In recent days the European Union and U.S. have followed the wisdom of Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th president, by speaking softly and carrying a big stick.

It was a united front; intended purely to send a clear and symbolic statement, and from all indications it appears that Iran's troublesome leadership got the message. According to Great Britain's Telegraph newspaper, Britain, America and France sent six warships through the highly sensitive waters of the Strait of Hormuz: The naval deployment, led by the USS Abraham Lincoln, a 100,000 ton aircraft carrier capable of embarking 90 aircraft, defied Iran's explicit threats to close the strait and passed through the channel without incident Sunday.

It was joined by the HMS Argyll, a frigate from the Royal Navy that served as an escort vessel making up the carrier battle group. Additionally, a guided missile cruiser and two destroyers from the U.S. Navy completed the flotilla along with one warship from the French Navy.

While all three countries maintain a permanent military presence in the Persian Gulf, the joint passage through the Strait of Hormuz by all of the respective navies is most unusual. The flotilla passed within a few miles of the Iranian coastline.

Earlier this month Iran's General Ataollah Salehi threatened to respond with "full force" if any U.S. naval carrier ventured into the region but has had time to reconsider what would be an act of instant suicide.

The USS Lincoln joined another carrier, the USS Carl Vinson which has been in the region for several months. The Telegraph noted that each of these Nimitz class vessels carries a complement of fighter aircraft with more striking power than the entire Iranian air force.

All U.S. warships deployed in the Gulf are controlled by the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain.