Operation 'Gulf of Tonkin Part 2' well underway

[Kentonio]

DUBAI (Reuters) - Two oil tankers were hit in suspected attacks in the Gulf of Oman and the crews have been evacuated, shipping firms and industry sources said on Thursday, a month after a similar incident in which four tankers in the region were struck.

The Bahrain-based U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet said its were assisting the tankers after receiving distress calls following “reported attacks”. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, part of the Royal Navy, said it was investigating.

Details of the incident were not immediately clear, but one operator said it suspected its ship had been hit by a torpedo. Another shipping firm said its vessel was on fire in the Gulf of Oman.

Two oil tankers struck in suspected attacks in Gulf of Oman: shipping firms - Reuters

Everyone got their war cheerleader pom-poms ready?

 

[Jonathan Walkerin]

Would be a great play from Russia as well. Get US stuck to costly affair with Iran while at the same time raising oil prices to help their own economy. Or sure could just be US war hawks.

One player that really does not get anything out of this is Iran because their infrastructure would be bombed to stone age even if ground invasion did not happen. Funny how US drives that Iran is to blame for this.

Anyone have any motive for Iran to pick a losing fight with a superpower ?

 

[Peter J Barban]

Would be a great play from Russia as well. Get US stuck to costly affair with Iran while at the same time raising oil prices to help their own economy. Or sure could just be US war hawks.

One player that really does not get anything out of this is Iran because their infrastructure would be bombed to stone age even if ground invasion did not happen. Funny how US drives that Iran is to blame for this.

Anyone have any motive for Iran to pick a losing fight with a superpower ?

Perhaps Iran has internal motivations for this action and thinks the repercussions will be limited. Much like the way Iraq invaded Kuwait.

 

[Jonathan Walkerin]

Perhaps Iran has internal motivations for this action and thinks the repercussions will be limited.

Limited repercussions with Trump and Bolton in charge and Iran without nukes. Yeah, likely that.

 

[Peter J Barban]

After watching Trump for several years, we can see his leadership style. He talks aggressively so that he won't have to act aggressively. His actions are actually very risk-averse considering his ambitious goals.

I expect Trump to continue to squeeze Iran economically until he leaves office or Iraq changes its direction. War is literally the last thing Trump wants. Trump, unlike most Obama and the Clintons is a nationalist, not an interventionist.

 

[Occams Barber]

Limited repercussions with Trump and Bolton in charge and Iran without nukes. Yeah, likely that.

I think that the US should nuke the bejabbers out of everything in sight.

The resulting pall from a thousand burning oil wells will cast a shadow over the entire planet effectively counteracting the effect of Global Warming.

The result will be a situation where the US has resolved Global Warming, reduced future access to carbon based fuel, reduced the world's population to a reasonable level and provided the material for a whole new genre of new wave music. It's win, win, win all round,
OB

 

[Jonathan Walkerin]

I expect Trump to continue to squeeze Iran economically until he leaves office or Iraq changes its direction.

I am sure you meant Iran and not Iraq but the funny part is that Trump could do exactly what you suggest. He has never bothered to be too logical or been that meticulous which country US attacking at any given time.

 

[DaisyDay]

Neither tanker was American (Norwegian and Japanese) - so why are we involved?

 

[essentialsaltes]

Neither tanker was American (Norwegian and Japanese) - so why are we involved?

While disrupting oil going through the Strait of Hormuz would be a big deal, I don't think it would affect the US directly. I understand most of that oil is destined for Asia (including these two particular tankers).

But if this is an inflammation of the Saudi/Iran feud, we have already chosen a side to support.

 

[essentialsaltes]

This is the kind of thing where it's so easy to suspect Iran that this actually becomes an argument that it can't have been Iran. Let's hope the investigation produces clarity.

 

[essentialsaltes]

CNN reports: The crew of USS Bainbridge reported that they saw an unexploded limpet mine on the side of one of the ships attacked today in the Gulf of Oman, according to a US defense official familiar with the matter.

 

[Jonathan Walkerin]

Some speculation of attackers being Houthi rebels. Might make sense for them to escalate things and get Saudi Arabia distracted with more direct hostilities with Iran to divert attention from their little rebellion.

 

[Pommer]

Neither tanker was American (Norwegian and Japanese) - so why are we involved?

We’re getting out of “policing the world” and have migrated (oddly enough) to offering “protection”!

 

[variant]

It makes little to no sense that Iran would be intentionally provoking a war by attacking oil tankers.

Here are four countries that make more sense:
USA
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Israel

 

[Jonathan Walkerin]

Here are four countries that make more sense:
USA
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Israel

Let`s add China for good measure. They would probably love to see US getting stuck in Iran quagmire.