WASHINGTON (AP) — In what U.S. officials called a serious provocation, Iranian boats harassed and provoked three U.S. Navy ships in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, threatening to explode the American vessels.
U.S. forces were on the verge of firing on the Iranian boats in the early Sunday incident, when the boats — believed to be from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s navy — turned and moved away, a Pentagon official said. “It is the most serious provocation of this sort that we’ve seen yet,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the record. Defense Department spokesman Bryan Whitman called it a “serious incident. This is something that deserves an explanation.”
National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said the United States urges the Iranians “to refrain from such provocative actions that could lead to a dangerous incident in the future.”
The incident occurred at about 5 a.m. local time Sunday as Navy cruiser USS Port Royal, destroyer USS Hopper and frigate USS Ingraham were on their way into the Persian Gulf and passing through the strait — a major oil shipping route.
Five small boats began charging the U.S. ships, dropping boxes in the water in front of the ships and forcing the U.S. ships to take evasive maneuvers, the Pentagon official said.
Full Story Here:
Pentagon: U.S. Navy ships harassed by Iran
I am of the understanding that a Captain in charge of his ship, a ship at sea, is the ultimate decision maker concerning the danger level his ship faces and in what appropriate action and/or force is to be used to eliminate that threat…
Our ships were in International waters, I want to know WHY these ships didn’t blow the Iranian craft out of the water??
The provocation was there, the intent was there, the ability to respond was there, we don’t need another incident like USS Cole or a replay of the Brits as they were taken hostage sometime back, the high seas are open to all and any that attack you ON the high seas should be fully aware of the immediate consequences that they will suffer in this type of stunt…
Iran may not have a nuclear weapons program, they may well BS their way through that accusation, but this is NOT an action that is in a muddled up grey area, I’d be willing to bet that there IS some digital or film footage of the Iranian craft and their actions…
How much harassment do we take on the high seas?? When do we strike our attackers?? Those that really DO attack us, as opposed to those that threatened ‘Daddy’??
Sept. 11, 2001 was an act of war, and for a while we responded accordingly, what are we going to do now?? Is this type of action not a clear and present danger to our ships and their crews??
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As I’ve said before and on others blogs…
Iran should be spending today pulling their dead out of the water.
Shoot first…
Get names later…
We can always use target practice!
Yep Ranando hit on the head there.
Yup, I remember back in 1988 when the USS Vincennes celebrated the 4th of July by blowing an Iraninan aircraft, full of future terrorists, out of the sky. The aircraft, an airliner, wasn’t transmitting the proper IFF signal and was flying a flight path of a fighter on an attack run.
If any of you remember the pictures of the “victims” as they floated in the water, they were all naked and tied together. I’ve never known people to fly on airliners like that.
I reckon under Bush the rules of engagement have changed. They need to be changed back..
They were testing us, as they tested Britain when Iranian gunboats boarded a boat and then held UK soldiers hostage.
Will we wait until some of OUR sailors are held hostage?
BZ
It wont take but a couple of rounds to clear up this issue.
I read other articles that said they placed objects in the water in the path of our ships. Why didn’t we take this threat seriously?
Start killing or capturing and put Iran in the hot seat.
Remember when Kadafi’s jets challanged ours. Ronnie gave the order, missles were armed, U.S. 2, Kadafi 0. Wake up Americans!! Please get out and vote for a President who has a set of balls, and won’t take any crap from anyone who openly challanges our military. Like the Nike motto;
“JUST DO IT”!!!!!!!
Remember, it is not our Navy’s job to judge the Iranians who provoked them. However, it is their job to get them in front of Jesus for judgement.
Tony said: “Please get out and vote for a President who has a set of balls, and won’t take any crap from anyone who openly challanges our military. Like the Nike motto;
“JUST DO ITâ€!!!!!!! ”
—-
And just who might that be, Tony? I don’t see another Ronald Reagan among the choices or anyone even close to having the guts he had. Sad to say …
Bluebonnet Sue, you know, I thought the exact same thing and held off on saying it simply because I thought, well, it’s just me, but you know, I don’t think there’s a full ‘set’ between ALL of em…