US to end show of force in Gulf

[ck4829]

The United States wrapped up a massive military exercise in the Persian Gulf Wednesday, putting on a show of strength for Iran even as the United Arab Emirates became the second Gulf nation to declare it would not take part in any attack on the Islamic Republic.

The U.S. has denied any intention to attack. But the public refusals of two allies to help could affect U.S. military options or require shifting of resources if tensions did seriously escalate.

Qatar — home to 6,500 U.S. troops and the enormous al-Udeid Air Base, headquarters of all American air operations in the Middle East — said earlier this month it would not permit an attack on Iran from its soil.

The Gulf Cooperation Council, a loose alliance of Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the Emirates, has called on all its members not to support any U.S. action against Iran.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070328/ap_on_re_mi_ea/gulf_us_maneuvers

[lse7581011]

1. Ya Right! n/t

[Irreverend IX]

2. Looks like Dubya's imperial ambitions...

Are collapsing around him. It'll all be downhill from here.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

4. U B right. You think the Saudi affair had an impact?

or was it Iran's refusal to rise to the faux attack?

I bet it was the Sauds. They are getting more and more pissed at the boy king. Faaux royalty, just like theirs.


But I slightly disagree, his ambitions will never collapse, only his ability to follow them.

[juno jones]

8. not to mention..

..a bit of arm-twisting by the Chinese and Russians who are both major customers of Iranian oil... I suspect cooler heads will prevail...

[Nutmegger]

3. Look at us!

We're the US! Big strong bad asses!

YEEAAAAH!

We'll tear your limb from limb if you mf-ers dare to mess with us.

Why? We're the big bad US!

USA! USA! USA!

[ChairmanAgnostic]

5. yeah, supper da troups!

yeah, that's the ticket

[malaise]

6. That Saudi dinner cancelation

is working.

[BootinUp]

7. I guess the price of gas is high enough....n/t