Tag Archives: Iran

Gulf of Hormuz Lockoff

Earlier this year, as tensions over the nuclear missile crisis in Iran began to rise, Iran threatened to shut off all travel through the Gulf of Hormuz. The Gulf of Hormuz is the biggest transportation means of oil in the world. Iran’s economy is largely dependent on oil exports so why would they want to shut down the biggest method of exportation of oil? On February 14, 2012, the USS Abraham Lincoln passed through the Strait of Hormuz during a time when Iran said they were doing nuclear missile testing and warned foreign countries to stay clear of the Strait.

Apart from doing a routine oil run, was there any ulterior motive by the U.S? They had all hands on the ship in General Quarters which means that they should be ready to move to their battle stations quickly. In addition, the USS Abraham Lincoln had its F/A-18 fighter pilots ready to launch within 15 minutes. They also had helicopters escort them through the Gulf of Hormuz. Was all this extra preparation just due to the warning or was the USS Abraham Lincoln trying to purposely disrupt Iran’s missile testing? Or were we showing them that nuclear missiles wouldn’t work in a war.

~Darren Barile

North Korea’s New Step Foward

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The nuclear club is the unofficial name for the group of nations around the world who possess nuclear weapons, and North Korea has been in this club since 2003. It has expanded its nuclear arsenal to around 6-8 nuclear weapons, despite the United Nations’ best effort to prevent this. But with North Korea’s new leader, Kim Jong-un, North Korea has temporarily delayed the production of its nukes-instead taking a huge step forward-trying again to produce a long range missile, which would be able to carry nuclear weapons, up into space. To try to stop North Korea, US Foreign Minister Hillary Clinton said, “If Pyongyang goes forward [with the launch] we will all be back in the Security Council to take further action.” North Korea did not waver, and this missile was launched and flew for one minute before it plunged into the Pacific Ocean on April 13th, 2012.

But what’s the fuss actually all about? North Korea does have nuclear weapons, but how many? 6 to 8. The United States has had 32,000 nuclear weapons at its peak, whereas the Soviet Union/Russian Federation has had 45,000. Not only that, but the power of each of the nuclear weapons is the same as a  World War II era nuclear weapon of the U.S. So why is everyone actually worried about North Korea’s nuclear and satellite program? Other countries exactly like North Korea are not getting criticized this heavily. Iran, for example, has had three SUCCESSFUL launches of satellite rockets already. It also has a nuclear program. Why don’t we see it in the news? And its not like the U.N. criticism and sanctions is doing anything. North Korea has given up 240,000 tons of food aid when it needs it the most-between when there is a new harvest and when the winter stores are used up, for a rocket launch. Other than food, the U.N. has no other leverage over North Korea. North Korea only has two sources of nuclear grade plutonium, and it can produce around 5 nukes a year. Big deal. Therefore, I think that U.N. efforts should go towards making North Koreans’ life better, instead of trying to control something it can’t.

~  Shangda Xu

Today’s Politicians

Irresponsible! This day and age has brought along a group of people that I consider to be a joke. These so-called “politicians” can’t make up their own mind, relinquish social missiles towards each other (especially within their own parties), and are “real great” with the simple fact of remembering their own three promises; which most of them as president won’t even follow through with. And it’s both parties too! Both Democrats and Republicans lack a great consistency of knowledge. One of the possible 2012 candidates claims they’re ready to nuke Iran if he is elected for the four year stay in Washington. Great right…

You would think with around 250 years as an independent country we might stay united within at least our own political parties, or maybe gain a better perspective of everywhere and everything from our neighboring states to countries across the globe. What this country needs is somebody who’s dedicated to running it. Somebody who presents intellectual ideas beneficial to us as a country, who stands by their decisions and takes full credit for their actions, who is decisive in a positive manner, who supports their colleagues and peers, and one who can hopefully count to three (not to name anyone ^). Hopefully whoever is elected this coming November can suit the necessary requirements.

~Zach Feldman

Possible Iran Assassination on U.S. Soil

Iran has been blamed for an assassination attempt of the Saudi Arabian ambassador. President Barack Obama said on Thursday October 13th “officials at the highest levels” of the Iranian government must be held accountable for a brazen and bizarre plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the U.S. on American soil.” Iran denied having been involved in the assassination attempt but the evidence is pointing to them. Even Barack Obama believes that Iran was involved in the assassination. U.S. officials claimed that it was a clumsy but serious offense against both the U.S. and Saudi Arabia.The assassination was committed by Iran’s foreign action unit Quds Force. Countries that believe action should be taken against Iran for their involvement include Britain, Germany, and some other European Nations.

My personal opinion is Iran would be dumb to try this and even dumber to get caught. I think this because they seem like they would be able to do this and it would take longer for them to get caught. I also think that they would know not to commit an attempted assassination on U.S. soil. I think that Iran was framed for the assassination because they seem like they would be smarter than that. This is what I think happened with the Iran assassination attempt.

~Andrew Goggin