Posted on 03/25/2007 5:30:55 PM PDT by Weight of Glory
The executive officer - second-in-command on USS Underwood, the frigate working in the British-controlled task force with HMS Cornwall - said: “The unique US Navy rules of engagement say we not only have a right to self-defence but also an obligation to self-defence. They [the British] had every right in my mind and every justification to defend themselves rather than allow themselves to be taken. Our reaction was, ‘Why didn’t your guys defend themselves?’”…
(Excerpt) Read more at hotair.com ...
Hearing now that both a US and GB helicopter were above the scene when the Iranians took the sailors and marine.
Were they videotaping for a future documentary or were they realizing it's WAR!
Slick willie actually honored the Commander of the USS Cole.
A US helicopter and a British helicopter is reported to have been monitoring the scene.
I was hoping that Bush would do it better than LBJ.
LBJ was terrible in so many ways.
Second : Was this an American or a British decision ?
After the Cole and all the other attacks, I thought that the local commanders did not have to get permission to defend themselves immediately.
Our boys would have raised shields and executed evasive manuver Picard Beta 3, sent a volley of photo torpedoes at the interlopers and showed them their humanity by picking up any survivors that had managed to crawl into an escape pod
The title of michael moore's new movie : How we surrendered to a few gun boats ?
"I was hoping that Bush would do it better than LBJ."
These are Brit Sailors and Marines, and they are not under the command nor responsibility of President Bush, and our Sailors and Marines are not under the command nor responsibility of the UK.
"LBJ was terrible in so many ways."
Only Carter made LBJ look a little better.
"Second : Was this an American or a British decision ?"
Again, these are British Sailors and Marines. All decisions related to this crime come from the UK. All we can do is support them along the way.
"After the Cole and all the other attacks, I thought that the local commanders did not have to get permission to defend themselves immediately."
This was changed after 9/11 and probably before this. Again the Rules of Engagement are decided by the country where the ships, sailors and marines come from, not allies. The Iranians knew that if they tried to kidnap any of our sailors/marines, there would have been a response from our ships at the scene and probably our Naval Air Jocks.
Damn, Your plan has my vote but who would implement?
Why is there an Iranian Navy this morning ?
There is likely some diplomatic reason but the Iranians could not harass the shipping lanes if all their boats were sunk ?
Thanks.
That was an interesting article.
"...If the Brits were unwilling to defend their personnel, those sailors and Marines should never have been sent out. That was their fist mistake..."
Bingo!
Looks like we're being done in by deescalation and our new rules will be in the form of guidelines for swapping prisoners.
Just think of all the money we'll save by switching to rubber replicas that don't shoot.
The Brits should have seen the warships from Iran coming and tried to sweep up the 15 members ASAP while fending off the Iran navy.
Rules of engagement. The British commander on the scene called headquarters and was refused permission to fire.
I hadn't heard about the US helicopter, but my reading of the situation is that this was a British operation, and British hostages, so the US could not very well intervene unless the British requested or agreed to it.
I think this would be the case even though the Americans are in command in the war theater. It's one of the complications when you fight with allies and they have their own rules of engagement.
There were American and British helicopters apparently watching the Iranian boats come out from their bases and then attack.
Apparently permission was never granted from London for the navy to commence defending fire ?
Winston Churchill must be spinning is his grave!
Thanks.
It seems that the British commanders did little more than to call London for permission to do something.
Same on Clinton when the Cole was attacked.
If we are going into harms way, it seems that the commanders should have more freedom to respond ?
I remember the D-day stories of the German Generals were afraid to do anything until Hitler awoke that afternoon.
Sounds similar ?
Thats because they can see that there is no end after leaving Iraq.
Iran exposes the foolishness of a Vietnam like retreat.
Watched Hannity last night, and Juan Williams and another lib were scared of this discussion when Shaun and Mark Levin pressed the issue.
Iranian heavy cruiser?
Oh yes, the Iranian airliner loaded with dead corpses which would taken out a US Navy Ship if it hadn't been downed.
Our navy has more danger from Islamo Kazi airliners filled with dead civilians than from the Iranian navy.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.