03.31.07

Rumors of war– more

Posted in Rad-Green, you've got mail at 4:44 pm by nemo

From Rad-Green

UK doubles naval presence in Persian Gulf

By Damien McElroy in Manama, Bahrain
Last Updated: 1:34am GMT 26/02/2007

Britain’s senior naval officer in the Persian Gulf has revealed that
Royal Navy deployments in the region have doubled since October in a
build-up that matches the rapid escalation of American maritime
firepower.

Prince Charles meets Royal Marines during a visit today to Royal Navy
Frigate HMS Sutherland at the Bahrain Naval base
Prince Charles meets Royal Marines during a visit today to HMS
Sutherland in Bahrain

Commodore Keith Winstanley, who serves as deputy commander of
coalition maritime operations for US Central Command, has told The
Daily Telegraph that British trade and strategic interests dictate the
necessity of a high and sustained commitment to patrol the seas around
the Middle East.

“If you look at the UK component we have almost doubled it,” he said
in an interview aboard HMS Sutherland in Mina al-Salman port.

“Most of these ships are here on training missions but there is no
doubt that we could use the warfighting capabilities they possess.”

Cdre Winstanley said there was a message for Iran in the expansion of
the coalition fleet in the waters of the Persian Gulf, Sea of Oman and
Arabian Sea.
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More ships on patrol would have strategic effects that went beyond the
operational benefits of increased patrols.

Royal Navy commanders insist the build-up in the Gulf has not been
ordered by the Ministry of Defence in direct response to Teheran’s
pursuit of an atomic weapons programme in defiance of a United Nations
Security Council resolution.

But there are hopes that additional vessels will intensify pressure on
the regime in Tehran to abandon its nuclear activities.

The additional Royal Navy vessels sent to the Gulf include HMS
Cornwall, a type 22 frigate, two mine sweepers, HMS Ramsey and HMS
Blythe, and a vessel from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

The British ships will work in an American-led coalition of naval
vessels, which has expanded rapidly in recent weeks with the arrival
of a second aircraft carrier battle group, led by USS Stennis.

A Brief look at British violations of Iranian territory
Tehran, March 29, IRNA

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Let’s have a brief look at violations of Iranian territory by the
British armed forces:

1. British unmanned reconnaissance plane RPV violated Iranian airspace
in northeastern Abadan in June 2004 and was hit by Iranian
anti-aircraft guns. RPV debris is available.

2. At 11 O’clock local time on June 22, 2004, three British speed
boats with eight navy personnel on board trespassed Iranian borders
and were arrested by Iranian coast guards.

3. At 21:30 local time on November 1, 2006, two British Black awks
(choppers) from Royal Navy hovered at the height of 150 meters at
47,700-17,400 coordinates on Khorramshahr map (Pole-No: new bridge)
violating Iranian airspace and they entered Iraqi territory through
62,500-15,500 coordinates after 10 minutes.

4. On January 27, 2007 a British helicopter flew over mouth of
Arvandrud (Arvand river) and violated Iran’s airspace and they left
the area after a warning from Iranian coast guards.

5. Three British Navy boats entered Khor Mousa mouth in Iranian
territorial waters on February 28, 2007.

The sixth was trespass of two British Navy boats with 15 marines on
board into Iranian territorial waters at Arvandrud which led to their
arrest by Iranian coast guards.

Text of Iran’s Letter to British Envoy

The Associated Press
Friday, March 30, 2007; 7:36 AM

– The following is the text of an Iranian Foreign Ministry letter
handed to the British ambassador in Tehran, according to IRNA, Iran’s
state news agency.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran
presents its compliments to the British Embassy in Tehran and draws
the attention of the latter to the following:

According to the information received from relevant authorities of the
Islamic Republic of Iran, two British naval vessels manned by 15 fully
equipped crews trespassed on Iran’s territorial waters on 3 Farvardin
1386 (March 23, 2007). Since similar acts had taken place in the past
and prior warning had been given against the repetition of such acts,
the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran protests strongly
against this illegal act in violating Iranian territorial waters,
emphasizes the respect for the rules and principles of international
law concerning the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states,
underlines the responsibility of the British Government for the
consequences of such violation, and calls for the guarantee to avoid
the recurrence of such acts.

It will be appreciated if the esteemed embassy conveys this note to
the relevant authorities of its government and informs this Ministry
of any explanation in this regard.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran avails
itself of this opportunity to renew to the British Embassy the
assurances of its highest considerations.”

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