The Iranians continue to test Trump’s boundaries and try to provoke a larger conflict.
“US Navy ship fires warning shots at Iranian ship in Persian Gulf,” by Lucas Tomlinson, Fox News, July 25, 2017:
A U.S. Navy ship fired warning shots at an Iranian ship in the Persian Gulf on Tuesday, U.S. defense officials confirmed to Fox News.
The U.S. Navy coastal patrol ship fired warning shots from its .50-caliber machine gun at an Iranian patrol boat when it came within 150 yards of the ship in the Persian Gulf, according to two U.S. defense officials.
The Iranian ship ignored repeated radio calls from the USS Thunderbolt, which also launched flares to warn the fast approaching Iranian ship, officials said.
The incident happened Tuesday as a formation of U.S. Navy warships was doing an exercise in the Northern Persian Gulf….
David Cameron says
That seems dumb to wait until the Iranian ship got as close as 150 yards away. That means it could have fired multiple missiles from as close as 200 yards and sunk the U.S. ship
Stating The Facts says
If it dares to fire the missiles, the Iranian navy will get hell-fire from the US navy and be sunk into the Persian Gulf.
Lawrence Deans says
The captain waited way too long to fire. One thousand yards is too close.
WorkingClassPost says
These guys disobeyed direct orders.
Obama left strict instructions that they were to surrender in these circumstances.
gravenimage says
Grimly true, WCP.
Rich Cole says
We should have sunk the Iranian ship.
Irene Brekelmans says
Trump has to be very careful, if the Iranians really start something, you better watch out, because they will have a bigger plan, they are all muslims, don’t forget and they will ly about everything, but I bet, it is not one attack, when it comes, They will try to provoke the Us, but when they really provoke to the utmost, they are ready for everything and you better be prepared. Let’s hope and pray that it will not be war.
But WorkingClassPost: I don’t understand, as English is not my mother language, these guys disobeyed direct orders, were those the guys from the US Navy? If so, are the rules the same as under Obama, pls enlighten me. It was quite provoking. But they have something hidden in their sleeves, I bet.
Be strong and watch. For everybody, no more wars !!!
Philip says
I think that WorkingClassPost meant the Iranians. They were instructed to surrender in such circumstances, apparantly (?)
What I don’t understand, however, is why the U.S Navy is conducting military exercises in the Persian gulf in the first place (regardless of what the Iran deal might permit) It doesn’t make sense to me…as if they wanted to look for a provocation. Imagine if Iranian vessels would conduct such operations around the Bahamas. I hope nothing crazy comes out of this.
Rich Cole says
Irene, no they did not violate direct orders. Each administration has its way of handling a situation like this. It is called the “rules of engagement”. The previous administration did not allow our troops and sailors to defend themselves adequately when provoked thus the incident with Iran that happen prior to the previous president leaving office where those sailors were held at gun point and so forth. They were eventually released by Iran. President Trump has given new “rules of engagement” to the Defense Department and they are being acted on as each incident happens. In this case, the Iranian patrol boat came to close and did not respond to requests and they were given a warning shot and abruptly left the area. Basically, we are now not going to take any more harassment from anyone on the high seas or anywhere else. We have new leadership in the White House that will stand up to our enemies.
Keys says
Irene B., I think you are right about the Iranians having a bigger response plan in multiple areas, if they provoke a US response.
Regarding WorkingClassPost – I am sure he was being sarcastic – meaning if they followed Obama’s weak response to Iranian aggression, they (on the US ship) should have surrendered to the Iranians and have been taken captive just like the January 12, 2016 incident.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_U.S.–Iran_naval_incident
Sec. of State Kerry thanked the Iranians for their co-operation; the US Navy Commander of that squadron was later fired …
gravenimage says
Exactly, Keys.
Carolyne says
The Iranians are stupid. I doubt their average IQ is much higher if at all than Somalis. They too are products of centuries of incest. They think birds are Israeli spies. They can’t even decide what to have for lunch.
GuntherL says
It’s 16 points higher than the Somalis. By the way, the average US IQ is 98, nothing to brag about if you compare it to several Asian countries.
https://iq-research.info/en/page/average-iq-by-country
Looking up things appear to be hard.
underbed cat says
Robert…this is really quickly escalating…..my confidence is dimming of Trump due to his welcoming the P.M of Lebanon…at the same time we have Iranian ships getting to close and we are sending warning shots…..add to that his approach to Saudi A about the beauty of Islam yikes….and I am so concerned that he is not getting good advice and seems set to get very close to a critical escalation without complete understanding. Would like to know about Lebanon and if they would be an ally. Sharia based middle east countries are never trustworthy to me our senate and congress embroiled in health care bills some still so clueless. and eyes off security…how to find out if it is good that Trump is acting with information. Just ordered your book of Infidels guide to Freedom of Speech and still here to read it.
gravenimage says
We would have just had the crew surrender under Obama. Sending a warning shot is *exactly* the thing to do under this circumstance.
mortimer says
Next step will be to mine the Iranians.
WorkingClassPost says
That’s right GI, a warning shot was just softball, sinking them would’ve been an escalation.
underbed cat says
The ships in photo look way too close……
Mark DeFord Eletion says
The ships are probably farther apart than they appear in the photo. The image being hazy and bluish means that the photo was probably taken using a telephoto lens. They compress distances. Wide angle lenses have the opposite effect.
moeped says
I wish we would just leave the middle east and cut ties altogether, Including immigration.
gravenimage says
US Navy ship fires warning shots at Iranian ship in Persian Gulf
………………
Good–it’s about time we drew the line.
MekaLekaHiMekaHineyHo says
Let’s not forget that the Shia of Iran want to be persecuted and cause devastation upon themselves (from non-Muslims) as they believe it will bring about their version of the end times.
GuntherL says
What is the US doing there? Was the destruction of Syria, Libya and Iraq not enough?
Iraq was secular in the 80s until the retarded Americans decided to fuck it up. Syria is even worse. Look at it now. Fortunately, the Iranians and Russians turned the tide. The US government complains about Islamic fundamentalism, but has done nothing else but enable and reinforce it.
Concerning Iran: I prefer them over Saudi-Arabia, the closest ally of the US by the way.
WPM says
Iran is our friend? What planet are you from, they pray every day for our death and destruction Obama help them with money and means to make the bomb in the near future.. In the Middle East the only friend we have is Israel .I hate both Saudi Arabia and Iran ,they are both fundamentalism despot countries one is Sunni one is Shite both export terrorist activity world wide. Do you think if Iran gets the upper hand things will be better in Syria ? What ,is America doing there ? What ,is Russia doing there ?Both Nation are there trying to stop world war both nations are being played by the Islamics. The Shite leaders believe the end of Israel will bring about a new age world wide Shite Islam and are willing to destroy the whole world in a nuclear fire ball to get it.. The Sunni leaders in Saudi Arabia export and back Islamic terrorist attacks and radical Imams world wide to make the whole world Islamic. Both Iran and Saudi Arabia hate each other both use the United States and Russia as there tools to get what they want a world wide Islamic world either Sunni or Shite in there eyes. The Shites are vastly out numbered they would be glad to destroy the whole world and get to Allahs whore house in the sky.
balam says
Islam is like a TWOHEADED SNAKE .Saudi Arabia represents the Sunni headed Islam and Iran represents the Shia headed Islam .Both are most poisonous and lethal.Both are trying to destroy the civilised world little by little through every mean available .There will never be PEACE in the world as long as ISLAM is around.
GuntherL says
You may want to know that Christianity is the fastest growing religion in Iran and if the idiot Americans do not interfere, that could continue.
After destroying Christianity and Jezidi’s in Iraq and Syria, it’s time to do the right thing.
Get educated and stay out.
GuntherL says
WPM, learn to read.
The US supported the Islamic ‘resistance’ in Syria. Trump cut the funding for these programs last week. Yes, your government is to blame for all those ‘moderate’ headchoppers in Syria.
You ask what Russia is doing there… Well, they were asked to intervene by president Assad. Contrary to the US, whose military presence in Syria is a war crime, Russia actually has a legitimate reason to be there.
Your comment about Iran exporting terrorism is absurd. In the past 40 years, they were involved in three conflicts: Iran – Iraq (which was heavily supported by the US, Syria (fighting ISIS and AL-Qaeda) and recently in Yemen where they help to fight Saudi-Arabia, which I consider a good thing. However, the US helped to overthrow their democratically elected president in 1953, led them to war with Iraq in 1980 and shot down an Iranian passenger plane in 1988.
You call Israel a friend. Now, tell me why Israel wants to oust Assad, the most secular of all leaders in the Middle East. Only a few months ago, an Israeli minister called for his assassination.
You may think the US has the right to fuck up every country it doesn’t like. The rest of the world thinks differently.
WPM says
Israel has no friends in the middle east they play the field of foes to survive. I do not know where you get your info on Christianity is the fasts growing religion in Iran? It is death sentence to convert or preach Christianity in both Iran and Saudi Arabia. In Yemen your good rebels have links to ISIS. Syria is a mess but if Iran gets to run it will be a Sunni Shite blood bath what makes you think Iran will not invade? . It OK for the Russians to back a despot in 2017 but not American backing one in Iran in 1953.Iran is a real great place to live after their elections {when the American back leader left 1979-1980 } the purges and the religious dictatorship of the last 37 years. Neither America or Russia has total clean hands in this mess ,what I am saying is Sunni and Shite cults are using both powers{ America and Russia} to advance there causes. The Islamics have been chopping heads before America or present day Russia were formed. Iran and Iraq have been fighting the Sunni Shite thing ,what they have in common is they both hate the Christians and the Jews. The Christians and Jews lose no matter who comes out on top Shite or Sunni. America and Russia back the iron fisted leaders of there wants and needs and hope to hold of the world war Islam is heading for. People of Islam do not want normal western culture , laws ,rules, religious tolerance they live by the master slave Islamic submission rule. They do not believe in countries they believe in there violent cult that only an iron fisted ruler can keep them from killing each other. The US tries to do what it thinks is in its interest and so does Russian, Islam in not in either countries interest.
Carolyne says
It’s of no interest to me what the rest of the world thinks, but for our own well-being we should let the idiots fight each other and we should stay out of it.
c matt says
Gunther did not say Iran is our friend. If I read him correctly, he said Saudi Arabia is our supposed “closest ally,” yet SA flew airplanes into our buildings and, next to oil, their biggest export is terrorism. Go figure. With allies like that, who needs enemies?
James Stamulis says
The next warning shot should be through their hull below the waterline! What are we supposed to do wait until an Iranian ship sinks ours first? Time to man up!
Henner720 says
Gangstas. Childhood programmed rebels. Baffeled when shot by lawenforcers in west. They have then milliseconds of truth.leftist feminists disqualify themselves as duhhhhh. No brainactivity when confronted with totalitarian rebels. Wonder if woman associate bedskills with the rebel mindset.awfully wrong in every aspect.
c matt says
“The Iranians continue to test Trump’s boundaries and try to provoke a larger conflict. . . . US Navy ship fires warning shots at Iranian ship in Persian Gulf . . . .”
Something about this just seems off. Let me see if this makes more sense “The Americans continue to test Khamenei’s boundaries and try to provoke a larger conflict . . . Iranian Navy ship fires warning shots at American ship in Gulf of Mexico . . . .”
Nope, still not quite right. Maybe “The Americans continue to test Khamenei’s boundaries and try to provoke a larger conflict. . . . US Navy ship fires warning shots at Iranian ship in Persian Gulf . . . .” That’s it!!!
Philippe says
The Iranians are at home, not the Amaricans. Do not forget it.