Posted on 01/07/2008 10:27:59 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
US Navy commanders were moments away from firing on Iranian attack ships during a skirmish in the Straits of Hormuz, it has emerged.
A Pentagon spokesman revealed that five Iranian Revolutionary Guard Navy boats harrassed and provoked three US ships in the narrow waterway at the mouth of the Persian Gulf at the weekend.
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The Iranian craft came within 200 yards of the US vessels, which were sailing in international waters.
The Iranian provocations included disregarding warnings to pull back, dropping mysterious objects in the path of the US ships and a hostile radio transmission.
The Pentagon said a radio message warned: "I am coming at you. You will explode in a couple of minutes."
The Iranian boats pulled away as a US Navy captain gave his crew orders to open fire.
"Five small boats were acting in a very aggressive way, charging the ships, dropping boxes in the water in front of the ships and causing our ships to take evasive manoeuvres," the Pentagon official said.
"There were no injuries but there very well could have been."
The incident further clouds US judgements about Iran's strategic intentions in the Persian Gulf. Tensions over Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons have seen the US navy and its Iranian counterparts move to a tense stand-off.
A US-led coalition has steadily built up its firepower in the sensitive strait and Iranian commanders manoeuvre dangerously in response.
In March, Iran seized 15 Royal Navy sailors and Royal Marines in the Gulf and accused them of trespassing in Iranian territory while they inspected a merchant vessel. The Government maintained that they were in Iraqi waters.
The British personnel were held for almost two weeks before being freed in what Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said was a "gift" to the British people.
Iran's Foreign Ministry had no immediate comment on the Pentagon's claims, first reported on CNN.
“How did the Iranians know there was an order to fire?
They were in radio contact. How do you think the Captain heard them say, “we are coming at you, you will blow up in a few minutes”???
What you weren’t told is that the Captain responded to them.
“You First!”
Open Fire men.
The Iranians turned tail and ran at that point.
“The Iranian craft came within 200 yards of the US vessels, which were sailing in international waters.
Why would our commanders allow this? “
Those being hurt most by sinking these little, teensie, weensie boats would be those working at Evinrude.....
Right.
I must of missed that part. The fire part.
If you look at the video when they are looking aft towards the CG and Iranian boat running a parallel course, the Iranian boat appears to be way closer than 200 yards
like around 460-470 feet or 150+ yards
Why would our commanders allow this? How many drive by explosions from rubber rafts shall we tolerate?
Well, the Iranians didnt get to within 199 yards of the Ship because the Commanders werent allowing it. They gave orders to FIRE, and the Iranians had to flee.
Look, if we had any kind of leadership at all, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and the Iranian government would have been declared a terrorist organization long ago.
These boats should have been literally blown out of the water. Does this sound too harsh?
What do you guys want? Another Cole? Whats the big fear here? What happened to all the tough talk about terrorism?
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