The Musandam Peninsula, an exclave of Oman, jutted out from the much larger Arabian Peninsula into the middle of the Persian Gulf like a sharp spike, causing the inverted “V” shape that characterized the Strait of Hormuz. The small exclave was separated from the rest of Oman by the United Arab Emirates, meaning the tiny Omani garrison protecting the strategically important Peninsula located in the middle of the most important commercial sea lane in the world was cut off from support in the event of conflict. Of course, Oman had defense agreements with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other Gulf states who would, in a crisis, be expected to help Oman hold on to its distant exclave. But Captain Bishir knew these Gulf States were shaky allies at the best of times. All of them routinely experienced internal turmoil as their governments suppressed dissent from pro-democracy groups as well as extremist Muslim elements trying to spread their individual faiths. In reality, the only force Oman could count on to help defend the tiny peninsula was the American Fifth Fleet.
