Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, offers remarks to the press on the new defense strategy at the Pentagon, Jan. 5, 2012. DOD photo by D. Myles Cullen
Iran Has Ability to Block Strait of Hormuz, U.S. General Dempsey Tells CBS -- Bloomberg
Iran has the ability to block the Strait of Hormuz “for a period of time,” and the U.S. would take action to reopen it, Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman General Martin Dempsey said.
“They’ve invested in capabilities that could, in fact, for a period of time block the Strait of Hormuz,” Dempsey said in an interview airing today on the CBS “Face the Nation” program. “We’ve invested in capabilities to ensure that if that happens, we can defeat that.”
Should Iran try to close Hormuz, the U.S. “would take action and reopen” the waterway, said Dempsey, President Barack Obama’s top military adviser.
Read more ....
Update: US would take action against Iran closure of Hormuz -- Jerusalem Post
My Comment: Quite a "heads-up" remark from America's top general. The question that needs to be asked right now is .... how quickly can Iran block the Strait of Hormuz (I suspect that such a blockade can be done very quickly. i.e. one day), and how long will it take to re-open it. The second question is the tough one, because I think it will take a long time for US and allied forces to assemble the necessary military forces in the region to protect oil tankers, remove mines, and counter any Iranian military action. My prediction .... if war breaks out and the Straits are closed, it will takes months to re-open them. If this is the case, the next question is .... what will be the military cost in equipment and lives, and will Iran's proxies initiate terror strikes against Western targets. My guess .... the costs are going to be very very very high.
Update: The last time U.S. naval forces engaged Iran's naval forces was in 1988. Check out this website for more info (and pictures).
