Saber-Rattling 101

Iran and the United States have stepped up their saber-rattling this season with some arguments over the Strait of Hormuz. This strait is important to the world because of the oil that goes out of it, some 40% of the world's supply. Iran did some military exercises and threatened an American carrier. America tightened the sanctions sending Iran's economy into a downward spiral. The tensions are mounting and emotions are running high. Neither side wants a war. President Obama is working on drawing down American involvement in the Middle East from a military level and a war with Iran would not be a quick little jaunt into nation decimation. For its part, Iran has shown some new shiny missiles that could target American bases, but the end result would be utter destruction on a scale of Alexandrian conquest. But, as this probably will not escalate into war it is appropriate to look at some great saber-rattling throughout history.

1) In the Cromwell era of England the Parliamentarians were assisted by the Netherlands navy. The Netherlands had been aided by England for some time and the Dutch saw fit to return the favor. But the Royalist Navy had pummeled the Dutch Navy, especially near the Isles of Scilly. Finally the Dutch Admiral Maarten Harptszoon Tromp landed on the isles and demanded reparations for the damages done to the Dutch navy. When he was rebuffed he declared war on this and this part of England only resulting in a war that has become known as the three hundred and thirty-five year's war. No shots were ever fired and peace finally came in 1986. So some saber-rattling in 1651 started a tension building situation, but there was further saber-rattling in the peace treaty as well when Rein Huydecoper the Dutch ambassador came to the Isles of Scilly and said, "it must have been harrowing to the Scillonians to know we could have attacked at any moment". Saber-rattling par excellence.

2) In 1861 the New York hamlet of Town Line (near Buffalo) voted to secede from the Union and join the Confederate States of America. The town sent five soldiers to fight for Robert E. Lee. Ultimate saber-rattling.

3) During World War II the dictator of the Dominican Republic, Rafael Trujillo declared war on Hitler's Germany. When Hitler was informed of this he called for a map to be brought to his table so he could locate his new enemy. When he found the island nation he took out a marker and drew a big "X" over the island. That's a humiliating saber-rattling.

Let's hope that the current saber-rattling between Iran and the USA can be solved with markers too.