U.S. 5th Fleet commander says Iran's war games have 'pugnacious tone'

[maddezmom]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Just days after Defense Secretary Robert Gates made clear the United States is trying to ratchet down tensions with Iran, the top U.S. naval commander in the region has made some unusually harsh public statements about the intentions of Iran's recent war games and exercises in the Persian Gulf.

~snip~

He went on to say, "Specifically the concern with Iran is the combination of rhetoric and the exercises have taken on a very bellicose and pugnacious tone."

Walsh told reporters he was not trying to add to tensions with Iran, but said, "The trend line with Iran is one that is very concerning and troubling." --From CNN's Barbara Starr (Posted 2:27 p.m.)

link: http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/02/20/tuesday/index.html

Admiral: Iran’s war games brought buildup
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/02/apgulf070220/

No offensive build-up in the Gulf: US commander
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=133855&version=1&template_id=37&parent_id=17

[CBGLuthier]

1. And the intentions of our wargames and exercises

are bright cheery sunshine designed to make the world a hap-hap-happy place?

Why the fuck are our commanders issuing press releases anyway?

[denverbill]

4. Yes, it's the Iranians that are bellicose.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/01/16/africa/ME-GEN-Mideast-US-Warships.php

The deployment of the USS John C. Stennis to the Middle East will put two U.S. aircraft carriers in the volatile Gulf region for the first time since the 2003 Iraq invasion. Military officials say a second carrier group is meant as a plain warning to Iran.

<snip>

Us sending another carrier to the Gulf is to WARN Iran, but them responding to our warning by increasing patrols is 'bellicose'.

[jpak]

6. Add the Bataan and Boxer Expeditionary Strike Groups to the list too...

The Reagan Strike Group could soon be lurking in the Arabian Sea as well (part of the 7th Fleet's area of operation).

Also - while the Kitty Hawk is undergoing maintenance in Japan, it could be at sea in short order if "needed"...

[PATRICK]

17. To everyone except the US

The carrier deployment and everything else repeating by rote the war-no-matter-what policy used against Iraq- this time without even the bullying veneer of "diplomacy" at the UN- is an absolute indication of intent to war. The ONLY reason Iran is supposed to lie prone is that they cannot win any war against the US in the conventional sense and cannot initiate hostilities in the inevitable which would give the only prop to the fraud of Bush's peaceful intentions. Which hardly any American believes but few are able to directly confront because of the shrieking brakes applied by the MSM and a timid, self-dis-empowering leadership beyond the throne. In fact, bloodied, complicit, ridiculed justly, horrified, the MSM dutifully gives the bent knee and the bare behind to the "presidency" and any discussion liars from thence care to initiate. They will also fall into line, dumbstruck in horror, devoid of any American or legal value, should America be "attacked".

What Iran is doing is probably minimally necessary in proving its intent not to surrender and threaten the high cost that will surely follow more imperial blundering in the Muslim world. What the naval officer is stating is either on script or the same play it dumb US attitude that what we are doing is merely gunboat diplomacy. Probably both, as illogical and stupid as it is to think a country approached the same way- with guns drawn and years of planning for war- is supposed to watch their step and pretend this game is about some diplomatic objective. But yes, we have hundreds of such stupid people in leadership positions or as many willing tools along for the roller coaster of horror.

Iran or what Iran does is absolutely irrelevant in this affair. It is only Cheney
s intent and control of our military that is at issue. This is something that the top of the nation sitting on seething populace frustrations veers away from in total legal and moral incapacity- made worse by surrender to the abusers who worsen it and exploit it until the problem gets fearfully worse.

And what is so bad, dear members of the establishment, that it negates having the innocent blood of women and children forever etched on your inner skin like a hot brand, driving the nation, the world, the military, its future, its economy, its democracy, its collective soul all to hell for the darkest dreams of a clique of money lords seeking to ride out the chaos they jumpstart to gain the land and the lifeboats needed to rule the dying out of humanity and the global warming they believe in- but you are not allowed to discuss or act upon? These soulless "elites" behind Cheney their hatchet man, really do want what is left of the "whole world" and will throw everything over, even hope of a HUMAN response to
crisis. And it will be revealed that this is the full circle of fear. Their fear that their world- forget yours, suckers- will crumble in the new world. And what usually happens, in my experience, is that what you fear will get you, and much sooner than expected. While the rest of life suffers needlessly at the hands of psychopaths civil government and the nexus of humanity is not allowed to even name.

[tk2kewl]

2. As apposed to those war games of the pacifistic sort

:silly:

[Benhurst]

3. Yeah. And what's Iran doing conducting exercises in that part of the world?

Don't they know it's part of The World's Only Superpower's sphere of influence?

[roamer65]

5. ...and what do we call our little naval buildup???

I say "confrontational".

[Danieljay]

7. the hypocricy astounds me...

beyond words.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

8. I heard that read out loud on CNN in the background, a little while ago.j

What else would they do? Act like it's just hunky dory to have our battleships in their backyard? :shrug: MKJ

[razorman]

9. Pugnacious? Ya think?!

Perhaps the term "WAR" games gave it away.

[jpak]

10. The I-ranians *play* at war in the Gulf - we do the Real Deal over there

How's that for pugnacious???

[razorman]

12. Any war game that's not pugnacious

just ain't worth playing.

[youngdem]

11. While our military exercises in the region are filled with sunshine, lollipops and rock candy

[razorman]

13. Pillow fights

[daleo]

14. It's like the pre-invasion Iraq no-fly zones

Western forces provoked Saddam's air defense forces with aggressive flyovers, then bombed them if they turned on their radar because that was "threatening and provocative". They are trying to goad Iran too, by putting a fleet just off its shore and calling it aggressive when it responds with military exercises within its own borders.

"You looking at me? You must be looking at me, 'cause I don't see anybody else around here!"

[subterranean]

15. If Iran had three aircraft carriers off the East Coast of the U.S.

and had already invaded Canada and Mexico, I imagine that our tone might be a little pugnacious, too.

[Supersedeas]

16. mmmmm....Pot meet Kettle

[tabasco]

18. You shall NOT take that tone with the New Roman Empire, Mister!

I think this may be cause for invasion!

:sarcasm:

[LanternWaste]

19. As opposed to a warm & fuzzy war game?

Pugnacious tone? As opposed to a warm & fuzzy war game? Or, I dunno-- maybe a faith-based war game?

Maybe Gates thought he was supposed to invite some of the Iranian leadership over for a game of 'Kriegspiel' and down a few brews and smoke some stogies?

:shrug:

[Minstrel Boy]

20. There are thugs on my porch waving rocks and baseball bats.

They say they find my home security system an incitement to violence.

[TheWatcher]

21. We are a Rogue Nation. We are completely out of control.

And we are going to attack Iran very soon if something is not done to stop it.

[MasonJar]

22. Did they put us in an axis of evil? If not, shut up!

[uppityperson]

23. !