Page 396 - Bluster News Today

Do harm to an already fragile global economy? >> i think that is the big risk. oil trading often moves in what seems to thome in irrational directions. a threat of a cutoff of oil over a substantial period of time is obviously something people are concerned about. there are ways to avoid even a partially successful block aid by pumping the oil across saudi arabia and the like but the threat of confusion to the markets and therefore disruption of the very fragile economic recovery is something pe...

They are taking it. iran is in a corner here for many reasons that charles said. congress and the obama administration seem to find a way forward on sanctions. the sanctions dont go in effect immediately. the president can waive them in interest of national security. that is part of the bargain. iran looks to bully and bluster their way to not get them imposed. if they want to close the strait of hormuz, that means war. i think a war they would lose. >> shannon: turn to another hot spot, syria. ...

Nations ambassador john bolton. ambassador, always good to see you. do the air rain was -- iranians have the ability to seal off the waterway or is it merely bluster and rhetoric? >> it is bluster in the context of the nuclear weapons program and prospect of israeli military strike. the iranian navy could close the straits for a very brief period of time but our navy planned for this contingency for a long time and really the closure would be very minimal and iran would suffer enorm husband mili...

What to do. they have been staging ten days of exercises near the strait. the passage way for one-sixth of the worlds oil supply. michael is now managing director of the washington institute. thanks for joining us. weve seen this sort of dance before a lot of bluster from iran. this time some u.s. officials particularly at the pentagon are taking it more seriously because iran is responding to the toughest economic sanctions ever. europe is poised to go after the central bank. greece and italy a...

Is the threat serious or just bluster? this is "andrea mitchell reports" only on msnbc.

>> yeah, michael, the presidents in a tough spot. >> he is in a tough spot. and i have a question for andrea, do you think given everything youve seen in this region and particularly with the escalation now in iraq, is iran hankering for a fight? are they looking to mix it up a little bit? to see where exactly the new lines are being drawn by the west whether its respect to israel or oil, whatever it happens to be? >> they very well could be. thats why there is some real concern this is not just...

support him. hes followed by ron paul at 22%. rick santorum is now third with 16%. newt gingrich is at 14%. michele bachmann is on the campaign trail in des moines right now, a day after one of her high profile advisers defected. bachmann is likely to face questions about the decision by state senator ken sorenson to jump ship and throw his support behind ron paul. were keying an eye on bachmanns media event and well take you there live for some of the q and a session. he may be th...

Is exercising around the straights of hormuz and i think theyre trying to ratchet up the impression that theyre prepared to do almost anything militarily to protect themselves. i think in this case as well theyre trying to intimidate the obama administration and many european countries that dont want to see those sanctions increased. jon: well the u.s. navys fifth fleet has answered as i said saying that any closure of the strait of hormuz will not be tolerated. the fifth fleet could essentially...

They are taking it. iran is in a corner here for many reasons that charles said. congress and the obama administration seem to find a way forward on sanctions. the sanctions dont go in effect immediately. the president can waive them in interest of national security. that is part of the bargain. iran looks to bully and bluster their way to not get them imposed. if they want to close the strait of hormuz, that means war. i think a war they would lose. >> shannon: turn to another hot spot, syria. ...

Go straited up. phil, we saw a drop today because everyone thinks iran will not follow-through. was that a huge mistake people are making? >>guest: well, i dont think so. to be honest. the iranians better think twice. one of the reasons why you saw oil prices go down today was that the 5th fleet of the u.s. navy took exception to some of the bluster from iran they could shut down down the states of hormuz as easy as drinking a cup of water. but, dagen, this is the most important choke point for ...