Acreo Aeneas

This is "breaking" news although the event took place "Saturday night" according to CNN.

Link to video: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/wor...s.warships.cnn (Source: Department of Defense, broadcast via CNN.com)

I've been watching videos and reading online stories on this incident that nearly turned into a international incident.

Apparently 5 unidentified "speedboats" approached a 3 ship convoy passing through the international waters (a strait) between Iran and the United Emirate States (think I got that right). Reporters from CNN, Fox News, and AP are assuming they are from the Iranian Revolutionary Force.

This of course caught my eye as I was checking my email. I thought I'd share with the rest of you.

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Acreo_Aeneas
Former 9th Member

Lucky Shot

I saw this too. I also caught a story about how Ahmadinejad is starting to lose support from the clerics which is huge. I can't seem to relocate that story though. I do think we can stay out of war and still see him replaced, it would be a good thing.

Lucky Shot

Gambit7

Something's not right with those videos. Firstly, those "Iranian Patrol Boats" are NOT patrol boats at all. They're just speedboats. THIS is an iranian pt boat:

Second, naval officers wouldnt be wearing bright orange lifevests... and I'd suspect neither would a bunch of revolutionary guard. They're saying the boats were part of Iran's "swarm-boat" tactics, but if you look closely you really dont see any armament whatsoever on those speedboats.

Here's another pic of a swarm boat:
http://bp3.blogger.com/_E-QOnTGFX_o/...-h/jul004a.JPG


Secondly, the voice on the tape is distinctly American sounding. Like an american sailor making a joke on the radio (the voice isnt even serious).

Thirdly, white boxes thrown in the water (which I didnt see any) would denote more of a practice exercise.

IMO, this whole charade is nothing but a practice exercise... perhaps even arranged with the Iranian Guard or Navy. Either that, or it's just a bunch of thrillseekers messing with the Navy.

As far as Iran taking an aggressive posture?? That's pure BS. And it's irresponsible warmongering for our Administration to take an aggressive stance on this.

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CingularDuality

Are you crazy? Diplomatically, this could get Ahmedinejad ousted. Militarily, it's insane to not take this seriously. Regardless of who's responsible, or whether or not it was a dry run, those ships risked a LOT by not destroying those fast attack boats.

Either way, an aggressive stance is absolutely the right direction to head.

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machowner

One of the three does look like a speedboat, the other two however are larger, but fuzzy and hard to make out. They bare some lines that your second picture shows though.

I also agree, regardless of this was a dry run or not, it has to be taken seriously. I doubt it was a practice, I doubt the navy would release the tape of a practice while calling it an incident.

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Acreo Aeneas

You need to reread my original post, lol. I was trying to say that reporters are claiming those boats to be Iranian RF patrol boats, but I have stated that according to the actual video footage (linked to above), the Navy officer says: "...unidentified boats, please identify yourselves and your intentions...".

The CNN videos on this incident also quote the naval officer as saying such, but it seems to be masked by those reporters constantly calling those boats as: "...Iranian speedboats...of the Iranian Revolutionary Force...".

In short, the media is making up BS again while lightly pointing out what was said and what wasn't. Of course, most viewers don't seem to catch onto what was actually said only what comes out of media mouths.

I also agree. If those boats are actually linked to Iran, then I'm surprised we haven't already started the war process. Some people cease to surprise me in this world. Always trying to provoke something, grr. Wish they'd grow another brain sometimes.

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Acreo_Aeneas
Former 9th Member

Shiner

Gambit, I'll just surmise you haven't heard about the USS Cole incident and that your lack of knowledge on the implications of a hostile act by even the smallest "unidentified" vessel (let alone the coordinating swarming of multiple vessels) is sufficient for you to distort this as an "administration" driven agenda and not something that was CLEARLY instigated by the third-party (Iranian or not).

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TheSkudDestroyer

this is soooo skewed. The "radio transcript" was ONE LINE. What the hell is that?

This is defiantly overblown!

Not to mention, the actual footage and audio...

Nothing to see here, IMO. That voice was stupid. "You will explode"

Sounded like a bad impersonation of a stereotype

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Acreo Aeneas

I sorta wish the line: "you will explode" was: "eat me". That way I could at least laugh at the whole incident.

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Acreo_Aeneas
Former 9th Member

Tonk

lol




Iran would be very stupid (or has working nukes) to initiate an attack with us while we are so heavily stationed in the middle east, we have so many missles and what not to obliterate them ten times over, i hope that if they attack, we hand their asses to them on a silver platter, and kick Ahmedinejad to the curb, he is the true warmonger in all of this.

and take all their oil (ok, jk on the last part)

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Gambit7

I dunno, I'm sorry... but I still think this whole incident seems fishy to me. We can all safely assume the Iranians were just screwin with the fleet there (if they were indeed Iranians). I dont think the Iranians are right in doing that, but I also think it's not enough for the Warhawks we've got on capital hill to start sabre-rattling.

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leejo

It doesn't seem fishy to me. Iran staged a cute little scene. The Navy showed good discipline and restraint. It was serious but nothing got out of hand. I don't know who is rattling a saber over this - I haven't seen that - and I don't understand why you see anything fishy here. That seems sad.

AMosely

This is a strange incident and would seem somewhat unbelievable but for the fact that the Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Mohammed Ali Hosseini acknowledged it, oddly claiming that this was "something normal that takes place now and then for each party." The US Navy has also released audio and video tapes.

Despite the somewhat threatening nature of this odd naval maneuver, some of the responses from the Bush administration have been threatening as well. Bush and Secretary of State Rice have both been quoted as saying the acts were "provocative" and "dangerous." As if parking warships at the confluence of Iranian and International waters isn't provocative and dangerous? The U.S. administration's response to this is almost as foolish as the event itself.

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leejo

The Iranian actions were dangerous and provocative. What should they have said that would have pleased you? Where should these ships be that would be more appropriate in your mind? Do you suggest that the area would be more or less secure for civilian traffic without those US ships present - Iran will provide the security and ensure that international commerce flows freely? Maybe a few glowing crates could move in and out of their "territorial waters" better?

Forgive me but you seem to be falling over yourself in order to make this Bush's fault. I know that you don't like having our ships or soldiers anywhere near this key strategic area but given that we do have a mission in the region, those ships are sitting on top of some key terrain, exactly as they should, and they are fully prepared to blow anyone who threatens them out of the water, as is their right.

boudreux

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