Here Comes The New Gulf Of Tonkin

[RestoreGore]

Gates, commanders ready buildup in Gulf

By ROBERT BURNS, AP Military Writer

MANAMA, Bahrain - Defense Secretary Robert Gates met with senior U.S. and coalition naval commanders Thursday to plan operations in the Persian Gulf, including the arrival next month of another U.S. aircraft carrier and more Patriot missiles meant in part as a warning to Iran. This tiny state in the northern Gulf is headquarters to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet and Central Command's naval staff.

Gates also flew to nearby Qatar for a private meeting and lunch with that nation's leader, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani. Later he was visiting an air base that hosts a high-tech war room that is the nerve center of all U.S. and coalition air operations throughout the Middle East and Central Asia. Under ground rules imposed by U.S. officials, reporters traveling with Gates were prohibited from identifying the base or the country in which it is located.

In Bahrain, a British Royal Navy officer who is the No. 2 commander for coalition naval forces in the Central Command area of responsibility told reporters that the exact role and missions of the aircraft carrier USS John Stennis, which is due to arrive in the Gulf area next month, have not yet been worked out.

British Commodore Keith Winstanley said the Stennis deployment should not be seen entirely as a move aimed at Iran, but he added, "I'm sure there's a message there for Iran." He said Iranian naval operations have not changed in any significant way since President Bush announced last week that he was sending a second carrier to the Gulf, and Winstanley said at-sea contacts with the Iranian navy have been "extremely cordial."

Earlier, Gates spoke of possibly sending more troops to Afghanistan, where there are now about 24,000 U.S. troops. But the question is how many more can be contributed at a time when Bush is ramping up U.S. firepower in Iraq and the Persian Gulf.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070118/ap_on_re_mi_ea/gates

More at the link.
~~~~~~~

And Gates the real point man in this was confirmed by Democrats in Congress. So what are they going to do now?

Don't tell me these ships and missiles aren't there for an offensive purpose, because I do not believe it. They are trying to goad another war. And what will we do? Just let them do it? And these people most assuredly live in their own little dream worlds. The Taliban just ran into the hills until it was advantageous to come back out. And gee, WHERE IS BIN LADEN? I am absolutely astounded that Bush may well be allowed to continue this "war" even though the Congress changed hands.

[leftchick]

1. American Warplanes Deployed in Turkey

I am sure this is just a coincidence. :sarcasm:

:scared:

American Warplanes Deployed in Turkey
09:01 Jan 14, '07 / 24 Tevet 5767


(IsraelNN.com) At least 16 US F-16 fighter craft arrived Friday at the Turkish Incirlink air base for the first time in three years.

According to local Cihan News Agency, the F-16s were accompanied by an early warning system AWACS airplane and tanker airplanes from an American base in Germany. An official at the US embassy in Ankara said the planes had arrived for joint exercises with the Turkish military.

The Incirlink are base in southern Turkey is within easy striking distance of targets in Iraq and Iran.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=119386

[RestoreGore]

9. Warmongering bastards n/t

[Imagevision]

14. Bush stationed 2 carrier groups over there for provoking Iran into a fight...

just a matter of when?!!

[robertpaulsen]

2. They're really trying to float that trial balloon, aren't they?

Reuters: Officials say rumored Iran strike not true

John Byrne
Published: Thursday January 18, 2007

Following rumors of an Iranian missile strike on a US military ship, Pentagon officials dismissed the claim anonymously in a Reuters article Thursday morning.

"No such event took place," one of the officials told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

The US has recently upped its presence in the Gulf region, sending at least two aircraft carriers in what Defense Secretary Robert Gates says is an effort to put pressure on Tehran. Talk of a military strike on Iran has increased in recent weeks.

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Reuters_Officials_say_rumored_Iran_strike_0118.html


'Freedom Fries' Congressman calls for halt on Iran strike

Michael Roston
Published: Thursday January 18, 2007

The North Carolina Republican who coined the term "freedom fries" will lead a press conference today on a bill to put the brakes on any US military strike against Iran, RAW STORY has learned.

Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) has proposed legislation requiring the president to consult and receive authorization from Congress before initiating a military attack on Iran. The measure will be presented at an 11:30 am press conference tomorrow with co-sponsors Ron Paul (R-TX), Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), Richard Neal (D-MA), Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD) and Marty Meehan (D-MA).

snip

Rep. Ron Paul, the Texas Republican who once ran for president as a Libertarian, explained to RAW STORY via a spokesman that he was "opposed to any escalation of the Middle East conflict in Iran, in whatever form that may take." He warned in his weekly "Texas Straight Talk" column that "the administration intends to move the US closer to a dangerous and ill-advised conflict with Iran." He specifically feared that "a contrived Gulf of Tonkin-type incident may occur to gain popular support for an attack on Iran," referring to the engagement between the US and Vietnam that was used by President Lyndon Johnson to justify an escalation of America's military intervention in Vietnam.

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Freedom_Fries_Congressman_calls_for_halt_0118.html

[paparush]

3. That Doomsday clock just keeps on tickin.... nt

[blues90]

4. The more I hear this won't happen , the more I think it will , and

The sooner I think it will . I have gotten to the point after all the lies that I believe just the opposite of what we are told .

With bush out of control and Cheney at the controls , the ships in the gulf and the missiles being sent , add to this the 16 fighter jets in Turky , the take over of the consulate and the held prisoners .

This all adds up to something bad in my opinion .

With their surge talk and added troops for god knows what , all we know is they are determined to send more troops , that all , not any of the

true reasons behind this .

Larisa Alexandrovna , keeps bringing this up and has kept track and she feels we will do this attack soon . So do liberal talk radio hosts like Mike Malloy , Thom Hartmann and Randi Rhodes .

I am still baffled why anyone who do this thing since it will only open up so much more damage and hate and death , but then that's what this bush administration has been all about since before they stole the elections in 2000 .

We may never know who or what is behind this madness as with most things that turn out horrid in this mad world .

[RestoreGore]

10. This has been planned for years

Part of their "Project for a New American Century."

We cannot allow this to stand.

[Norquist Nemesis]

5. Oh, they're not there for offensive purpose at all!

They're there to protect the troops! CIC is going to shoot missiles at the first opportunity and claim he's "protecting the troops and Americans in Iraq". That's going to be his justification.

Remember how "Saddam was shooting at us in the no-fly zones"? Conveniently, the fact that we were bombing the crap out of the just prior to the invasion is not mentioned.

[Individualist]

6. I also remember "There are no war plans on my desk".

[Norquist Nemesis]

8. That and "I decide when we go to war. I am the decider."

[Swamp Rat]

7. It will be called something like "The Straight of Hormuz Incident."

[scarletwoman]

11. K & r ... It's coming soon... (nt)

[RestoreGore]

12. I do believe it is as well...

And though it scares me, it doesn't scare me as much as the fact they will once again be allowed to do it. Just when are people in this country going to really stand the hell up for her?

[Imagevision]

13. Just a few days ago, Iran shot down a US. Predator, but did you hear/see it being reported on??

Gulf Of Tonkin Incident - Bush will simply copy President Johnson.

[BeHereNow]

15. While our guitars gently weep....

We, the people, are officially irrelevant.

Doesn't matter which "party" controls the house or senate
when they are all owned by the same corpoRATe pay masters.

Time to watch "Why We Fight" again if it is not all
perfectly clear yet.

Thank you Dwight Eisenhower.
You tried to tell us.

We were too busy "shopping" and chasing the
"American Dream" to understand the pending nightmare.

We understand now, and unfortunately, it is too late.

BHN

[RestoreGore]

17. One of my favorite Beatles songs...

I'm listening to it now as I type... And unfortunately, I have to agree with you. Though, I still try to hold onto hope that the people will do as our Constitution instructs us. I have to hope, or all is truly lost.

[Imagevision]

16. Bush has to pick a fight, he's in too much trouble with no other outs available to him

[RestoreGore]

18. IMPEACH THE CRIMINAL!