Gunboat Diplomacy

This image provided by the US Navy shows the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), USS Nimitz (CVN 68), and USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) strike groups steaming through the Gulf of Oman Tuesday May 22, 2007. The U.S. Navy staged its latest show of military force off the Iranian coastline sending the three strike groups through the narrow Strait of Hormus on Wednesday. Aircraft aboard the three carriers and the Bonhomme Richard were to conduct air training while the ships ran submarine, mine and other exercises. (AP Photo/US Navy - Denny Cantrell)

George W. Bush has been called lots of names but never a name for lack of courage. The US can not afford to become appeaser to international rogues and terrorists who are banking on America’s ‘weakness’ of giving values to each and every human life. Iran rants may just be bluff and bluster, but threats to wipe Israel off the map is no joke, not even for dubya. The Democrats would rather consult the UN and other countries before they make a move in the Persian gulf, simply because they do not have the courage of dubya … without realizing that it might be too late for consultations.

In the face of Iran’s intransigence and defiance of UN sanctions, I think the US opted to send diplomats - Nine U.S. warships enter Gulf for training – to convey the message that time is up.

By Mohammed Abbas

Nine U.S. military ships entered the Gulf on Wednesday for a rare daylight assembly off Iran's coast in what naval officials said was the largest such move since the 2003 Iraq war.

U.S. Navy officials said Iran had not been notified of plans to sail the vessels, which include two aircraft carriers, through the Straits of Hormuz, a narrow channel in international waters off Iran's coast and a major artery for global oil shipments.

Most U.S. ships pass through the straits at night so as not to attract attention, and rarely move in such large numbers.

Navy officials said the decision to send a second aircraft carrier was made at the last minute, without giving a reason.