U.S. Would Have Fired on The Iranians

UK Independent via. Hot Air ^

[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?’”…

[coon2000]

The fagafacation of the west is destroying us.

[kvanbrunt2]

Didn't the brits invent radar

[fr_freak]

It means that Horner is 2nd guessing the Brits. I have no doubt our guys would have had to get the OK to fire. By the time they got it they would have been surrounded like the Brits. Horner should have just STFU.

On the contrary, Horner said exactly what he should have said. The last thing we need out there is brass talking like wimps. The Iranians, and everyone else who's after us, needs to believe that if they attack us, they will die. I can't say for sure exactly what our response would have been had it happened to one of our ships, although I would hope that the lessons of the last few years would have had us fighting back at all costs, but if anyone in a position of authority gives even the slightest hint of weakness, they will only be inviting attack on our troops.

[casino66]

Not arguing, but do we know where/when the Iranians first appeared. Would their rubber boats, which I think they were using also, appear on radar. Don't know any of the answers. I think we have to wait until the whole incident appears on YouTube before we will have the answers. :-)

Is it me, or has this whole incident disappeared from the MSM? I even checked Fox earlier today and they were running something about Britney Spears. This is an ally

[casino66]

My computer has a mind of its own sometimes.

This is an ally that stood with us and the newsers seem to be ignoring it already. /rant

[Mr. Jeeves]

Admirals who refuse to acknowledge they're in a war, even while their men (and a woman) are under direct attack from the enemy...

Consider who he works for. If he word "war" passes his lips, he probably gets sacked immediately.

[PAR35]

The British navy hasn't officially ruled the seas since WW2, and unofficially since WW1.

The mort accurate date would probably be the Washington Treaty of 1922.

[gpapa]

The HMS Cornwall did have a helo in the air monitoring the boarding operation. They detected the Iranian patrol boats shortly after they left port and were on a heading to intercept the boarded frieghter. Commodore Lambert in an interview with the BBC said of the incident, that the sailors appeared to be safe, and that they had behaved in an ”extremely professional way, in line with the rules of engagement.”

[Weight of Glory]

"IMO, there would be fewer possibilities for "international incidents" if response was swift and sure everytime a rogue nation pulled a stunt like this"

Indeed!

[Fraxinus]

Why not call in some air support. I assume they had radios. A flight of A-10's or Tornadoes would be preferred, but even F/A-18's with sidewinders would have been able to put a hurting on the patrol boats.

[PAR35]

Didn't the brits invent radar

No, Germans did some of the earliest work. The Americans, Germans, French, and British all developed working radars at roughly the same time.

[casino66]

Found this on the Long War thread:

"Everything I saw said Iraqi fisherman...9:10 in the mornin'
local time...they had a helo up that saw the iranian boats
"leave port",,,port must be close to the border,,,the
helo up and reporting tells us that the Cornwall was some
distance back from the border...

1,017 posted on 03/25/2007 9:12:02 PM EDT by 1COUNTER-MORTER-68

[ArtyFO]

I doubt if the US Navy would have done anything different. In fact, last fall the new Centcom commander, Admiral Fallon, who was then the Pacific commander, when a Chinese sub suddenly surfaced within the security zone of a US carrier, went kowtowing to Beijing uttering, "We knew you were there, we just didn't want to create an international incident". I imagine he'll soil his trousers when Iamadinnerjacket bluffs him with a nuke.

[Cicero]

See #68. All we know is what they tell us, but it's looking more and more as if the rules of engagement were the problem. They had plenty of backup and they saw the boats coming, but they did nothing.

At some point, the ship captain called his superiors for permission to fire, and was refused. I don't know how far up the chain of command that went. But obviously, if it has to go all the way up the chain of command and you have to call a meeting of politicians in England before you're given permission to fire, then it's too late.

[cinives]

LOL

[Cicero]

The Brits were a little ahead of the US with radar, and we drew on their work. I believe Raytheon was central to our effort.

[TomasUSMC]

I guess the same rules of engagement don't apply to our border guards

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X ACT LEEEEEEEEEEE

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Ahem. 'De-escalatory' ? Sooo... when they come to kill you in your own house will you try to 'de-escalate' by killing yourself ?

Yes.

It would seem to the Brits self defense is considered as great, if not greater, crime than murder.

I recall reading about an older gentleman who was arrested and charged under some foolish law for defending himself WITH A WALKING STICK from a pair who had broken into his home.

So yes, it would seem the British have a suicidal streak.

[clintonh8r]

"I say, old chap, if you continue to capture our troops I'm afraid I'll have to speak to you rather sternly!"

[HeartlandOfAmerica]

LOLOL! That's a helluva point!