The only use for Afghanistan is poppy fields and most of the opium is funneled into Russia. For the USA It is a drain on the economy. You need to ask who and why is doing this. Note that Taliban wants to end all this.

War ships have been firing shots across the bow of other potentially hostile ships for centuries. It's good to have something between Nothing and Total Combat. It gives you some flexibility as a captain.

You do know that the US cost guard was in Iran's territorial waters.