US 'Concerns' Over Iranian Drills: The Great Performance in the Gulf
📰 THE STORY: Al Jazeera reports Iran announcing live-fire naval drills near US warships, prompting warnings from the US Army about 'unsafe' maneuvers in the Persian Gulf, framing it as rising tensions. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: In 1988, the USS Vincennes shot down Iran Air Flight 655, killing all 290 civilians, including 66 children, over Iranian territorial waters. The
US has never apologized or offered full compensation, instead, the captain received a Legion of Merit award. This occurred in a region thousands of miles from US shores, where the US Navy continues to maintain a persistent, often aggressive, presence as part of its 'global power projection.' Double Standard: Imagine Iran conducting 'live-fire' naval drills a mere 12 miles off the coast of Florida,
or sailing warships through the Gulf of Mexico. The response from the US and international media would be an immediate, apoplectic outcry about 'aggression' and 'provocation.' Yet, when the US Navy patrols Iran's literal backyard for decades, it's simply 'maintaining security' and upholding 'freedom of navigation,' despite Iran's maritime boundaries. Follow the Money: The continued demonization of
Iran and the narrative of perpetual threat in the Persian Gulf directly benefits the US military-industrial complex and its allies. US arms sales to Gulf monarchies, often nervous about Iranian influence (and encouraged to be so), hit an estimated $60 billion in 2022 alone. Companies like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon profit massively from the manufactured tensions, ensuring a constant demand for