And once Iran commits an act of war, we should respond not with escorts alone as we did in 1987-1988 during the Tanker War, but with immediate offensive action that sinks the Iranian fleet and destroys their air and missile forces. No proportionality, here. Hammer them until they have nothing left that sails or flies through the air.
And as long as we're in their air space, their nuclear facilities, too.
Well, by coincidence, the Navy is about to christen the USS Gridley:
The newest Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer, Gridley, will be christened on Saturday, Feb. 11 during an 11a.m., EST ceremony at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine.
The new destroyer honors Capt. Charles V. Gridley, U.S. Navy, (1844-1898), who commanded the protected cruiser USS Olympia (C 6) from 1895-1922. USS Olympia was the flagship of the Asiatic Squadron at the Battle of Manila Bay, which took place on May 1, 1898 during the Spanish-American War.
Despite being terminally ill, Gridley insisted on retaining command of USS Olympia as war loomed with Spain. Then-Commodore George Dewey’s simple phrase permitting him to open fire at Manila Bay was, “You may fire when you are ready, Gridley.” This phrase remains a famous moment in American naval history. Gridley died in Kobe, Japan, soon after the victory at Manila Bay.
If you are into reading the entrails of chickens, this is pretty interesting. Truly, you may fire when you are ready, Gridley.
