Major Hat Tip to Resident Author.
Via Israeli National News.
Despite Egypt’s reported refusal to block the canal to Iranian boats, the clearance for the American-Israeli fleet may be a warning to Iran it may face military opposition if the Iranian Red Crescent ship continues on course to Gaza.Read the whole thing but I smell a public relations move by the US Administration rather than an escalation towards possible action at sea.
The warships may exercise the right to inspect the Iranian boat for the illegal transport or weapons. Newsweek reported that Egyptian authorities could stop the ship for weeks, using technicalities such as requiring that any official documents be translated from Farsi into Arabic.
The magazine’s website also reported that the Iranian navy is the weakest part of its armed forces. Tehran has already backed down from announced intentions to escort the Iranian ships with "volunteer marines” from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.
Obama is attempting to balance two conflicting truths. First he's sympathetic to the Muslim world and seeks to bolster his image in the region. Second, he needs to bolster his standing with the Jewish community here in America or a valued source of campaign contributions goes away.
Playing Russian Roulette with warships on the high seas is a dangerous game to play. Lets hope he has a better plan for this "possibility" than he did after 50 days of oil spilling into the gulf.
