Gulf War Games Target Nuclear Smuggling (Iran)

[jpak]

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/w-me/2006/oct/29/102907367.html

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - A naval training exercise led by the United States and aimed at blocking smuggling of nuclear weapons began Sunday in the Persian Gulf.

The six-nation maneuvers off the coast of Iran are the first of their kind since North Korea's Oct. 9 nuclear test and U.N. sanctions that called on the international community to conduct searches at sea to ensure the reclusive communist nation is not secretly expanding its nuclear program.

The practice interception also comes at a time when the U.S. is seeking support for sanctions against Iran for its nuclear program. On Friday, Iran stepped up its uranium enrichment program, according to a semiofficial news agency.

U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Charlie Brown, spokesman for the Bahrain-based U.S. Fifth Fleet, said the exercise was not aimed at a specific country and would not affect Iranian vessels or ships heading to Iran.

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[DemoTex]

1. Practice interception or deliberate provocation?

Time will tell.

[jpak]

2. I would lean toward provovcation - everyone knows what's going on

especially the Iranians:

"We are watching their movements, very carefully," Hosseini said.

:nuke: