THE BLOTTER:The standoff between three U.S. Navy ships and five Iranian speedboats in the Strait of Hormuz Sunday was one step away from turning violent."They were a heartbeat from being blown up," a Pentagon official, speaking of the Iranians, told ABC News.
According to the Navy intelligence report on the incident, the Iranians radioed, "I am coming at you. You will blow up in a couple of minutes."
The Navy ships radioed back, presumably transmitting a warning. All three ships also engaged in "evasive action," and according to senior Pentagon officials, the "prepare-to-fire" order had been given and the gun stations manned.
Pentagon officials today expressed surprise the Navy ships allowed at least one of the Iranian speedboats to get so close -- just 200 yards away -- without firing.
They say at least one of those speedboats boasted a machine gun, and all were behaving as if they were packed with explosives.
A Navy official told ABC News that while there have been similar incidents in the Gulf, Sunday's differed because of the "aggressive actions" taken by the Iranians.
"I've never seen a provocation like this is in international waters," another military official who has served for more than 25 years said.
Abbasi, in a speech in Iran’s Khaje Nasser University, said a “martyr deals directly with god and sells his soul only to god.” He added “Only certain people deserve to participate in the suicide operations.” Abassi noted that “The members of Lebanon’s Hezbollah are dear, because they only sell their soul to the god.”
Folks, that these 'speedboats' are not now toothpicks and fiberglass insulation is a strategic mistake. Restraint towards the Iranians will be taken for granted by our friends, and get knowing nods from our enemies. AND WE HAVE THEM. Restraint is the precursor of DEAD SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN.
There should nothing left of them, and the fleet should simply have sailed on......"WHAT IRANIAN SPEEDBOATS?"
4 comments:
A new Gulf of Tonkin Incident?
It wouldn't surprise me that the speed boats were manned by Blackwater mercenaries to make it look like the Iranians did it. The NeoCONS are getting desperate, since the Iowa and New Hamshire Caucuses are showing just how much hatred this Administration has wrought.
Moon full tonight, is it? The moon god worshippers and their useful idiots are out, I see.
Gulf of Tonkin is exactly what I thought too.....Respect the lads for keeping it together. Although I do hope their land based seniors don't nail the commanders for allowing the Iranians to get so close! It would be typical of the land based staff officers to court martial somebody for allowing the ships to be endangered! Which of course would be wrong. Always support the decision of the commander on the ground...IMHO
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