Getting hung-up on who is and isn't "democratic" probably doesn't make it any easier.
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Iran Detains 10 U.S. Navy Personnel
- Thread starter HH-60H
- Start date
Good luck finding that herd of unicorns
Yeah, 1.7 billion people are all a bunch of screaming lunatics.
Saw this interview last week - Charlie Rose with Mike Morell (former Deputy Director, CIA). Has a pretty succinct overview of the various Middle East issues and the other national security challenges the next President will face.
Great interview. I learned a lot. From a news media perspective, this is the least biased thing I've seen in a while.
I am not sure about Morell's proposal to have the U.S. Navy actively halt Iranian arms shipments to the Houthi in Yemen through VBSS in the Gulfs of Persia/Aden. Morell labels the arms shipments "Iran misbehavior." Fundamentally, I am not sure we can claim any moral high ground. We (the U.S.) have been providing arms to the anti-Assad forces in/around Syria for years for the purposes of overthrowing Assad's government. Kinda similar to Iran's Houthi support, no?
I am not saying Assad is not a bad guy, or the Houthi should control Yemen, but the world notices when we pass judgment on Iran for the same thing we do next door. We protect our interests - but the juice is not always worth the squeeze.
That said, Morell in that interview did not have the benefit of watching the thaw in relations with Iran this past week. U.S. sailors released, Iran prisoners released, Iran assets unfrozen by the U.S., etc. It would be a huge setback (and send more mixed signals than a college freshman) if the Navy started VBSS ops against Iran's Houthi arms shipments tomorrow.
CENTCOM (NAVCENT) preliminary report. How much are you willing to bet that they were all up to date on Trafficking in Persons, SAPR, hazing, and government credit card training? Just not so much on that whole navigation thing.
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I was being snarky. I meant that the President made the mistake of not just claiming UNCLOS something other than a treaty, and rejecting the requirement it need senate approval. Something like he did with the latest Iranian agreement.
Since you brought up how long UNCLOS has sat in the Executive Branch without being sent for a Senate vote, it is worth noting that during that time the Senate composition has varied a good bit. It would seem that both DEM controlled senates and GOP controlled senates could not get the votes to ratify UNCLOS. Lots of debate, study and analysis has taken place. The Senate hasn't bought off on it for many years with various leadership trying to move it along. Has to be a reason. It seems beyond pure politics. For me, I am satisfied the system is working.
I honestly don't think there is any way that anyone could claim UNCLOS is not a treaty. Unless you were Donald Trump, then reality doesn't have to apply.
Is that Flava Flav's new clock?
Lieutenant Flav.
http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/...celestial-navigation-1014-20151009-story.html
Edit: Though, it wouldn't have made a lick of difference in the recent Farsi Island incident.
