Iran Constructs Naval Bases

[Jack Ray]

Iran Constructs Naval Bases
Washington Post
October 31, 2008

Iran has begun building a line of naval bases along its southern coast and up to the Strait of Hormuz at the entrance to the strategic waterway, an Iranian commander said. Iran has said it will close the strait, through which two-fifths of the world's oil passes, if the United States attacks.

How do you define Iranian naval base?

• a) Are these harbors and dedicated facilities for warships?
  b) Are these simply coastal defense sites for anti-ship missiles?
  c) Are these armed powerboat marinas?
  d) Are these ramps with inflatable boats on trailers?

[Ultimo Tiger]

e) Are they nice juicy targets to drop a few tons of HE on?

[Gone Asiatic]

e) Are they nice juicy targets to drop a few tons of HE on?

f) Are they fooked?

[Dave Wooley]

This is just another notch in a dangerous game the Iranian leadership is playing and unless Iran's leadership is serious about dialog with the rest of the world ? I fear the net result for Iran and it's long suffering people, will be total ruin. Is that what Iran wants?
Dave Wooley

[Lesforan]

I really don't think the Iranian Government gives a rip if their long-suffering people suffer some more. As I said in another post, Iran doesn't need a nuke if it wants to destabilze the whole region. Another tanker war would do nicely, and with the lowered price of crude oil, it would certainly boost prices.

We cannot let the Iranians attack tankers in the Strait of Hormuz again. If the Iranian leadership wants to provoke an attack by the West, this would be the surest way to guarantee it. Better even than their nuclear development program.

I think the biggest Iranian naval threat is their submarines. It would be to our advantage if they concentrated them to one major base. With the bunker busting bombs we have now, reinforced concrete sub pens may not offer enough protection. We also have cruise missles that can be driven right into the pens through the entrances. The confined area inside would only enhance the blast effect.

[Gerarddm]

I have a hunch that the Iranians don't have too many pals... maybe the Chinese? Chavez? If they pulled a fast one in the Straits of Hormuz that was unprovoked, even the Arabs, particularly the Saudis, wouldn't be upset if we and others gave them a good whacking.