Iran is obviously taunting the US because its leadership believes that the US will remain impotent in this regard. And it may be correct.

President Trump says that and American response to the attack upon five percent of the world's oil supply (in Saudi Arabia) will be a "proportionate" one.

Why?

Why not simply kick Iran in the teeth (or even in an unmentionable place), as a warning that it is really a bad idea to mess with the West?

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"In his second inaugural address, [Franklin D.] Roosevelt sought 'unimagined power' to enforce the 'proper subordination' of private power to public power. He got it…"—George Will, July 8, 2007

I'm still on the fence...

IF we go the "retaliatory" route, I agree with your last sentence...You don't do "tit for tat"...You retaliate to a point where they wouldn't even THINK about pulling any stunts again...

BUT!...This attack was on a Saudi ship...Saudi Arabia should be attacking (at the very least) with us, if not doing so without us...We would back them, but they should be putting their military people an resources out there before we lift a finger...

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"You get the respect that you give" - cnredd

Exactly. Saudi Arabia is more than capable of dealing with this incident militarily. We have supplied them with the military hardware to defend themselves in the region. It is about time that they and others in the area, put their resources and troops in harms way and defend themselves instead of leaving that task to us. Maybe if they did and began showing more of a backbone in these issues, the bad actors in their neighborhood wouldn't be so willing to act out as Iran is now.

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To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead - Thomas Paine

A lie doesn't become truth, a wrong doesn't become right, and Evil doesn't become good, just because it is accepted by the majority. - Booker T Washington

Iran, and much of the rest of the world, is assuming the old sheriff is still in charge. And sadly they may be at least partially correct.

Having said that, Saudi is not the West. We need to be ever diligent in picking our battles.

I agree with all of the responses, above.

I have just become weary of a regime that believes that continual chants of "Death to America!" and "America is the Great Satan!"--as well as frequent harassment of western ships by its boats.

Barack Obama made the enormous mistake of supposing that Iran could be brought into the civilized-world community through appeasement.

For 40 years now--ever since the Khomeinist Revolution--Iran has remained a bad actor, and an intractable enemy of all things Western.

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"In his second inaugural address, [Franklin D.] Roosevelt sought 'unimagined power' to enforce the 'proper subordination' of private power to public power. He got it…"—George Will, July 8, 2007

I'm sorry where's the evidence that Iran did anything?

Trump colluding with Russia and Iran attack people Saudi Oil fields?
At least with Trump the accusers started an investigation... which found nothing.
here folks are ready to give "A "proportionate" response to Iran" before we even know the facts?

what's up with that?

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"It is proper to take alarm at the first experiment on our liberties.
The freeman of America did not wait till usurped power had strengthened itself by exercise, and entangled the question in precedents."
..James Madison
.
"Live as free people, yet without employing your freedom as a pretext for wickedness; but live at all times as servants of God."
..1 Peter 2:16

BTW, even if... which is highly UNlikely... Iran did attack a Saudi oil field.
wouldn't the Saudis be the ones who should mount a A "proportionate" response to Iran?
Is there any OTHER reason why we have to stick our Blood and money in every skirmish in the M.E.?... or the rest of the world?

We were not attacked folks. what do we have to prove?
Why do we think we have to teach foreign countries half way round the world "a lesson"? WTH?

__________________
.
"It is proper to take alarm at the first experiment on our liberties.
The freeman of America did not wait till usurped power had strengthened itself by exercise, and entangled the question in precedents."
..James Madison
.
"Live as free people, yet without employing your freedom as a pretext for wickedness; but live at all times as servants of God."
..1 Peter 2:16

According to news reports that I heard, the Dept Of Defense has concluded the missiles were launched from southern Iran. I don't know as I don't have the evidence in front of me, they do. Therefore, I will have to take their word for it.

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To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead - Thomas Paine

A lie doesn't become truth, a wrong doesn't become right, and Evil doesn't become good, just because it is accepted by the majority. - Booker T Washington

I believe that most posters agree with this. I'm not quite sure who you are trying to convince.

__________________
To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead - Thomas Paine

A lie doesn't become truth, a wrong doesn't become right, and Evil doesn't become good, just because it is accepted by the majority. - Booker T Washington

I'm trying to find out the why so many posters are itching to go to war with Iran... (or Syria, or NK etc..)
I ask these very basic questions and don't get many honest answers that justify any U.S. military attacks, invasions of 3rd rate foreign countries or war.

It's almost like,
if some country does something we don't like,
hen we think that we MUST start some military action.
It like a knee jerk mental response egged on by establishment and neo-con politicians that many on the left and right seem to buy into without real reflection.
As if our nation is somehow in some horrific danger if we don't aggressively bomb or invade the crap out of various small countries from time to time.

__________________
.
"It is proper to take alarm at the first experiment on our liberties.
The freeman of America did not wait till usurped power had strengthened itself by exercise, and entangled the question in precedents."
..James Madison
.
"Live as free people, yet without employing your freedom as a pretext for wickedness; but live at all times as servants of God."
..1 Peter 2:16