We hate you, we need you, we hate you, we need you, we hate you, we need you

Gertz:

U.S. assistance sought to keep Gulf open in any war with Iran
ABU DHABI -- The Gulf Cooperation Council are making plans based on the shared estimate that Iran would block both regional naval and air traffic during any war with the United States.

Officials and analysts said the six Persian Gulf states have begun to exchange scenarios of a war between Iran and the United States. They said the GCC governments have concluded that air and naval traffic would be disrupted for weeks, particularly in such states as Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.

Note that the islands in the throat of the Strait of Hormuz are Iranian, and tanker traffic lanes are in Iranian waters. Note also that Iran's asymmetric warfare doctrine of the IRGC call for speedboats to deliver very difficult to detect bottom moored mines in waters 120 feet deepp or less, in this area.

Bahrain has increased coordination and cooperation with the U.S. military. On Aug. 11, Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa toured the U.S. Fifth Fleet and discussed the U.S. and Western role in protecting the Gulf.

"The United States has a vital role in bolstering security and stability in the region," Salman said.

Several GCC states, particularly Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar, have been holding exercises to prepare for an Iranian war. Officials said the GCC, unlike its surprise during the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, has sought to prepare for what could be a regional crisis.

"The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is something that is going to happen and will happen many times," Kuwaiti analyst Hajaj Bu Khathor said. "It might happen very soon with this issue, but either way, it will repeat again in the future."

Is there anyone else's navy with the ability to prevent or reverse this?

Iran has repeatedly threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz during a Gulf war. GCC states have expressed concern that such a move would block crude oil shipments.

"The issue with Iran is not about uranium enrichment; it wants to control the region," Bu Khathor said. "We do not want to repeat what happened before. It is important to address this calmly and discuss this in a professional way. We need a strategy, alternative strategies and solutions."

Kuwait has been the most active of GCC states in preparations for an Iranian attack. The GCC sheikdom has been upgrading its U.S.-origin Patriot missile defense system as well as stockpiling such critical supplies as water, food and medicine.

At the same time, GCC states have sought alternative air routes that would avoid Iranian air defense systems. Officials said the effort would involve the establishment of a regional supply center, perhaps in Saudi Arabia, to transport provisions by truck.

The most difficult challenge for GCC states would be to maintain oil exports during any war with Iran. GCC countries have discussed alternative pipelines as well as sea routes far from Iran.

"This would require oil tankers equipped to travel in shallow water," Bu Khathor said.

Iran's IRGC recruiting Saudi agents throughout Gulf region

ABU DHABI -- Saudi Arabia is closely monitoring what officials charge are Iranian efforts to recruit both Sunnis and Shi'ites to spy for Teheran.

Officials said Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps was recruiting Saudis both in the Arab kingdom as well as in other regional countries. They cited Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

KSA'a Eastern Province (where the oil is), is Shia.Repressed, ardent Shia.

"Saudis have greater access than others to Sunni countries," an official said. "Iran wants to take advantage of this."

Iraq has reported the arrest of a Saudi national who confessed to working for Iranian intelligence. The detainee was identified as Hussein Ulaiwi Al Arjani, a 20-year-old resident of the northern Saudi town of Najid.

"Authorities will contact the brothers in Iraq to verify the identity of that person," Saudi Interior Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Mansour Al Turki said.

Al Arjani was captured as he sought to illegally cross into Iran at Iraq's Mahran. Al Arjani was said to have been carrying a forged Iraqi passport.

"This man is unknown to us," Al Turki said.

But other officials said Riyad has been monitoring Iranian recruitment of Saudi nationals throughout the Middle East. They said IRGC was believed to be recruiting Saudi Shi'ites in the kingdom's Eastern Province.

"We believe a key goal of Iran is to identify targets in the kingdom and other GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] states in case of a war with the United States," the official said.

A leading Saudi analyst, Abdul Rahman Al Rashed, said Iran has decided to increase tension with GCC states. Al Rashed, who directs the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya satellite television, said Iran has assessed that it could confront GCC states without sparking U.S. intervention.

I personally believe that would absolutely trigger intervention. INSTANTLY. Especially with this week's financial trauma making the entire world economy jittery as oil drops by almost 40%.

"Iran holds the view that the United States is not expected to enter a war if small military clashes take place in the Gulf waters without developing into a conflict beyond the region," Al Rashed said. "The GCC is convinced that Iran targets it militarily, politically and security-wise."

BIG MISTAKE.
Civilizational, cultural historic error, Hassan, ole boy