US braces for closure of oil passage

from PressTV:

The US Navy says it is carrying out a maneuver in the Persian Gulf to master the guarding of maritime oil and gas infrastructures.

“The aim of Exercise Stake Net is to practice the tactics and procedures of protecting maritime infrastructure, such as gas and oil installations,” said Commodore Peter Hudson in a US Fifth Fleet statement released Monday.

“Stake Net seeks to help ensure a lawful maritime order as well as improve relationships between regional partners,” reads the statement.

Two American warships as well as a Bahraini and a British vessel are partaking in the exercise, Reuters reported.

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US generals ‘will quit’ if Bush orders Iran attack

reposted from the Times Online:

Michael Smith and Sarah Baxter, Washington

SOME of America’s most senior military commanders are prepared to resign if the White House orders a military strike against Iran, according to highly placed defence and intelligence sources.

Tension in the Gulf region has raised fears that an attack on Iran is becoming increasingly likely before President George Bush leaves office. The Sunday Times has learnt that up to five generals and admirals are willing to resign rather than approve what they consider would be a reckless attack.

“There are four or five generals and admirals we know of who would resign if Bush ordered an attack on Iran,” a source with close ties to British intelligence said. “There is simply no stomach for it in the Pentagon, and a lot of people question whether such an attack would be effective or even possible.”

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