By Andrew L. Jaffee

…the maneuvers [by a huge U.S. naval contingent in the Persian Gulf] take place less than two weeks after Vice President Dick Cheney visited the region and informed Saudi King Abdullah and fellow Gulf rulers that President George W. Bush has determined that if Iran refuses to waive a nuclear weapon capability, the US will attack its nuclear, military and economic infrastructure before he leaves the White House in Jan. 2009. …

- DEBKAfile

The U.S. will attack Iran before Bush leaves office? Rumor? Speculation? Truth or dare. In early April, when Iran was holding British sailors hostage, a source cited by NewsMax.com revealed a divided Iranian regime, some of whose members became fearful of a growing American naval presence in the region, led by the USS Nimitz. Rumor or not, Iran did back down and release the British hostages. It is no rumor that the American military today flexed its muscles, just for Iran to see, and to show support for our allies in the region:

They sailed through the Strait of Hormuz by day - according to US Navy officials for training exercises. The vessels carry around 17,000 combat and marine personnel. They include the two aircraft carriers, USS Nimitz and USS Stennis, as well as the USS Bonhomme Richard LHD 6 Group, the world’s biggest amphibious strike force. Iran was not notified of the planned arrival. …

The U.S. Navy staged its latest show of military force off the Iranian coastline on Wednesday, sending two aircraft carriers and landing ships packed with 17,000 U.S. Marines and sailors to carry out unannounced exercises in the Persian Gulf.

The carrier strike groups led by the USS John C. Stennis and USS Nimitz were joined by the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard and its own strike group, which includes landing ships carrying members of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.