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Iran threatens to shoot down US Navy spy planes in Persian Gulf, US says Iran’s conduct “unprofessional”

Sep 14, 2016 9:22 am By Robert Spencer

“‘Anytime you threaten to shoot someone down, it’s not considered professional.’ The official said the Iranian behavior was characterized as ‘unprofessional.'”

Yes, you remember how unprofessional the Japanese were when they bombed Pearl Harbor, and how unprofessional the Germans were when they marched into Poland. What Iran is doing constitute acts of war. But the Obama administration wants to pretend that it has brought peace to the region with its nuclear deal, so it pretends that the Iranians just need to learn a little “professionalism.”

Mideast Iran US

“Iran threatened to shoot down US Navy spy planes in the Persian Gulf,” by Lucas Tomlinson, FoxNews.com, September 13, 2016:

Iran threatened to shoot down two US Navy surveillance aircraft flying close to Iranian territory in the Persian Gulf over the weekend, the latest in a series of recent provocations between Iran and the US military in the region, three US defense officials with knowledge of the incident told Fox News.

On Sept. 10, a Navy P-8 Poseidon with a crew of nine and an EP-3 Eries with a crew of roughly 24, were flying a reconnaissance mission 13 miles off the coast of Iran, through the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman, according to officials who call the boundary Iran’s “black line.”

Iran’s territorial waters—like all nations–extend 12 miles into the sea, according to international maritime law.

At some point during the flight, the Iranian military warned the two aircraft to change course or risk getting shot down.

The US military planes ignored the warning and continued flying in international airspace, although close to Iranian territory, the officials told Fox.

“We wanted to test the Iranian reaction,” one US official told Fox News when asked why the US jets were flying close to Iran.

“It’s one thing to tell someone to get off your lawn, but we weren’t on their lawn,” the official continued. “Anytime you threaten to shoot someone down, it’s not considered professional.”

The official said the Iranian behavior was characterized as “unprofessional.” Another official said the incident was not considered “unsafe” because there were no Iranian missile launchers in the area, according to the latest intelligence reports….

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Filed Under: Featured, Iran, United States Tagged With: Persian Gulf


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Comments

  1. Moses says

    Sep 14, 2016 at 9:35 am

    If their conduct is unprofessional then BOMB THE HELL OUT OF THE IRANIANS they’ve been asking for it for a long time.Then talk later.

    • M. Edward Triefler says

      Sep 15, 2016 at 12:56 pm

      The Obama Administration has added a new lexicon, to the ‘Politically Correct’ language of World politics. First, it was not ‘Islamic’ Terrorism that caused the French attacks on Charlie Hebdo, or the kosher market, it was simply ‘Terrorism,’ despite the fact that the attackers claimed to be directed by ISIL, a Sunni offshoot of the Muslim Religion. Now, it’s ‘unprofessional’ to threaten to shoot down US airplanes in International Airspace, or on International waterways, it is ‘unprofessional’ to swarm US Naval ships, or actually play chicken with a US destroyer, forcing it to change course. What’s ‘unprofessional’ are Obama’s “Rules of Engagement.” Has history taught us nothing; WWII started before the invasion and occupation of Austria in 1938 and the following year the annexation Czechoslovakia. The World Powers did nothing, it was only after Hitler’s long planned invasion of Poland, a nation to which Great Britain and France had guaranteed military support if it was attacked by Germany. That the appeasement ended, thus starting WWII. The cost of the appeasement was the attack on Pearl Harbor and the occupation of the Philippines, as the US supported an oil blockade against Japan, while negating for Peace. In Europe, it was the constant bombardment of the UK, and the invasion and occupation of France. Aggressors understand only one language, and it is not appeasement. It is time for the US to either put up or wait for one of our destroyers, or an aircraft carrier to be sunk with the loss of hundreds perhaps thousands of lives lost.

  2. quota raven says

    Sep 14, 2016 at 10:02 am

    So I guess it’s “professional” to taunt Iranians with a couple of war planes a mile from their airspace, like it’s “professional” to fly a couple of planes near North Korea in response to their fifth nuclear test…the biggest and most dangerous yet.

    Great. Does anyone have any confidence in the US government?

    Cheers!

    quota raven

    • Nabi says

      Sep 14, 2016 at 7:55 pm

      Good heavens NO! We should do exactly as they tell us!

    • linnte says

      Sep 14, 2016 at 10:51 pm

      If our military thinks taunting them is professional they are nuts. Taking a risk of starting ww3 is not professional in my book. If the Iranians did this to America 12 miles off our coastline? They’d get shot down. End of story.

      • Daniel Triplett says

        Sep 15, 2016 at 3:57 am

        I’m a USAF Pilot and International airline pilot.

        These American pilots did nothing wrong. And in situations where the straight may be only 6 NM wide, then flying down the middle, 3 NM from sovereign territory is “International Airspace” and perfectly legal without permission from either sovereignty.

        There’s also nothing wrong with “A Show of Force.” We do it all the time in the military. Standard practice to make the other side know we’re not pussies, and we have the men, military, weapons, and the will to easily destroy them. Gets them to think twice about ever attacking us.

        Nothing scares the shit out of the bad guys quite like a B-1 flying over their heads Mach 1.0 at 500′.

        As with all those Iranian mosquito boats harassing our Destroyers in the Straights of Hormuz, we should, at a minimum, be sending a 4-ship of fully armed F-18s on high-speed fly-bys right over their heads. Then show them what a 20mm cannon strafing run looks like right off their bows.

        • commonsense says

          Sep 15, 2016 at 9:16 am

          Thank you for your informed comment, Mr. Triplett.

        • linnte says

          Sep 15, 2016 at 9:27 am

          In all seriousness, I would love to see what you described! Occasionally my town gets practice flights here in the mountains, of jet fighters zooming very close above us. It is actually pretty scary! And magnificent!

          It’s just that my fear of Russia’s support of Iran, and our closeness to Iran physically in the air and on the water and the potential for a mistake to be made, starting all out world war is acute. With Obama in office, I think he would not react appropriately militarily as evidenced by Benghazi, and do nothing!

          Thanks for your service Daniel.

        • quota raven says

          Sep 15, 2016 at 11:48 am

          Linnte – Ha! I know exactly which planes your are talking about! I see precisely the same planes as you do, and I have the same reaction as you do: awe, tempered with a touch of fear!

          Cheers!

          quota raven

        • quota raven says

          Sep 15, 2016 at 11:44 am

          To Daniel Triplett – Nice to see you commenting here again. Your observations always have the ring of truth and authority. Whereas mine of recent have taken on a reckless quality. Sir, yes, SIR!)))

          Cheers!

          quota raven

  3. Angemon says

    Sep 14, 2016 at 11:10 am

    “We wanted to test the Iranian reaction,” one US official told Fox News when asked why the US jets were flying close to Iran.

    I’m surprised the CIC was OK with this…

    • miriamrove says

      Sep 14, 2016 at 12:32 pm

      Wait until Trump gets inn. I assure you that the will not issue any threats. They are doing it now because they know Obama does not have any…..m

  4. somehistory says

    Sep 14, 2016 at 2:00 pm

    Professional: one who is paid to do a work or perform.
    Amateur: one who is not paid to do a work or perform

    Either one may be an expert. Either one may be lousy at the work or performance.

    If someone performs “below the standards” set for the work or performance, he/she is considered “unprofessional.”

    Weren’t the iranians just given a whole lot of money to do their work and perform? That payment makes them “professional.”

    The work of the iranian government is to engage in, and sponsor, terrorism for islam. They are *experts* at it, performing at the *standard* set by what’s-his-evilness all of those years ago in the desert.

  5. Champ says

    Sep 14, 2016 at 2:08 pm

    America, nothing to see here so go back to sleep, since Iran is simply being “unprofessional” …no worries just sleep well my lovelies.

  6. desidude2 says

    Sep 14, 2016 at 2:49 pm

    Iran has exhibited shear contempt for the USA and obama.Obama,. who they once called house slave. Yet obama, time and time again is so love with this enemy. He looks the other way at their gross human rights violation, arming of terrorists, and attempts to build nukes. He is giving them billions in exchange for empty promises.nly Trump can change If Hillary gets in she will continue this love affair with the enemy. Only Trump can change our misguided policies.

  7. TH says

    Sep 14, 2016 at 3:56 pm

    If Trump is elected, they will be scared out of their wits and they will not shoot down a pigeon. Look at what happened when Raegan was elected. They immediately released the American diplomats. Muslims know that when there is somebody weak like Carter and Clinton, they can get their way. When someone who is willing to stand up to them, they like meek cowards keep quiet. It is likely that Raegan made a credible threat. They Ayatollah’s have their weak flank and very few of the younger generation is Iran wants anything to do with Islam and mosques.

  8. linnte says

    Sep 14, 2016 at 10:54 pm

    Does anyone else here feel deep trepidation over Iran’s hatred of the USA? Am I the only one who thinks Iran WANTS to start a war?

  9. Joe Dolce says

    Sep 15, 2016 at 3:54 am

    The US does not own the world and does not have more rights than other nations. However: they think they actually do and this is why they are behaving like that. What would happen if Iran or Russia or N Korea flew by this close to the borders of the US. Think about it for a minute, please.
    Do they want to provoke a war with Iran?
    I wish they would stop provoking Russia.
    I wish they would stop provoking N Korea
    I wish they would stop provoking Iran.
    I don’t want more wars. I don’t want a world war.

  10. Praeceptor Maximus says

    Sep 15, 2016 at 6:15 am

    Persia, modern day Iran, has a long history of being contemptuous towards weak leaders. What they respect most in a leader is strength. They have no respect for Obama. He offered them an olive branch when he became president, has given them billions of dollars, has enabled them to become a nuclear power in ten years, probably less, but all to no effect. Obama keeps kissing Iran’s ass, but Iran keeps farting in his face.

    • linnte says

      Sep 15, 2016 at 9:31 am

      THAT is what scares me the most! Obama’s weakness. I fear him not taking real action/force if Iran does something stupid.

  11. Nic says

    Sep 15, 2016 at 8:16 am

    How would the USA react if a Russian Bear-H reconnaissance aircraft started trailing its coats 13 miles of the eastern seaboard ? (including Boston, New York, Philladelphia etc).

    Methinks there would be an outbreak of… unprofessional.. behavior from the Air Force ?

  12. Samuel barthis says

    Sep 15, 2016 at 10:30 am

    I understand Mr. Triplett’s comments, however, it does not make sense. Why did the USA succumb so meekly to Iranians recently? Secondly, why did the American Government pay all that money to them? If it is correct what you are saying it was to scare the “shit” out of them why were the Americans at least from the photographical images “shit” scared of the Iranians then? Moreover, where were the American support services to help the poor marines who according press reports quivering in their boots? Somehow I do not understand the American strength and Iranian grandstanding from your explanation!

    • Carolyne says

      Sep 15, 2016 at 10:54 am

      Because, IMO< our President is a Muslim and wants to assist them in their quest to take over the world for Allah.

      • linnte says

        Sep 15, 2016 at 6:15 pm

        Exactly.

    • Aussirick says

      Sep 15, 2016 at 2:21 pm

      Samuel, the reason America ” succumbed ” so meekly is the fact that you have in America a fellow moslem, who refuses to allow his country’s military to engage with his fellow islamists enemy forces, this has been shown numerous times when air force pilots have had credible targets of ISIS troops and equipment, and have been refused the option of engaging and destroying those targets. Until such time as he is gone, with his disgusting legacy behind him, you will see the same thing happening again and again, as to the money, and allowing Iran to develop a nuclear device within 10 years the only bright light at the end of a very long dark tunnel of OBUMMA’S denial, will be that Israel will eventually be forced to bomb Iran and destroy its nuclear capability, this of course allows the poor sad excuse you have as a president, to say, how much HE tried to keep peace in the region.

  13. Norwegian says

    Sep 15, 2016 at 7:13 pm

    Iran are not capable of shooting down USA “spy planes” anyway. Not any of those I consider to be in that cathegory.

  14. Dennis says

    Sep 16, 2016 at 4:30 pm

    I can recall a catholic nun tapping my hand with a ruler: really sir you are being unprofessional about this. We are a bunch of weaklings and Iran knows it. Unprofessional indeed! Lets fire a bomb at those weakling Americans! That’s unprofessional too, I think!

  15. Manuele says

    Sep 17, 2016 at 1:29 am

    “US says Iran’s conduct “unprofessional”
    IT’S A TALK THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LITTLE PUPPY WITH ITS TAIL UP ITS BUTT

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