Massive US Naval Build-Up Off the Shores of Iran

Massive US Naval Build-Up Off the Shores of Iran
A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet

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In an article entitled: “Obama starts massive US Air-Sea-Marine build-up opposite Iran” Debkafile reports on a massive US Naval build -up currently underway in the Persian Gulf waters off Iran’s shore. You can read the article in its entirety at:
http://www.debka.com/article/8794/

We urge you to read the article and form your own opinion as to what is going on off the shores of Iran.

So – what IS going on? Is the stage being set for the long expected attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities? Well, nobody is going to admit that, even if it were true. Is the US stationing itself, strategically, between Iran and Israel – as a clear warning to Israel NOT TO ATTACK IRAN? With the Obama Regime clearly showing no favor for Israel, one must consider that possibility.

As one looks at the Iranian defense, especially the new Russian “Surface to Air Missiles,” one must consider the option of boots on the ground, inside Iran, to take out those mobile missiles by either hands-on destruction or painting the targets with lasers for aircraft using stand-off munitions to take out. Of course, we are describing a task, which would be undertaken by Special Forces troops. Both Israel and the US have outstanding Special Forces who certainly have the capability to complete such a mission.

On the other hand, the US has the option of using its stealth aircraft to take out Iran’s nuclear facilities. The Russian SAM’s can’t shoot ‘em if they can’t see “em!

If stealth aircraft are to be involved in this mission, whatever it is, there will likely be no reports on their movement for they fly out of US bases, here in the states, and return to those same bases after their mission is complete.

Whatever the mission, this is a very large and a very visible task force assembling off Iran. SOMETHING IS going on.

It is important to remember the value of keeping the Straits of Hormuz open for the world’s flow of oil to continue unimpeded when the strike on Iran begins. Iran has made it clear they will make an effort to block the straits immediately when the shooting begins. Certainly one task of the US Armada will be to secure the straits from attack by the Iranians.

Remember, too, that when THIS war begins it will be fought in the air, on land, and at sea. I should think that depending upon the intensity of the conflict and the durability of the Iranian forces, the use of tactical battlefield nukes would certainly be considered. We KNOW the US has them and we THINK Israel has them as well.

With the American public signaling their war weariness it is unthinkable that the current regime would undertake another war they were sure could not be ended successfully and quickly. Tactical nukes would do that.

Whatever is up, this naval flotilla, gathering off the shores of Iran, sends a very strong signal that the US is not intimidated by Iran’s military posturing. And it is never, ever, wise to thumb one’s nose at the IDF. As the biblical story of David and Goliath points out, all too clearly, Israel has a very long record of defeating superior military forces.

Iran has rattled the tiger’s cage far too often.

J. D. Longstreet

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J. D. Longstreet Blogs daily at INSIGHT on Freedom at: http://www.csadispatch.blogspot.com/

U.S. Marines Reject Recruits with Confederate Flag Tattoos!

U.S. Marines Reject Recruits with Confederate Flag Tattoos!
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"A widely regarded Southern symbol of pride and states' rights is standing in the way of would-be Marines in their quest to serve their country – a Confederate battle flag.

Straight out of high school, one 18-year-old Tennessee man was determined to serve his country as a Marine. His friend said he passed the pre-enlistment tests and physical exams and looked forward with excitement to the day he would ship out to boot camp.

Shortly before he was scheduled to leave Nashville for boot camp, the Marine Corps rejected him.

Now, the young man, who wishes to remain unnamed and declined to be interviewed, has chosen to return to school and is no longer an aspiring Marine.

"I think he just wants to let it go," said former Marine 1st Lt. Gene Andrews, a friend of the man and patriotic Southerner who served in Vietnam from 1968 through 1971. Andrews is a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, a group of male descendents of Confederate soldiers. He counseled the young man when he decided to become a Marine.

"He had been talking to me, and he was all fired up about joining," he told WND. "He asked my opinion of it, and I just tried to tell him the truth, good points and bad points."

When the young recruit didn't go to boot camp, Andrews learned of his rejection based on his tattoo of the Confederate battle flag on his shoulder."

Read the entire article HERE.
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Below is a statement from former Marine 1st Lt. Gene Andrews, a friend of the man and patriotic Southerner and a member of The Sons of Confederate Veterans:

A Southerner Speaks ... SOURCE

“I have always been proud of my time spent as an officer in the United States Marine Corps. I served in the Republic of Vietnam in 1969 and, while I was certainly no “John Wayne” type, I tried to do my duty to the best of my ability and I did bring all of my platoon out of Vietnam alive.

This past summer, the son of a friend of mine was very ‘gung ho’ about joining the Marines and asked my opinion, which I tried to give as honestly as possible, warts and all. I don’t know if my discussions had any influence on him, but he enlisted, completed all of the pre-enlistment tests and physical exams, and went to all of the pre-enlistment meetings. To say the least, he was very excited about serving his country in the Corps.

Shortly before he left Nashville for boot camp, he was told he could not serve his country because he had a Confederate Battle Flag tattooed on his shoulder in an area that would be completely covered by a t-shirt, and certainly by his uniform.

When informed of this, I went to the local recruiting station that had processed this young man to see if I were getting the entire story. The recruiter, a staff sergeant, told me, “Yes, sir. The Marine Corps considers the Confederate Flag a ‘hate symbol,’ but if the young man in question had a state or U.S. flag tattoo, that would be acceptable.”

I informed the young sergeant that my family had defended the State of Tennessee (also his home state) against a sadistic invasion under that flag and to call our sacred flag of honor a ‘hate symbol was an insult to ALL southerners, but especially to those southerners who had risked or even given their lives in service to the Marine Corps. Southerners had served at Belleau Woods, at Taraw and Iwo Jima, at Inchon and the Chosin Reservoir, and at Khe Sahn and Hue City, but now we are no longer wanted in the politically-correct don’t-offend-any-minorities military? (This was just prior to the Fort Hood massacre)

He was polite, even sympathetic, but said the flag policy was a Marine Corps policy from Headquarters Marine Corps and not a local decision.

After informing the sergeant that it seemed to me that our military was building a mercenary force of illegal aliens while rejecting native-born Americans in order to have a ready force to turn, without question, on American citizens, I asked the sergeant if he had taken out the trash yet. He replied that he hadn’t. I then said, “Please add these to the day’s garbage,” and returned my lieutenant’s bars, my gold and silver Marine Corps emblem from my dress blues, my shooting badges and my Vietnam ribbons.

I, like many of you, have always been told, “Once a Marine, always a Marine,” and “There are no ex-Marines, only former Marines,” but for me that is no longer true.

I was born in the South. I was raised here. I raised my family in the South and some day, God-willing, I hope to be buried in the native soil of our Southern homeland. I have always considered myself a Southerner first, and will remain so, despite any other organization that I may temporarily join.

I will never make a critical remark about a veteran, from any branch of the service, but from now on, I will do everything in my power to discourage any Southern young man, or lady, from becoming a future veteran. I am now an ex-Marine.”

Gene Andrews
ex-Marine,
1st Lieutenant
3rd Marine division
Vietnam

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As a veteran, a member of the American Legion, AND a member of The Sons of Confederate Veterans, I am outraged at this discriminatory policy by the US Marines. All Southerners should be outraged at this treatment of a fine southern young man who had the courage to offer his life in the service of his country in the Marine Corp!.

Look, in my opinion, if America had a “Warrior-Class” it would be, indisputably, the Southern male! The US military cannot afford to spit in the face of so many southern warriors in its ranks today. Add to this the rescinding of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy to allow homosexuals to serve OPENLY in the US military, and the recruitment is going to drop like a stone.

What is next? You KNOW what’s next…the return of the draft and a mediocre military.

Oh, well. Maybe we can make a deal with Israel to lease the IDF to defend the USA. Do you suppose?

J. D. Longstreet