Retaliation for Strike on Saudi Oil Facilities

This article has been submitted to the Waco “Tribune-Herald” as a possible guest column.  It remains to be seen whether they will use it.  But this article does need to be seen by folks.  I have tried to ditch all the politics,  and just look at this with plain common sense.  This issue has gotten lost in the glare of the impeachment inquiry,  but it is still very important to resolve.

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There has been a missile strike upon Saudi Arabian oil facilities that came from a northern direction.  It did considerable damage,  and missile hardware has been salvaged from the strike location.  The consensus of opinion so far is that the Iranians launched this strike from Iranian territory,  despite official denials from the Iranian government.

That consensus of opinion so far is that this strike was literally an act of war committed upon the Saudis.  That demands some form of retribution,  something that must come from somebody!  The Saudis being the injured party,  that decision about what to do is upon them,  not anyone else!  I’m sorry,  but “them’s the facts” of the situation.

That consensus of opinion about the perpetrator of this act of war needs confirmation,  of course,  before any action is taken.  I applaud the restraint shown by all concerned,  so far.  But,  I have high confidence that this was indeed an act of war committed by the Iranians upon the Saudis! 

This is in keeping with a long history of competition between the two,  over who would dominate the region,  and with increasing Iranian desperation driven by the economic sanctions upon them.  These sanctions were in turn driven by their behavior.  The fault is no one else’s.

The Saudis,  despite their faults (which are many),  are a long-standing ally in the region.  We are obligated as their ally to support them in whatever they decide to do about this act of war committed upon them.  But,  we are NOT obligated to lead the retaliation,  or to form any coalitions to perform this retaliation,  or to take prime control of any these actions,  in any way whatsoever! 

This is a Saudi problem!  And unlike Kuwait in 1991,  they should be most capable of taking the lead in this,  having been the beneficiaries of hundreds of billions of dollars-worth of US defense aid over the last several decades. That being said,  maybe they bought some of the wrong stuff. 

What they so obviously needed,  and lacked,  was a way to send missiles back to Iran to “blow stuff up there” in retaliation.  As for incoming missile defense,  despite some of the claims to the contrary by our giant aerospace-defense contractors,  that is,  at best,  an “iffy” proposition.  Take it from me:  I worked in that business for over 2 decades.

All of this is easily rectified,  and quickly.  Give some retaliatory missiles to the Saudis,  and let them do whatever they deem necessary to retaliate for the Iranian strike.  But otherwise,  STAY OUT of this conflict!

That being said,  should the Iranians succeed in subsequently striking US assets in the region,  in any way at all,  then I recommend a fast unilateral US effort,  at the level of “extreme overkill”!  All is fair in love and war,  as the saying goes.  There is NO need to “fight fair”. 

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard has a naval base upon a known island in the disputed Persian Gulf area.  Destroy utterly and completely all life,  and facilities,  upon that island!  The Iranian Revolutionary Guard also has a known headquarters location in Teheran.  Destroy it utterly!  And simultaneously,  before anyone can escape!

Without the Iranian Revolutionary Guard,  the evil mullahs who rule Iran cannot stay in power!  THAT is regime change,  conducted from a standoff distance,  and without an American boot upon the ground!

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The following is a list of related earlier articles concerning threats we face from the middle east,  by date,  title,  and search filter keywords.  (North Korea and the Somali pirates are not included here.) To view one of these,  use the navigation tool on the left of this page.  First click on the year,  then the month,  then the title. 

8 April 2017,  “The Time Has Come to Deal with Iran and North Korea”,  current events,  Mideast threats,  north Korean rocket test

12 September 2015,  “Iran Nuclear Deal Nonsense”,  bad manners,  bad government,  current events,  idiocy in politics,  Mideast threats

28 August 2013,  “Death for Hasan”,  current events,  Mideast threats

28 August 2013,  “On Egypt’s Troubles”,  current events,  Mideast threats

25 September 2012,  “On Economic Depressions and Public Policy”,  current events,  Mideast threats,  idiocy in politics,  bad government

17 September 2012,  “Lethally-Dangerous Riots at US Embassies”,  current events,  Mideast threats

18 June 2012,  no title (critical of Taliban misbehavior),  current events,  Mideast threats

10 March 2012,  “On Iran and the Bomb”,  current events,  idiocy in politics,  Mideast threats

8 March 2012,  “Iran, Oil,  and Economies”,  current events,  idiocy in politics,  Mideast threats

2 May 2011,  “The Good,  the Bad,  and the Ugly”,  current events,  Mideast threats

4 February 2011,  “Oil Prices,  Recessions,  and the War”,  current events,  Mideast threats

14 March 2010,  “Drill Here,  Drill Now,  Pay Less?”,  idiocy in politics,  Mideast threats

4 March 2010,  “Addiction,  Monopolies,  and the Oil Price Weapon”,  idiocy in politics,  Mideast threats

25 January 2010,  “To Fight the War on Terror,  We Really Need to Know Our Enemy”,  idiocy in politics,  Mideast threats

15 June 2009,  “On the Election Unrest in Iran”,  Mideast threats