Russia and Tehran

[Timothy]

Russia's first Persian Gulf naval presence coordinated with Tehran

DEBKAfile Exclusive Report

May 26, 2009, 6:47 PM (GMT+02:00)

Russian warships are due to call Wednesday, May 27, at the Bahrain port of Manama, seat of the US Fifth Fleet in the Persian Gulf, DEBKAfile's military sources reveal. They will be following in the wake of the Russian vessels already docked at the Omani port of Salalah, the first to avail themselves of facilities at Gulf ports.

Their arrival is fully coordinated between the Russian and Iranian naval commands.

According to our sources, this is the first time a Russian flotilla will have taken on provisions and fuel at the same Gulf ports which hitherto serviced only the US Navy. Moscow has thus gained its first maritime foothold in the Persian Gulf.

The flotilla consists of four vessels from Russia's Pacific Fleet: The submarine fighter Admiral Panteleyev is due at Manama Wednesday, escorted by the refueling-supply ship Izhorai, The supply-battleship Irkut and the rescue craft BM-37 are already docked in Salalah.

DEBKAfile's military sources report that the Russians, like the Iranians, cover their stealthy advance into new waters by apparent movements for joining the international task force combating Somali pirates. While Iranian warships have taken up positions in the Gulf of Aden, the Russians are moving naval units southeast into the Persian Gulf.

Monday, May 25, the Iranian naval chief, Adm. Habibollah Sayyari, announced that six Iranian warships had been dispatched to "the international waters" of the Gulf of Aden in a "historically unprecedented move… to show its ability to confront any foreign threats." He did not bother to mention the pirates.

Russian and Iranian naval movements in the two strategic seas are clearly synchronized at the highest levels in Tehran and Moscow.

Our military analysts find Russia and Iran seizing the moment for supplanting positions held exclusively by the US and other western fleets. They are taking advantage of two developments:

1. The number of US warships maintained in the Gulf has been reduced to its lowest level in two years; President Obama quietly reduced their presence near Iran's shores in order to generate a positive atmosphere for the coming US dialogue with the Islamic Republic. Not a single US aircraft carrier is consequently to be found anywhere in the Gulf region.

2. Monday, May 25, President Nicolas Sarkozy inaugurated France's first naval facility in the Gulf in Abu Dhabi. The Russian and Iranian policy-makers see no reason why Moscow cannot set up a military presence in the region if Paris can.

http://www.debka.com/headline_print.php?hid=6095

[Hazcat]

It's what you get when you put inexperienced fools in charge.

Of course most of the US populace will never hear of this and never be told the dangers of it.  Sheeple!

[fightingquaker13]

Remember, this was one of the reasons Russia went into Afghanistan in the first place. It wasn't because it was full of rocks,dirt and muslim fanatics. They had plenty of those at home. It was about it bordering Iran in the Gulf and providing access to not just oil but a warm water port while we were on the outs with what had been an ally. The only time Carter did man up was when he made it clear personally to the Sovs was that he would view an invasion as an act of war. The downside was that it tied our hands as well. The Russians are doing anything they can to expand their power. They are however, playing a dangerous game, because the Chechens are only beaten until someone gives them more guns.
FQ13

[Timothy]

Of course most of the US populace will never hear of this and never be told the dangers of it.  Sheeple!

I get a lot of this stuff through my alumni site for us "Secret Squirrel" types.  All unclassified BTW...if ya'll are interested, I can continue to post what might pique some interest.

No carrier in the Gulf means limited air support in the region if the Saudi's get hinky...

[shooter32]

I get a lot of this stuff through my alumni site for us "Secret Squirrel" types.  All unclassified BTW...if ya'll are interested, I can continue to post what might pique some interest.

No carrier in the Gulf means limited air support in the region if the Saudi's get hinky...

Absolutely Tim, keep them coming. Good stuff

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

I get a lot of this stuff through my alumni site for us "Secret Squirrel" types.  All unclassified BTW...if ya'll are interested, I can continue to post what might pique some interest.

No carrier in the Gulf means limited air support in the region if the Saudi's get hinky...

Please do !!

[Timothy]

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii —

The U.S. Navy has confirmed the wreckage of a sunken vessel found last year off the Aleutians Islands is that of the USS Grunion, which disappeared during World War II.

Underwater video footage and pictures captured by an expedition hired by sons of the commanding officer, Lt. Cmdr. Mannert L. Abele, allowed the Navy to confirm the discovery, Rear Adm. Douglas McAneny said Thursday in a news release.

McAneny said the Navy was very grateful to the Abele family.

"We hope this announcement will help to give closure to the families of the 70 crewmen of Grunion," he said.

The Grunion was last heard from July 30, 1942. The submarine reported heavy anti-submarine activity at the entrance to Kiska, and that it had 10 torpedoes remaining forward. On the same day, the Grunion was directed to return to Dutch Harbor Naval Operating Base. The submarine was reported lost Aug. 16, 1942.

Japanese anti-submarine attack data recorded no attack in the Aleutian area at the time of the Grunion's disappearance, so the submarine's fate remained an unsolved mystery for more than 60 years, the Navy said.

Abele's son's, Bruce, Brad and John, began working on a plan to find the sub after finding information on the Internet in 2002 that helped pinpoint USS Grunion's possible location.

In August 2006, a team of side scan sonar experts hired by the brothers located a target near Kiska almost a mile below the ocean's surface. A second expedition in August 2007 using a high definition camera on a remotely operated vehicle yielded video footage and high resolution photos of the wreckage.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,432102,00.html