ESCHATOLOGY TODAY: Exercise Bold Alligator 2012

Exercise Bold Alligator 2012
By Sean Osborne


08 February 2012: Sure looks to me like we're witnessing the first operational stages of the literal fulfillment of Jeremiah 49:34-39. In preparation for seaborne combat in that region of the world Exercise Bold Alligator 2012 went into execution this week. Here are a couple of Israeli reports on this exercise.

DEBKAfile: "Bold Alligator 2012" drills 20,000 troops on US East Coast for Persian Gulf action

Key excerpt:

Some 20,000 marines, seamen and air crews from half a dozen countries, a US nuclear aircraft carrier strike group and three US Marine gunship carriers are practicing an attack on a fictitious mechanized enemy division which has invaded its neighbor. It is the largest amphibian exercise seen in the West for a decade, staged to simulate a potential Iranian invasion of an allied Persian Gulf country and a marine landing on the Iranian coast. Based largely on US personnel and hardware, French, British, Italian, Dutch, Australian and New Zealand military elements are integrated in the drill.


The Arutz Sheva (INN) report: Is Bold Alligator Eyeing Tehran?

Key excerpt:

The exercise scenario takes place in a fictional region known as “Treasure Coast,” with a country called Garnet, a theocracy, invading its neighbor to the north, Amberland, which calls for international help to repel the attack. While commanders say the scenario is not based on any particular country, observers note it includes the threat of mines, anti-ship missiles and small boats in coastal waters. Military analysts say such a scenario and foe bears a striking resemblance to Iran and its naval forces, as well as its likely strategy should Tehran move to close the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. When asked by reporters last week, Harvey (Admiral John Harvey, Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command) acknowledged that the exercise scenario was “certainly informed by recent history” and that it was “applicable” to the Strait of Hormuz, as well as other areas.

And this from the Navy Times "Scoop Deck": Operation Bold Alligator 2012 underway

Conceptually, the forces at sea are currently in the early stages of planning an attack on enemy forces from the fictional country of Garnet, a common enemy in what military officers call the “Treasure Coast” scenario. A mechanized Garnetian division has invaded the neighboring country of Amber, and is pushing north toward Amberland, which has asked for coalition assistance to stop advance. Garnet already has mined several harbors and established anti-ship missiles on the coastline, military officials said.

Analysis: If you ask me, the fictional country Garnet most definitely is the Islamic Republic of Iran and the fictional country Amber/Amberland that has been invaded - and please refer to the map I included above - is the Musandam Peninsula, also known as the Al Batinah coast on the Gulf of Oman, which is shared by both the UAE and Oman. Iran's military forces would need to take and hold that strategic peninsula in order to effectively have any chance of closing the Straits of Hormuz as they have repeatedly threatened. A coalition of nations as is currently exercising in Bold Alligator on the Virginia and North Carolina is precisely the kind of force that would be required to put an end to an Iranian invasion of that peninsula and to re-open the Strait of Hormuz.