Posted on 04/29/2015 8:58:05 AM PDT by fredericbastiat1
What part of my factual post did you not understand? I repeat:
“It wasn’t a US flagged ship but it was registered in the Marshall Islands which although getting independence from the US in 1986 still enjoys the “umbrella” of a US protectorate”
The fact that we are not going to do anything about the Iranians act of piracy has no bearing on the factuality of what I posted.
Why is it our responsibility to do anything about it? Maersk is working with the Danish foreign ministry to find out what's going on. According to the Iranians one of their courts ordered the ship seized as a result of a legal judgment against Maersk regarding some missing cargo. Link
This has nothing to do with the U.S.
“Why is it our responsibility to do anything about it?”
Its a great excuse to back out of the nuclear deal and put excruciating sanctions back on the country. But as we all know Barack Obama will do nothing.
It still has no bearing on my factual post that the Marshall Islands still fall under our sphere of influence. If we wanted an excuse to eff with Iran this is it.
It's not a "deal", it's a treaty ... and that's a big difference.
The Senate has no say in a "deal", but they have (or would have if the GOPE leader had a scintilla of masculinity) a big say in a treaty.
So, Ben, be different from most others on the Right or on the Left -- stop calling this treaty a "deal"!
“The Marshall Islands are under a defense treaty with the United States; the U.S. is obligated to come to the defense of that nation should it be attacked”
What part of "it has nothing to do with us" is so hard for you to understand?
It still has no bearing on my factual post that the Marshall Islands still fall under our sphere of influence. If we wanted an excuse to eff with Iran this is it.
You're not going to be happy until we start a war with them, are you?
“The Marshall Islands are under a defense treaty with the United States; the U.S. is obligated to come to the defense of that nation should it be attacked”
I guess you are pushing for Obama’s “Iran surrender”.
Well have someone attack the Marshall Islands and then we can talk.
Technically an attack on a ship registered through the Marshall Islands is an attack on the Marshall Islands. Just as an attack on a NATO vessel is an attack on NATO. Which we also have a treaty to protect.
We have a treaty with the Marshall Islands to protect them.
Oh for God's sake, the Marshall Islands is a flag of convenience. They will allow any company to register any ship they want under their flag and in return they offer a haven from taxes and regulations. The ships in question never come near the country, do not have any Marshall Island citizens on board, and the Marshall Islands itself couldn't care less what happens to them. And you want to go to war over it.
And you want to go to war over it.
DoodleDawg, you've asked the wrong the question. The question is; Do we ignore our ethical and legal responsibilities because they're inconvenient?
We have no ethical or legal responsibilities in this. The Marshall Islands are a flag of convenience. They'll let literally anyone register in their country so long as they pay the fees, and companies are lining up to do so because of the tax advantages. There is no connection with this ship and the Marshall Islands except on a piece of paper. The ship is not owned by the Marshall Islands. There are no citizens of the Marshall Islands onboard. The ship was not seized in the Marshall Islands so they weren't invaded. There is absolutely no reason why the U.S. should intervene in this. None whatsoever.
There is absolutely no reason why the U.S. should intervene in this.
Whether you like it or not, the United States guarantees freedom to sail in international waters of all American flagged ships (their crews, passengers, cargoes, etc.). Not only ships owned by Americans or American corporation but all ships registered as American, whether not owned by foreigners or foreign companies or not.
By treaty, which both the U.S. and the Marshall Islands agreed to (and enacted into law), the U.S. has to protect all Marshall Island flagged ships just as the do American flagged ships.
This is not an American flagged ship.
By treaty, which both the U.S. and the Marshall Islands agreed to (and enacted into law), the U.S. has to protect all Marshall Island flagged ships just as the do American flagged ships.
No it doesn't. It means we would protect them if invaded. Iran seizing a ship that has no connection to the Marshall Islands whatsoever except on paper in not an invasion. And I certainly don't understand this desire to go to war over the Maersk Freakin' Tigris.
No it doesn't.
The Government of the United States has full authority and responsibility for the security and defense matters in or relating to the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
I hate to be dense, but I'm having trouble understading you. Which parts of the law are you having trouble with? "full authority and responsibility?" "security and defense matters?" "in or relating to?"
How this is in any way a "security and defense" matter.
How this is in any way a "security and defense" matter
All countries defend their merchant ships on the high seas, or they become easy prey. American ships suffered many losses before its navy became strong enough to defend its ships--from Britain after the close of the Revolution, from France during the Quasi-War, from North Africa Moslems countries (ending in the Barbary wars), and from general piracy. For a little background, in one instance, you might study Allen's Our Navy and the Barbary Corsairs (1905).
The Marshall Islands have no defensive forces due the mutual agreement with America to defend and secure the Islands in all "matters in or relating to the Republic of the Marshall Islands." This includes their merchant fleet.
It's a flag of convenience. The ship has no connection to the Marshall Islands except on a piece of paper so to say that it's "their merchant fleet" is a gross exaggeration.
... except on a piece of pape ...
Exactly! The same as any treaty, law, marriage license, car title, etc.
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