Posted on 05/13/2016 1:40:43 PM PDT by pabianice
WASHINGTON D.C. -- The Navy has fired the commander of the 10 American sailors who wandered into Iranian territorial waters in the Persian Gulf and were captured and held by Iran for about 15 hours.
In a statement Thursday, the Navy said it had lost confidence in Cmdr. Eric Rasch, who was the executive officer of the squadron that included the 10 sailors at the time of the January incident. He was responsible for the training and readiness of the more than 400 sailors in the unit...
Secretary of State John Kerry, in a series of phone calls, used the personal relationship he has formed with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to work out the crews' release. Kerry credited the quick resolution to the "critical role diplomacy plays in keeping our country secure and strong."
Why isn’t the CO on the hook?
Had to get rid of him ... unit political officer reported that the officer had refused to be the target dummy for higher ups and had threatened to tell the truth!
Fired? Is that a Navy thing?
Gee not a word about those sim cards they where ordered to give Iran.
Not unusual at that rank, when a staff officer is placed in a field unit.
I was a battery XO during a Tac eval, my BC incorrectly encoded coordinates for one of our platoons. What made it worse was the platoon leader didn't question the mission. I was back at our motor pool getting my rear chewed over our maintenance status by the Battalion XO.
Truly a shining moment in my military career...lol.
I believe he was the ranking officer on the scene when the boats were captured.
Hmmm: Navy “fires” commander of sailors captured by Iran (Video in the link)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3430326/posts
Navy officer fired over Iran’s detention of 10 sailors.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3430153/posts
Navy Commander Fired in Connection with Iran Detention Incident
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3430121/posts
So, he was responsible for the training of these sailors?
He obviously didn’t train them in the skills of basic Seamanship.
At the time of the incident, then Lt. Cmdr. Rasch was XO, NOT the commanding officer. He was promoted to Commander just last month
From Navy Times
“Cmdr. Gregory Meyer, who was commanding officer at the time of the incident, is currently with Coastal Riverine Group 1, and has been put on “administrative hold,” meaning the Navy will not transfer him out of the unit, while a high-level review of the Navy’s investigation into the incident continues, said two officials familiar with internal deliberations.”
There is a foul, rank odor emanating from this entire affair.
Political scapegoat.
Lies and more lies form the administration.
“Relieved of command” - a career ending event.
Kinda odd how the rainens knew to go straight to them. Did not keep any of the weapons or gear, nothing.
Very convent how they "then stopped to try to fix a mechanical problem in one boat’s diesel engine."
Well I guess they might of actually had a problem, they left at noon and were supposed to arrive to refuel at a rendezvous with the Monomey 5 hours later.
Photos look like a Combat Boat 90 H which has a listed top speed of only 45 knots or 51 mph.
So if they were cruising at 40 knots and had to refuel in 5 hours that is 230 miles.
Kuwait to Bahrain is a straight shot down the western coastline of the Persian Gulf, roughly 170 degrees.
So, to have "mechanical problems" in the vicinity of Farsi Island they would have to forget GPS AND a simple compass and take a heading of about 135 degrees OR stay on course to a ways south of Khafji and "hang a left."
Short story, by the time they got to the vicinity of Farsi Island they would be very low on fuel.
And by the next morning the boat's engine was just fine.
The sailors left Farsi Island at 11:43 a.m. on Jan 13, aboard the two riverine boats, and met up with the Anzio.
Refueling courtesy of the `rainens will do that you know.
.
Unfortunately there are many here who are calling for this sailor to be hung based on only the info provided by the media.......and that's a damn shame!
I'm with you on this, there is no way these two heavily armed boats would have surrendered to the Iranian bass boats unless they had orders from above to not defend if intercepted on whatever mission they were on........
Just like you, I watched his Iranian taped apology and there was nothing in his demeanor or voice that indicated that he was voluntarily apologizing. But rather struggling to make it knowing that he was following orders that he likely was opposed to............
Has there been any mention of the protocol for a boat that size going that far from the “mother ship”? I heard they were ALWAYS to have some type of air support. Something is fishy indeed!
Ya Think??!!??
Our military is embarrassing since it was populated by "the other form of welfare..."
The rot in the Navy starts at the top with Secy of Navy Mabus, a girlyman if there ever was one.
If there was ever a ship named after him, it would be one of the following:’
USS Coward
USS Fairy
USS Ball-less
USS FishHead
USS Disgrace
I used to attend a monthly luncheon with such Navy heroes as Arleigh Burke, Dan Galley, Middendorf, Adm. John McCain Sr (CINCOMPAC), and was friends with Adm. Jerry Denton.
They’re not making them like that anymore which is why we are losing to the Iranians and Red Chinese on the open seas.
While Mabus plays with his dinghy, our Naval men and women are put in harms’ way without the right to respond.
I call this treason.
Thank you for that info. Also for pointing out....the engine was just fine the next morning. Nothing about anyone working on it.
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