Gunboat Diplomacy

Via the AP and yet another "anonymous official":

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon is considering a buildup of Navy forces in the Persian Gulf as a show of force against Iran, a senior defense official said Tuesday.

Speaking on condition of anonymity because the idea has not been approved, the official said one proposal is to send a second aircraft carrier to the region amid increasing tensions with Iran, blamed for encouraging sectarian violence in neighboring Iraq as well as allegedly pursuing a nuclear weapons program.

...Bush administration officials have repeatedly declined to rule out the use of force against Iran, though they have also said their first choice is to rely on diplomacy.

The idea of building up U.S. Navy forces has been discussed over some time and it's unclear when a decision will be made, the defense official said.

So, this one's an offical leak so the uber-right will be OK with that...

But honestly, the Pentagon is telling Bush he should forget his "surge" in Iraq unless he can come up with a better plan than "stay and bleed" but are happy to send an entire carrier strike group with no better plan than rattling sabers?

Is it me, or is that "illogical, Captain"?