1938 Alert. "Navy-Contracted Vessel Fires Warning Shots on Fast Boats in Persian Gulf," from FOXNews (thanks to Jeffrey Imm):
A vessel contracted by the Navy in the Persian Gulf fired warning shots Thursday on two fast boats believed to be of Iranian origin.In a story first reported by FOX News, Navy officials said the Westward Venture fired upon two boats about 50 miles off the coast of Iran.
U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet spokeswoman Cmdr. Lydia Robertson said the boats were of unknown origin, but other Navy officials told FOX News that the markings of the boats and their behavior led them to believe they were Iranian and typical of those used by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
The Iranian Navy countered those claims Friday, saying on Iranian television station Al-Alam that they didn't have a confrontation with a U.S. ship and that the Westward Venture may have fired on a non-Iranian vessel, Reuters reported...
Reminds me superficially of the games of chicken US and Soviet aircraft would play back in the Cold War (and might be playing now, what with Russian bombers doing patrols again.)
Have the sailors involved leaked any accounts to the media?
Good to hear.
There's lots of banter in the news this week about Iran, let's hope the powers that be are "warming" the general populace in the US to the idea of war with Iran. Personally it won't be soon enough for me.
At this point I see little to gain from open war with Iran. Last I checked we still had two other wars ongoing, one we're actually in the middle of losing, as well as multiple smaller engagements across the globe.
Where would the forces for another invasion even come from?
Draft 2 million men. Invade Iran and surround Pakistan. Blockade Pakistan to give up nukes. Pakistan is our original enemy from 9/11 and before. Pakistan thinks our troops in Afghanistan are hostages until we have a ground supply line. Iran thinks that too.
Combat phase deaths in Iraq were 200 men. Now is the time to invade Iran.
Sounds like someone is determined not to be the next USS Cole. Good for them.
Apparently it was enough to cause a spike in crude prices.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080425/ap_on_bi_ge/oil_prices
I am not old enough to remember this, I wasn't even born until 8 years after.
http://www.ameshistoricalsociety.org/exhibits/events/rationing.htm
But maybe it's time?
Old Atlantic, are you old enough to remember this? I don't mean to assume your age, but you remind me (with your words) of my uncle, who fought in Bataan.
ABS
Warning shots are a waste of good ordnance.
All that is needed is a large sign on the side of the vessel that reads in farsi:
"If you can read this, we have you in our sights."
the Navy could revive the old WWII PT boats to help guard the boats...these were fast and deadly and (for the dhimmicrats in the crowd) cheap to build..
Tonkin!
http://thejonesyreport.blogspot.com/
Had an uncle in WW2 on one of those PT boats. He said they were hell to live on, leaky, but damn good fighters.
Iran is itching to do another Cornwall Incident http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Iranian_seizure_of_Royal_Navy_personnel
Only this time with the US. They believe that the US is weak and that Obama will be the next President.
An incident like the Cornwall could lead to all out war with Iran. It would ignite the US population (except for the left-leaning college kids) the way 9/11 and Pearl Harbor did. Throw in a draft (no exemptions and a great way to get rid of those nasty anti-war protesters) and invade. Or just preempt them with 5 megatons.
Either way, Iran is biting off more than it can chew.
XRDC LOL! I LOVE THAT!
to not telling
apparently you believe the MSM pansy info on US military power, each day our forces can or are able to wipe out every person in the middle east and then eat lunch and do it again, only the politicos wont let our men do the crushing that needs to be done. you want good will or other peoples money go to congress, they put the chains on the dogs of war to get along, that doesnt mean we have to.
Sadar is being dealt with before Iran. Dealing with one exposes the other. Divide, isolate, and defeat your Enemy.
The Army to deal with Iran is for the most part already there. It is unlikely that American Forces would even enter Iranian territory. Unless local tactical reasons required it. Containment if Iranian Forces within Iran is all that is necessary.
With a little help from our Sunni "friends" a standoff campaign would reduce Iran over time, Economically and Militarily.
I only wonder how many Cylons will be used in the first round.