The issue: 6,500 or so miles is a long way from home

Remember those joint Russian-Venezuelan naval maneuvers of 2008? Hands? No?

THE RUSSIAN FLEET consisted of a nuclear-powered missile cruiser, an antisubmarine vessel, a supply ship — and a tugboat, in case one of the other three broke down. The little fleet steamed around off the coast of Venezuela for nine days, then went off on a goodwill visit to Havana.

The Pentagon went to great lengths to conceal its massive indifference to the prospect of four Russian ships — two of them noncombatant — combined with the massive naval might of Venezuela.

Now a new naval menace is threatening to make its presence known off our shores.

In response to the continuing presence of “the world arrogant power” in the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean, Iran has announced that it will dispatch a naval force to the Atlantic Coast of the U.S. “to establish a powerful presence near the marine borders of the United States.”

According to Internet naval websites, the Iranian navy has no capital ships — such as aircraft carriers and cruisers — but only five frigates, three corvettes and 13 submarines. It does have lots of small fast-attack craft, which have proved a nuisance in the Gulf, but they tend to operate only in coastal waters.

THE IRANIAN NAVY has begun to expand operations, sending ships through the Suez Canal for the first time and sending subs to operate in international waters. Like other navies, Iran’s is preoccupied with protecting shipping from Somali pirates.

Operating 14 miles off the Jersey shore, even if only for a few days, would be a real stretch for Iran. The closest friendly ports are in Cuba and Venezuela. Theoretically, the U.S. Coast Guard could be called on in an emergency, but Tehran nixed the idea of a U.S.-Iran naval hotline.

In advance of this expedition, Iran might want to borrow Russia’s tanker and seagoing tug; 6,500 or so miles is a long way home.

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