Recordings Show Iran-US Clash In Gulf

The Guardian (UK) ^ | 1-8-2008 | SEBASTIAN ABBOT and LOLITA C. BALDOR

[blam]

Recordings Show Iran-US Clash in Gulf

Tuesday January 8, 2008 9:16 PM

By SEBASTIAN ABBOT and LOLITA C. BALDOR

Associated Press Writers

WASHINGTON (AP) - Video and audio recordings clearly show Iranian boats confronting U.S. Navy ships in the Persian Gulf, and a voice speaking in heavily-accented English can be heard threatening that the American vessels were going to explode, military officials said Tuesday.

The incident, which President Bush denounced Tuesday as a ``provocative act,'' was videotaped by a crew member on the bridge of the destroyer USS Hopper, one of the three ships that faced down five Iranian boats in a flare-up early Sunday.

The recordings were described by several military officials who viewed them. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the recordings were still being reviewed and had not been released to the public.

``It is a dangerous situation,'' Bush said during a White House news conference. ``They should not have done it, pure and simple. ... I don't know what their thinking was, but I'm telling you what my thinking was. I think it was a provocative act.''

At the Pentagon, defense officials were working to release about five minutes of video and audio that show several small boats as well as the U.S. ships involved in the clash. The Hopper was in the lead as the ships were moving through the Strait of Hormuz.

Military officials said the audio recording includes both threats and transmissions from the Iranians, as well as U.S. Navy transmissions. The audio and video recordings were made separately, and initially covered much of the more than 20 minute confrontation, but were pulled together and combined by the Navy, the officials said.

[bill1952]

This is one good reason that I am not a commander on any of those boats, I suppose.

At the end of the video there would be nothing but a lot of wooden sticks floating on the water, along with a few body parts.

Why would anyone perceive the threat to be idle after the U.S.S. The Sullivans, and the U.S.S. Cole?

[BorisTheBulletDodger]

For those of you who came looking for actual video:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3zrg7_sky1_news

Advice for Iranian “navy”: when you’re in a 14’ double outboard and confronting a missile cruiser, missile destroyer, and frigate, it is generally not a good idea to say “I am coming at you, you will explode”

[Recovering Hermit]

...it is generally not a good idea to say “I am coming at you, you will explode”.

The sad part is that they should have exploded immediately after they said anything like this...and didn't.

Now that these assclowns know that they can get away with this crap, look for these types of incidents to increase.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks for the link to the video.

[Marine_Uncle]

Ya know, this continued mentioned of peace in the region, as voiced by the young lady in this sky video is nothing but horse*hit. There is no peace. Who is kidding who.
Hopefully the next go around with these clowns will show videos of our naval ship's rapid firing Gatling system shred the boats as they get near.

[mjaneangels@aolcom]

“This is why we need Fred Thompson, not Romney or Huckabee or Giuliani, and certainly not Ron Paul.”

I think Hunter would do an even better job, in this situation, than Thompson. I do agree with you regarding the others.

[mjaneangels@aolcom]

“Absolutely and positively Fred is the only one fit to be CiC... the others do NOT have what it takes... Conservative bollocks!”

Hunter does. I agree with you about the others.

[mjaneangels@aolcom]

“....and poised and articulate and well groomed and multicultural diverse (do you know he once lived in ...gasp...Asia?) and tolerant and inclusive and dammit...he’s got that Oprah stamp of approval.....”

And it is a really good thing for him that he has all those qualities because he has zero qualities to be President.

[LibLieSlayer]

I agree Hunter does.

LLS

[MaxMax]

This particular model of Phalanx speaks fluent Farsi

[EyeGuy]

“And it is a really good thing for him that he has all those qualities because he has zero qualities to be President.”

I’m not even convinced he has all of those qualities, but the fawning LeftMedia is.

Zero? I’d say less than zero. The real question is: if this socialist, racist radical is elected to be CIC, how many years will it take the country to recover?

[chuckles]

As you can see, it’s pointed up! I don’t think these things go much lower than the horizon. If these boats got within 100 yards, we may have been limited in the weaponry to sidearms. While watching the film, I just couldn’t understand why they weren’t blasted from the water, especially when they turned TOWARD my vessel. I guess that’s why I’m not officer material. They would have been dead if I were in charge. I think even the UN would have said that was too close and they should have known better.

The only possible reason for this was testing our resolve,.....and it looks like we blinked. Bush is still president for another year and he should act like it. If they do this with Bush, imagine what will happen with Obama.

[MaxMax]

Bush is still president for another year and he should act like it.

I hope BDS isn't becoming a trend here on Freepers.

[counterpunch]

Duncan Hunter. You don’t mess with that man.

True. And he does have a delegate.
 

[Marine_Uncle]

Our Navy denied the goons their virgins, that is for sure.

[mjaneangels@aolcom]

“Zero? I’d say less than zero.”

I could agree on that.

“The real question is: if this socialist, racist radical is elected to be CIC, how many years will it take the country to recover?”

Too many.