The Red Sea Production of Resolve Theater continues. America pretends to deter murderous enemies. Our murderous enemies don't play along.
Since the orgy of rape, murder, torture, and kidnapping that rolled out of Gaza into Israel a little under 10 months ago, the United States Navy has led a halting international naval force, interestingly called Operation Prosperity Guardian (OPG), into the Red Sea to - well - guard prosperity, I presume.
A lesser included mission in OPG, intended or not, is to demonstrate the deterrent power of Western sea power against the quasi-piratical Houthi forces attacking international shipping passing to and from the Suez Canal.
The funny thing about deterrence is that if you don’t do it properly, or worse balk at it, you create exactly the opposite conditions from what you wanted.
In the last Weekend Data Dump I had several entries on the Red Sea Resolve Theater:
Huh: "The Houthi forces who have been attacking shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden lack a center of gravity, making for deterrence by U.S and partner forces difficult, the commander of U.S. naval forces in the Middle East said in a webinar." Really? Don't deter! And of course they have a center of gravity.
And:
Huh: "U.S. forces have launched roughly 800 missiles and seven rounds of air strikes against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels that have controlled Yemen since November in what has become the most sustained military campaign by American forces since the anti-ISIS air war[.]" Sustained? Prolonged? Whatever.
And:
About that center of gravity the Houthi supposedly lack: "Speaking at a virtual event on Wednesday, Vice Adm. George Wikoff, commander of Naval Forces Central Command, said the Houthis are well armed and have strong and consistent supply lines into Iran, 'and are looking for a reason to use it.'"
Protecting sea trade is important. But we won't.
As I always say, using force isn't counter-productive. Ineffective use of force is counter-productive. That might as well be the Navy's mission statement.
NOTE: TDR Winter War of 2022 coverage continues here.
NOTE: I'm adding updates on the Last Hamas War in this post.NOTE: I'm now on Substack, with The Dignified Rant: Evolved.