SIGNIFICANT
US MILITARY BUILDUP IN PERSIAN GULF
The United States has quietly moved significant military
reinforcements into the Persian Gulf to deter the Iranian military from any
possible attempt to shut the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow, strategically
important entrance to the Persian Gulf between Iran and the UAE. The strait at
its narrowest is only 21 nautical miles (24mi) wide.
Approximately 20% of the world's oil, which is about 35% of seaborne traded oil, passes through the strait making it one of the world's most strategically important choke points. The US has also increased the number of fighter jets capable of striking deep into Iran if the standoff over its nuclear program escalates.
The deployments are part of a long-planned effort to bolster the American military presence in the gulf region, in part to reassure Israel that in dealing with Iran, as one senior administration official put it last week, "When the president says there are other options on the table beyond negotiations, he means it."
Approximately 20% of the world's oil, which is about 35% of seaborne traded oil, passes through the strait making it one of the world's most strategically important choke points. The US has also increased the number of fighter jets capable of striking deep into Iran if the standoff over its nuclear program escalates.
The deployments are part of a long-planned effort to bolster the American military presence in the gulf region, in part to reassure Israel that in dealing with Iran, as one senior administration official put it last week, "When the president says there are other options on the table beyond negotiations, he means it."
But this delicate signaling to both Iran and Israel is a
complex dance. Senator John Kerry (D-MA), chairman of the Foreign Relations
Committee, said that the administration must strike a fine balance between
positioning enough forces to deter Iran, but not inadvertently indicate to Iran
or Israel that an attack on Iran's nuclear sites is imminent or inevitable.
"There are a lot of expectations to manage," Mr. Kerry said in an interview. "People need to know you're serious, but you must also leave room for peaceful resolution. It's very important not to take steps that send the wrong messages here." (Fox News’ Charles Krauthamer said that Israel will attack Iran before election if they think Obama will win a second term.)
"There are a lot of expectations to manage," Mr. Kerry said in an interview. "People need to know you're serious, but you must also leave room for peaceful resolution. It's very important not to take steps that send the wrong messages here." (Fox News’ Charles Krauthamer said that Israel will attack Iran before election if they think Obama will win a second term.)
In
a LA Times article, ex-CIA agent Reza Kahlili says Iran has intelligence agents
inside American universities, Islamic cultural centers and charitable
institutions, posing as academics, policy experts and officers of nonprofits
... [trying] to influence policymakers to encourage negotiations in order to
give Iran time to develop nuclear weapons.
Kahlili says Iranian terrorist cells inside the U.S. have weapons, explosives, money and safe houses. They use contacts with Mexican and Latin American drug cartels to smuggle explosives and weapons into the U.S.
Kahlili says Iranian terrorist cells inside the U.S. have weapons, explosives, money and safe houses. They use contacts with Mexican and Latin American drug cartels to smuggle explosives and weapons into the U.S.
Pray
for those in powerful positions to persist in seeking good on behalf of every
nation touched through their decisions, large or small. Pray diligently for
these leaders to be protected from unrighteous motives and faulty perceptions
of their own, and those of opposing leaders). Intercede for the Lord to equip
them with clarity, understanding and patience so that they will be able to take
wise action (and refrain from unnecessary action) as needed. Praise God for the
way that He restrains evil in the midst of complexity and puts all things in
subjection under Him (1 Cor. 15:28). Source: Intercessors for America
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