BBC: US reveals new Iran 'incidents' - previous incident with warning shots fired...

BBC ^ | Friday, 11 January 2008, 22:28 GMT | BBC Staff

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

US reveals new Iran 'incidents'

Iran has described the incident as an "ordinary occurrence"

Iranian speedboats approached US warships in two previously undisclosed incidents in the Strait of Hormuz in December, a US Navy official has said.

The USS Whidbey Island fired warning shots during one of the encounters on 19 December, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

He also described a third stand-off on 6 January - that sparked US protests - as the most serious incident.

Iran has accused the US of faking its video of the most recent encounter.

'Radio threat'

The US official said the USS Whidbey Island had to act in response to an Iranian boat that was rapidly approaching the amphibious warship on 19 December.

"One small [Iranian] craft was coming toward it, and it stopped after the Whidbey Island fired warning shots," the official was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

In the second incident on 22 December, the USS Carr, a guided missile frigate, encountered three small Iranian boats, said the official.

He said that the US vessel blew warning whistles, causing the boats to turn around.

His comments came shortly after Washington had sent Iran a formal protest over the stand-off on 6 January.

Pentagon officials have said the speedboats came within about 200m (650ft) of the US vessels.

The US military have said video and audio that it released confirmed its allegation that Iranian speedboats harassed US vessels and threatened to blow them up in a radio communication.

However, senior US navy sources later told the BBC that the alleged threat to blow up the warships "may not have come" from Iranian speedboats.

Iran has rejected Washington's allegations, issuing its own video footage of the incident.

The confrontation has further inflamed long-running tensions between Iran and the United States.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

BBC....should have said >>>>PREVIOUS incidents...in the title....

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

News !

[tflabo]

Remember the USS Cole and the capture of British sailors last year. These speedboats should be warned at 2000 ft and then blown away at 1000 ft.

[Fred Nerks]

The US military have said video and audio that it released confirmed its allegation that Iranian speedboats harassed US vessels and threatened to blow them up in a radio communication.

I heard that audio on the 'news' - the Iranian sounded like he was high on drugs!

[LibWhacker]

To heck with warning shots. We’re in a de facto state of war with the bastards.

[blam]

If they’ll take out 4-5 of these boats and neturalize the anti-ship cruise missiles they’ll fire from shore when that happens, this crap will stop.

[granite]

US Navy fired warning at Iranian craft

[Republicus2001]

We have been since June 6, 1968.

[Robert357]

Iran has rejected Washington's allegations, issuing its own video footage of the incident.

Iran is videoing these incidents. That is really telling.

They are trying to set up the Navy in a way that it looks like the Navy fires first and sinks/kills Iranians. This is all about propaganda or worse.

As I have said elsewhere, Iran recently launched a submarine and has held Naval exercises where small boats launch anti-ship mussels.

If and when the Iranians provoke a US Navy response that is more than a warning shot, I hope the the US Navy has enough military assets in place to make sure that every potentially hostile or video taping Iranian military asset within 200 miles is destroyed along with the small speed boat.

My suspicion is that they want to provoke one of three responses: (1) pictures of evil US Navy destroying Iranian vessel in international waters for no apparent reason; (2) documentation that Iran retaliated and sunk a US Navy vessel after Iran was attached by such a vessel; or(3) capture of a US Navy vessel (ala North Korea USS Pueblo incident) after such vessel attached a small Iranian boat in international waters.

I feel that the Iranians are scum, but I do think that they have a method to their madness and it is madness to trifle with a US ship of the line in international waters.

[Robert357]

make that anti-ship missiles. (darn spell check operator)

[ASOC]

Normally to see what the US Navy has to say about exclusion zones (ie, places that will get you shot) and the like you would go to
www.marlobahrain.org

I see the site is now down for some reason.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks.

[Dumpster Baby]

[Chode]

[Ramius]

If they’ll take out 4-5 of these boats...

Expect one or more boats to have some sacrificial women and children on board, so they can video the floating bodies after we destroy the boats.

[Dog]

Can someone tell me when enough is enough.

What the hell is it going to take for Bush and Condi to get serious here and stop letting the Iranians get away with these stunts....and who the hell decided not to tell the US public of the warning shot episode.

[gaijin]

Our USN ROE are totally screwed up.

After the USS Cole bombing, the guys sent topside "to guard" had NO AMMO. Cuz none was available? NO:

Because the skipper STILL wanted to avoid any kind of unsightly confrontation...!

I do NOT think the skipper was dim, or cowardly, I think he was just protecting his career and working logically within the completely nutty, careerist, kid-goves culture of our USN.

What do the sailors think? I feel REALLY sorry for them...

[gaijin]

Cole Sentries had no ammo

Almost forgot! The USMC sentries at the gates in Lebanon when their HQ got blown up (250 kia) ALSO had no ammo in their rifles...!

[EngineDad]

Thoughts from a professional mariner - Officer in the US Merchant Marine - that has transited the straits many times.

Ships do transit inside the 12 mile limit of Iran. This is due to the geography of the area, but is internationally recognized as internatinal waters for a transitting vessel. I have been on the bridge of merchant ships when we have been challenged. The correct action is to inform them of the ship’s name and that you are transiting the area on an international voyage and you keep going (usually at full ahead).

On the subject of the radio calls: The Persian Gulf - especially around the straits - is terrible for radio communications. At times there are a lot of unprofessional mariners filling the radio waves with useless talk. Once we timed an idiot chanting “Filipino monkey” over and over for 45 minutes. I’ve been in fast boats - going fast. It is hard to talk to someone next to you let alone on the radio as calmly as we hear the person on the news clip. It is possible that the radio transmission did not originate with the fast boats.

The officers on the briges of those ships acted professionaly and with courage. Those who have not been in their shoes should not judge their actions.

I’m not saying the tapes are fake or that the Iranians are right. All I’m saying is that my 17 years of going to sea tells me that there may be more to this story.

NOTE - The use of the chant above in no way is a personal opinion. I have sailed with some damn good men that happen to be filipino.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks for the info from personal experience....I’ve never been close to the ME.