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2007-03-26 Syria-Lebanon-Iran
US troops 'would have fought Iranian captors'
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Posted by Fred 2007-03-26 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11133 views since 2007-05-07]  Top

#1 Vastly outnumbered and out-gunned

Yeah, if you don't count the HMS Cornwall.

But don't worry, they've called some kind of COBRA meeting. With a name like that, it's gotta be good!
Posted by gorb 2007-03-26 01:33||   2007-03-26 01:33|| Front Page Top

#2 Nice to see this comment from the USN. Before I went over I'd never noticed just how wonderfully open, spontaneous, and candid US military comments to the press can be. Kind of amazing - probably the most unfettered media access of any government organization anywhere, down to the lowest levels.

The British brass have no monopoly on unforced errors in this war, but ..... this was ridiculous.

As gorb said, outgunned, uh, unless you count the Type 22 frigate nearby, not to mention the additional surface and air units probably at the ready to respond if the Cornwall requested it.

Love that photo. Damn shame the Iowa class couldn't have been kept in the fleet. We'd not only be the unrivaled power on the scene, we'd LOOK the part .....
Posted by Verlaine 2007-03-26 02:00||   2007-03-26 02:00|| Front Page Top

#3 To our friends the Britts; Not to fret, we didn't go in and get our boys in the "Black Hawk Down" entrapment initially either! Did we clear a ½ mile zone to extract our troops from being dragged through the streets...hell no!! Did we go in there and bring our 12 surveillance plane crew members home, after the Chinese hit and forced that landing on Hainan Island..again, hell no. So feel somewhat comforted, our British friends and allies; you prevented 'Shock & Awe 2' from starting, until we're REALLY ready to 'throw down'!
Posted by smn 2007-03-26 02:52||   2007-03-26 02:52|| Front Page Top

#4 REALCLEARPOLITICS > ROYAL NAVY INCIDENT AND IRAN'S PLAN TO TRAP USA, UK > Gist - Radical Iran may not admit it but it is acting as if already at war agz USA-UK. Seizure of 15 Brits may be part of a larger multi-dimensional, multi-lateral, escalatory complex agenda intended by Iran to entrap the USA-UK in chaotic, divisive, confrontative scenarios which Iran controls, and by which Iran will [asymmetrically] defeat the USA-UK, INCLUDING IN ANY MIL CONFLICT, and achieve its ambitions.
Posted by JosephMendiola 2007-03-26 02:56||   2007-03-26 02:56|| Front Page Top

#5 And also to our British friends, the USS Pueblo now sits in Wonsan Harbor as a Nork museum and tourist attraction. The crew (less one lad who was slain), spend 11 months in captivity.
Posted by Besoeker 2007-03-26 03:03||   2007-03-26 03:03|| Front Page Top

#6 I say we put together a support group and go vaporize the Iranian navy. The therapy will make us both feel better. No planning required. Just do it. Oh, and keep the sailors as hostages.

That's my well-thought-out plan, anyway.
Posted by gorb 2007-03-26 03:12||   2007-03-26 03:12|| Front Page Top

#7 
I say we put together a support group and go vaporize the Iranian navy.


Nope. Iran imports most of its fuel and my guess is that a lot of it travels by sea...


Posted by JFM">JFM  2007-03-26 05:49||   2007-03-26 05:49|| Front Page Top

#8 That's called the "spoils of war". :-)
Posted by gorb 2007-03-26 05:56||   2007-03-26 05:56|| Front Page Top

#9 I say, the British, blinded by grief, wander into Iran and take the refineries. "Group Therapy" works.
Posted by DarthVader">DarthVader  2007-03-26 07:47||   2007-03-26 07:47|| Front Page Top

#10 Our boarding team's training is a little bit more towards self-preservation.

Candidate for Understated Snark o' The Week!
Posted by SteveS 2007-03-26 10:05||   2007-03-26 10:05|| Front Page Top

#11 Good policy. Probably stems from our past experience with Iranian hospitality...
Posted by tu3031 2007-03-26 12:53||   2007-03-26 12:53|| Front Page Top

#12 I think the Brits should tell Iran that they're sending ONE British Marine to Tehran to bring the hostages home. And if one Marine proves insufficient, they will send ONE Lance Corporal British Marine to assist, but they won't be responsible for any damages.
Posted by red baron 2007-03-26 13:06||   2007-03-26 13:06|| Front Page Top

#13 Let this be a final nail in the coffin of flaccid "Soft Power".
Posted by Zenster">Zenster  2007-03-26 14:59||   2007-03-26 14:59|| Front Page Top

#14 Is my memory faulty or did the Iranians grab some Brits earlier in the war. Claimed the Brit boat was on their side of the Euphrates and held them for awhile.

Seems poor planning to not suspect a repeat.
Posted by rjschwarz 2007-03-26 15:23||   2007-03-26 15:23|| Front Page Top

#15 Wait a minute, since when is a lt. cdr a "senior American commander"? Isn't that the navy equivalent of an Army or Marine captain?
Posted by Mitch H.">Mitch H.  2007-03-26 15:29|| http://blogfonte.blogspot.com/]">[http://blogfonte.blogspot.com/]  2007-03-26 15:29|| Front Page Top

#16 Our boarding team's training is a little bit more towards self-preservation.

Ooohhh! Bitch slap!

LCDR is same as Lt. Col.
Posted by AlmostAnonymous5839">AlmostAnonymous5839  2007-03-26 16:15||   2007-03-26 16:15|| Front Page Top

#17 i think it's time too REALLLY thrown if the british and their allies are eady not just the US or UN
Posted by sinse 2007-03-26 18:03||   2007-03-26 18:03|| Front Page Top

#18 I guess this means the commander of the HMS Cornwallis will meet with an unscheduled career path adjustment.
Posted by john">john  2007-03-26 20:47|| http://john-smokegetsinmyeyes.blogspot.com/]">[http://john-smokegetsinmyeyes.blogspot.com/]  2007-03-26 20:47|| Front Page Top

#19 Pehaps this second Cornwallis surrender will see another timely resignation in London.
Posted by Zenster">Zenster  2007-03-26 21:07||   2007-03-26 21:07|| Front Page Top

#20 LCDR is the naval equivalent of a major. CDR is the equivalent of a LTCOL.
Posted by Pappy 2007-03-26 21:15||   2007-03-26 21:15|| Front Page Top

#21 Off-topic or abusive comments deleted]
Posted by George Grolurong3861 2007-03-26 01:56||   2007-03-26 01:56|| Front Page Top

02:02 George Grolurong3861
01:58 George Grolurong3861
01:56 George Grolurong3861
23:51 Zenster
23:45 Old Patriot
23:44 ryuge
23:40 JosephMendiola
23:32 JosephMendiola
23:22 Zenster
23:21 USN, ret.
23:15 Zenster
23:13 Alaska Paul
23:12 BH
23:11 Alaska Paul
23:07 WTF
23:05 WTF
23:04 Sonar
23:01 twobyfour
22:54 JosephMendiola
22:52 twobyfour
22:51 Zenster
22:44 JosephMendiola
22:41 Chuck Simmins
22:39 RD









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