In my last post I outlined my confusion over a video report on CNN that showed Iraqi military helicopters on an airstrip in Oman. At least for me it is rare to find answers to questions like this awareness, but my daily reading of the San Jose Mercury News payed off.
On October 6th, 1980, on page three, left column which usually has 4 to 5 little short info articles, I found this topic titled that quickly got my attention. Posted at bottom of this blog posting.
“Iraq try for islands vetoed by, Oman”©
October 6th, 1980 Courtesy of the San Jose Mercury News
It was only 4 four long sentences, but it gave me the clarity I needed. However, it made me realize that the three-week-old war as of this date, could have been expanded into what is considered a highly critical passageway for oil tankers going to nearly every industrial country on the planet.
This article it turns out was the first 4 sentences of a more complete report, which can be found at: https://www.upi.com/Archives/1980/10/06/Iraq-dropped-plans-to-capture-three-tiny-but-strategically/8824339652800/
The full article confirms in more detail the role the Sultan of Oman played in making this event happen. That it was the actions of the British government that made it clear to him of the strategic dangers of such an attack, and that it might quickly fail, and leave Oman under attack by Iran.
This article does not point out what has of deep concern to me then in 1980, and today for historical reasons should be debated today.
What was the implications if this attack had taken place, towards the flow of oil; would this disruption have compelled the U.S. Navy to take more direct military action against the Iranian navy?
I leave it to the experts to think through the nuanced, complex implications of this threat to U.S. national security. However, the few experts that I have showed this to and asked them about, told me it never happened. Strange that U.P.I. would create such a detailed form of “Fake News”. I have also given this article below, with my header map of the Strait of Hormuz, to 100plus experts since the terrorist attack called 9/11. Not a single one has provided me any feedback about this event, which is another great mystery to me, and why I am doing this blog.
Next posting, a few of my experiences talking to national security experts about this article, their reactions. Peter Jesella
“Iraq try for islands vetoed by, Oman”©
October 6th, 1980 Courtesy of the San Jose Mercury News
LONDON (UPI) – Iraq dropped plans to capture three tiny but strategically Important Iranian islands in the Strait of Hormuz just a few hours before the attack last week because Oman withdrew its full support, British military sources said Monday.
Iraqi helicopters already had flown troops across the Persian Gulf to Oman and were poised to pounce from there on the three islands from which the flow of oil tankers through the strait – carrying 40 per cent of Western imports – can be controlled.
The sources said frantic diplomatic efforts were made by Britain to get Sultan Qaboos bin Said to make the Iraqis change their minds about the raid, which could have expanded the war to one of the most strategically sensitive areas in the world.
The islands were taken over by the late Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi of Iran in 1971. Their return to Arab control was one of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s three announced goals when he launched his attack on Iran three weeks ago.
