US will respond if Iran blocks Strait of Hormuz

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle11.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2012/January/middleeast_January208.xml&section=middleeast

(AFP)

8 January 2012

WASHINGTON - The United States will respond if Iran tries to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz at the entrance to the Gulf, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned Sunday, saying such a move would cross a “red line.”

“We made very clear that the United States will not tolerate the blocking of the Straits of Hormuz,” Panetta told CBS television. “That’s another red line for us and that we will respond to them.”

Panetta was seconded by General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who said Iran has the means to close the waterway, through which 20 percent of the world’s oil passes.

“But we would take action and reopen the Straits,” the general said on the same show, “Face the Nation.”

[hack89]

1. Iran has no legal right to block the straits. It would be an act of war. nt

[surfdog]

2. And we can't stop them..

Even if we wanted

[hack89]

4. But they would pay an enormous price for it

the US would set their military back decades. Which is what the Arab countries really want - they are scared of a strong Iran. Iran knows this - they would not be that foolish to give us what we really want.

[surfdog]

6. I don't think it would ever escalate to that

Iran would pay financially for shutting off its own oil routes

But going to war with Iran ...I don't think so

[leveymg]

5. Assassination of Iranian scientists, sabotage, and terrorism against Iran were acts of war.

They didn't start this. The sanctions and embargos are further provocation.

We're headed into another "optional" war we and our "allies" in the region started, which will not be easy or cheap to end. Hope you enjoy your newer, bigger war.

[sarcasmo]

3. How high would a gallon of gas go?

6, 7, 8, 9 dollars a gallon?