Weakness invites aggression.
“US Navy reports ‘unsafe’ encounter with Iran’s Guards in Strait of Hormuz,” Associated Press, June 21, 2022:
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A US Navy warship fired a warning flare to wave off an Iranian Revolutionary Guard speedboat coming straight at it during a tense encounter in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, officials said Tuesday.
The incident on Monday involving the Guard and the Navy comes as tensions remain high over stalled negotiations over Iran’s tattered nuclear deal with world powers and as Tehran enriches uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels under decreasing international oversight.
Meanwhile, the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog said Iran now plans to enrich uranium through a second set of advanced centrifuges at its underground Fordo facility amid the standoff.
The Cyclone-class patrol ship USS Sirocco and Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport USNS Choctaw County found themselves in the close encounter with three Iranian fast boats while coming through the Strait of Hormuz to enter the Persian Gulf, the Navy said.
In a video released by the Navy’s Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, a high-speed Guard Boghammar is seen turning head-on toward the Sirocco. The Sirocco repeatedly blows its horn at the Boghammar, which turns away as it closes in. The flare shot can be heard, but not seen, as the Boghammar passes the Sirocco with the Iranian flag flying above it.
The Navy said the Boghammar came within 50 yards (45 meters) of the Sirocco, raising the risk of the vessels running into each other. The overall encounter lasted about an hour, the Navy said.
The Guard’s “actions did not meet international standards of professional or safe maritime behavior, increasing the risk of miscalculation and collision,” the Navy said.
Iran did not immediately acknowledge the incident in the strategic waterway — a fifth of all traded oil passes through the strait.
The Navy separately told The Associated Press that this marked the second so-called “unsafe and unprofessional” incident it had with Iran in recent months….
mgoldberg says
“The Associated Press that this marked the second so-called “unsafe and unprofessional” incident it had with Iran in recent months….”
I’m surprised the Navy announcement didn’t mention the improper use of pronouns by the Iranians
somehistory says
along the same thought I had…perhaps the mozlums thought the sailors were about to use pronouns that mozlums see as offending their ‘prophet.’ the flare announced that they had other intentions if the boat came too close….something beyond words.
Infidel says
Maybe b’cos they were speaking Farsi? I wonder whether that language has gender pronouns??
Infidel says
The biggest threat to our sailors ain’t the IRGC or the Iranian navy or anything from that country. The biggest threat to them is any Democrat administration
john smith says
Spot on Infidel
Keith O says
HUH, the US navy had to warn off a fibreglass speed boat belonging to an enemy state that was coming head on at their steel warship.
Should have kept going and then sent a sailor over the side to repair the scratch marks in the paintwork.
somehistory says
the speedboat could be loaded with explosives like the one that blew a large hole years ago in the USS Cole being refueled in Yemen.
gravenimage says
Grimly true, Somehistory.
Keith O says
And the cure for that is an M-2 Hbar.
James Lincoln says
somehistory,
A few years before the USS Cole attack, I was stationed on the USS Hewitt, also in port in Aden, Yemen, for refueling.
Every time I hear about the USS Cole attack, I think of what easily could have been. And then I say a prayer for the 17 killed and 39 injured American sailors, and I weep inside.
Infidel says
The entire US policy towards the region – of regarding Arab/muslim countries as allies – should have ended after that, or at least after 9/11. Yet to this day, we continue to pretend that almost all muslim countries, except Iran, Syria, ‘Palestine’ – are our allies
somehistory says
I’m sorry, James, that you have such an emotional trauma every time. Guess I added to that. I’m sorry, too, for those who lost their lives and for their families and friends. I’m glad you were not there.
It was a terrible thing.
gravenimage says
Thanks for that personal account, James.
gravenimage says
US Navy in ‘unsafe’ encounter with Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps boat in Strait of Hormuz
………………………………
An encounter would be “unsafe” if, say, a boat of drunken pleasure cruisers almost ran into a US naval vessel.
Whereas this is a case of deliberate aggression–a *very* different matter.
Walter Sieruk says
Those in power in the tyrannical cruel ,brutal opressive misogynistic Islamic regime of Iran who are the ayatollahs and mullahs ,who have so great influence and sway in Iran’s Muslim parliament along with the others in control in that Iram’s “mullah regime” are able to terrorize the Iranian people through Islamic state police who are nothing but bands of Muslim thugs in uniform who are officially called “Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards.”
The Iranian people do have every ethical and moral right to rise up a overthrow those tyrants who deprive them of their basic human rights, as explained by the brilliant political philosopher , John Locke .
In the meanwhile the people trapped and forced to exist in that oppressive Islamic regime have to live of fear of those cruel Sharia minded tyrants who might have their ruthless Islamic revolutionary guards come after them to their harm.
The American genius Benjamin Franklin had it right when he had printed in his periodical POOR RICHARD’S ” ALMANAC “Those who are feared are also hated.”
gravenimage says
Unfortunately, few in Iran seem inclined to stand up for their freedom.
Some of this is, no doubt, fear–but a good deal of this is continued adherence to the ugly diktats of Islam.