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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Small Iranian boats taunt US warship in Gulf |
| 2008-04-12 |
| Iranian boats engaged in a ”mild” and “taunting” confrontation with a US warship in the Gulf, CNN television reported Friday. Late Thursday the three small Iranian boats approached the U.S.S. Typhoon, the report said. “One of those Iranian boats coming within 200 yards of the navy boat,” CNN reported, “leading the crew onboard the “Typhoon’ to fire a warning flare.” “The Iranians were manning in a taunting manner,” CNN said citing an unnamed US official. In January five Iranian speed boats approached three US Navy war ships in the same area, fuelling tension between the two countries. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #15 DB: I thought of the EXACT same scene! I was actually surprised the mods hadn't inserted a still photo of that scene in the post already. |
| Posted by: BA 2008-04-12 21:51 |
| #14 One has to ask, "What does this gain the Iranians". It's like chest beating among Gorillas or the "counting coup" with native Americans. I think this is no more than trying to show the Iranian populace haw they can come so close to an American Warship and nothing happens. Bravado and nothing more. Reminds me of the scene in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" when the French soldier says, "Come back and I will taunt you a second time". |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2008-04-12 20:45 |
| #13 Yikes - moderators please remedy. Sorry for the brief spell of Foster Brooks syndrome. |
| Posted by: Harcourt Jush7795 2008-04-12 17:53 |
| #12 Bad stutter you've got there Jush. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2008-04-12 16:53 |
| #11 I wonder about the reporting of this incident and reaction to it. Seems fishier than appears, perhaps to the extent that we're testing Persian ROE. Also, I believe the Typhoon is still USN, rather than USGS, but in any event it is a smallish coastal patrol ship, probably as fast and maneuverable as anything the Iranians are piloting. Combine this with our air and space resources, and I suspect we're just picking up data points for future naval activity in Iranian shallows. Course, the first time one of he "small" Iranian craft actually does something, we better have operation "Sea Sterilization" ready to unravel. |
| Posted by: Harcourt Jush7795 2008-04-12 14:44 |
| #10 I wonder about the reporting of this incident and reaction to it. Seems fishier than appears, perhaps to the extent that we're testing Persian ROE. Also, I believe the Typhoon is still USN, rather than USGS, but in any event it is a smallish coastal patrol ship, probably as fast and maneuverable as anything the Iranians are piloting. Combine this with our air and space resources, and I suspect we're just picking up data points for future naval activity in Iranian shallows. Course, the first time one of he "small" Iranian craft actually does something, we better have operation "Sea Sterilization" ready to unravel. |
| Posted by: Harcourt Jush7795 2008-04-12 14:44 |
| #9 I wonder about the reporting of this incident and reaction to it. Seems fishier than appears, perhaps to the extent that we're testing Persian ROE. Also, I believe the Typhoon is still USN, rather than USGS, but in any event it is a smallish coastal patrol ship, probably as fast and maneuverable as anything the Iranians are piloting. Combine this with our air and space resources, and I suspect we're just picking up data points for future naval activity in Iranian shallows. Course, the first time one of he "small" Iranian craft actually does something, we better have operation "Sea Sterilization" ready to unravel. |
| Posted by: Harcourt Jush7795 2008-04-12 14:43 |
| #8 The MM are testing and learning our ROE. We should not have ROE that allow hostile vessels within 200 yards of one of our vessels on the high seas. Period. If we announced and followed such a policy consistently, it would not be a confrontation, it would be a consequence. Allowing this to go on does not give us the initiative, it gives them the initiative. The Navy gives us great leaders like "Fox" Fallon,who abandons a command in wartime and doesn't have the gumption to explain to American parents why he is no longer willing to lead their children into war. The Navy can't design or build a ship at an affordable price. Right now the Navy appears to be rudderless. They need to get their act together and understand that without command of the sea, we're going to lose any war we're in. And they seem to no longer have the will or the means to establish command of the sea for the next 50 years. I am very disappointed in the USN as would be Jones, Lawrence, Decatur, Preble, Truxton or Porter. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2008-04-12 14:18 |
| #7 We don't need a confrontation right now. Whatever we're going to do with Iran, it should be on our schedule and not theirs. The Mad Mullahs™ are hoping for an over-reaction on our part, so that's what we shouldn't give them. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2008-04-12 13:50 |
| #6 Actually was a Coast Guard ship. Being professional. |
| Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839 2008-04-12 09:23 |
| #5 It's one thing to hold back, it's another to let them get to within 200 yards in the open water. Didn't they learn anything from the Cole? Or the Brits? Not enough people fear the USN. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2008-04-12 08:37 |
| #4 Nimble S: I have been thinking that US troops are holding back, pending a major operation aimed at toppling the Ayatollahs. The problem is: I have been thinking that for 3 years. And winter is coming to a close. Foiled again. |
| Posted by: McZoid 2008-04-12 08:34 |
| #3 The Navy needs a spine injection. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2008-04-12 08:31 |
| #2 Small Iranian boats taunt US warship in Gulf how bout some barrels of old fermented fish guts? Invite them over and Hose em down wid juicy sashimi sauce! YUMMMMY :) |
| Posted by: RD 2008-04-12 04:07 |
| #1 200 yards is too close for comfort. The ideal time to hit Iran would have been: the last 3 Novembers. We had the pretext, but not the will. It looks like the Ayatollahs are going to get their nuke tipped ICBMs, and the President will coast out of this regime. |
| Posted by: McZoid 2008-04-12 02:09 |