still stay as far away as possible while transiting?
I’m wondering if our two legacy minesweepers are in place now.
And I suspect this was going to happen when you had CVN 77 in place because CVN 77 was not super close.
I'm wondering where all the LCS types are. Isn't this exactly the scenario they were designed to operate in?
You’d think, but those underarmed speedboats still draw a lot if water.
Yeah gonna be real awkward if there is damage taken by US vessels and we have to come to terms with our lack of salvage assets. Barely had the resources for USS Tripoli and USS Princeton mine strikes in 1991 and it was only possible with significant commercial assistance.
Based on the Bonnie Dick, how DC savy are the crews? Are they hardcore training before they go out there? As a side note, as SECWAR said he wanted to reduce useless training, I have seen an actual uptick in the annual GMT crrrrrraaaapppp I am forced to ingest!
I think it varies a lot ship to ship and the training culture and how much the command and duty section leadership cares. I remember there being noticeable changes in the immediate aftermath of BHR. Much better preplanned communications for the quarterdeck and big updates to relevant instructions for maintenance avails. That being said I would venture a guess that the average crew would still be found wanting. And yeah no amount of GMTs or ELearning will ever accomplish much. Gotta be hands on. Having been to the Repair Party Leader course, I found it to be of little value, mostly PowerPoint with a flooding trainer, gas chamber, and a single in-locker practice drill. Just a check in the box to get the required credential for the watch bill. DC is really what the crew makes it and how committed they are to quality sets and reps.
I've been out a long time... but in my head, the BHR would still exist if that fire had been at sea. I went through a couple yard periods, and still believe that a shipyard is the most dangerous place for a warship... ( but... my ship used to go to Gitmo for a month of DC training before every deployment and it was serious. What goes on today... I have no idea...)
Maybe, but Lord, what a failure of leadership and ownership.
Agreed. It was a total cluster... and having to at least partially rely on the local fire dept?? Im embarrassed for them!! And whether that disgruntled sailor actually started rhe fire or not... it reeks of the USS Iowa turret debacle... a whole bunch of folks trying to sidestep any responsibility!!!
CDR Sal, another great post. I need to pour a second or perhaps a third cup of coffee.
With Irish whiskey in it.
CDR I’m glad to read your post! Yesterday, Sunday, I was concerned because that live session was no longer available.
I, too, read all my usual American and TASS news sources.
Of note, some cargo ships are permitted safe transit through the Straight of Hormuz provided they contact Iranian officials prior.
Of note, Iran offered to curb their “Peaceful” Nuclear endeavors in a nine-point proffered negotiation. However, to my knowledge, Washington is only accepting their own wishes, not Iran’s.
Of note, Iran is very clear in it’s request for United States vessels to remain clear. They, too, specify similar landmarks.
The U.S. Navy can respect Iran’s wishes and offer safe assistance, including food to those ships, in my opinion.
9 May 2026 : the Russian Remembrance Day, please keep eyes wide open! I expect Drone attacks and explosives placed to blow either there in Moscow central or other important sites.
Acknowledging what our Admiral Caudal posted, we need a “Single language” in Command and Control, our Air Craft Carrier Group and our “Strike Forces”; to engage whatever challenge is thrown our way! I defer to you CDR Salamander to kindly review this “Lexicon of Commands (words)” with us, much obliged!
As I read this morning news…
CENTCOM Africa is watching Mali on the West Coast of Africa…
China out numbers our ships about 475:295 and we can’t think of catching-up! But we can try to prevent Chinese or other Students at American Universities from sharing our science with China.
CDR, five hours West of Mara Largo, the University’s Marine Science Laboratory was completely destroyed! Two bodies of Bangladesh Doctoral Students recovered prior to that explosion. The alleged Muslim perpetrator in custody.
CDR I understand the EU may not really care about our Naval efforts in the Middle East. CDR we should be paying attention to our American Submarine efforts in the Northern Hemisphere at and around the Arctic Circle. That “Single Language of Command & Control” applies to our Nuclear Submarines as I understood Admiral Caudal to say this morning.
Of note, around Gibraltar into the Mediterranean, there is much underwater archaeology going on!
The Black Sea needs our eyes on because of the underwater pipelines!
Diplomacy is “Land Based”, but when noses are turned in a negative manner, that’s a signal to us Navy folk…pay attention!
Lastly, around 19 May is Baltimore Port Celebration Day… please encourage our readers to protect all our American Ports.
Memorial Day, we want nice and quiet, I do anyway… God Bless America! Nurse Jane
Thought something was up when I saw all the tankers aloft.
I do wonder if "the rest of the international community is more than happy to let Iran close the strait to international traffic." I suspect that it would be a different story if Trump had declared that the Hormuz Strait is nothing that the US needs and it's on them to figure out what to do about it.
"Close the strait" means no traffic, and is not the same as paying a million-dollar bounty to the IRGC to get through - which is what I suspect they would be "more than happy" to pay were the US not involved there.
Why would anyone be more than happy to pay a bribe to pass through waters they have passed through for free and by international rules should be able to freely pass through?
While they may not be happy about paying a toll they are safe in the knowledge that they can recoup the cost when they sell the oil to their feckless customer nations, many of which are only too happy to pass on the cost of the Danegeld to their customers at the gas pumps, farms and factories. It is a crap business model.
"Happy" is a direct quote from the text by our esteemed author, and I'm just playing on it. But a number of ships had already paid the toll, showing that paying it is at least a more acceptable alternate for some of them as opposed to, say, directly assisting in patrolling the Strait.
The WSJ says that there's a handful or two of ships that have paid. HOS a year ago was seeing hundreds a ships a day.
Western Europe barely has the military assets to assist in the HOS. And right now they're just buying the hydrocarbons they're missing from HOS from........... get this ---> RUSSIA.
Ya, they're funding Russia's war against Ukraine right now. Lovely stuff.
Don't believe me? Google Yamal LNG. it's not merely the central European states importing pipeline ng + oil. They hopped right back in it. In that sense they don't need those HOS hydrocarbons, at least not for the moment.
Based on early reports, this seems to be an operation to get the US flagged ships out. NYT/WSJ have 2 US flagged merchants (out of 4) moving. I find the statement “we are not close escorting” disingenuous considering 2 Burkes and flock of Army Apaches provided coordinated and direct SAM and air coverage and have shot down missiles and IRCG small boats attacking the vessels (CENTCOM reporting) and IRCG has resorted to attacking an unescorted ship and a UAE/Oman TOO. It looks like convoying, smells like it, why are we not calling it what it is unless we don’t want to extend it to all western shipping? Strange unless this to be a focused one - off mission for the US flagged ships then offer OTH assistance to others.
BTW: all four US flagged merchants were CENTCOM contracted for logistics.
"unless we don’t want to extend it to all western shipping"
We don't because we can't, the assets don't exist. We did operation Earnest Will to escort only Kuwaiti ships. At the time Kuwait exported all of 1- 11/4 million barrels daily. The US had near 600 ships then. Before this war 20 million barrels left the Gulf daily ~75% of which has been impacted. The Navy has 291 ships and only about 66 deployed for the entire planet today.
The Strait is not closed to those willing to pay the fee for passage to Iran. But the United States warned shipping companies Friday that they could face sanctions for making payments to Iran to safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz. So, the U.S. has effectively closed the Strait it now seeks to open in the latest flip of the flop.
Financial Times
Hopefully during this ceasefire... the biggest focus has been on locating and tracking the next 100 most senior Iranian leaders/replacements. Frankly I really think that regime change is the only way out of this that isn't going to drag on forever. Either that or eventually they get a nuke and use it, and then we kill millions ( tens of millions ??) of people who should've or tried to put their nation back on a respectable course...