USS Impeccable Harassed by Five Chinese Ships in South China Sea - Video Report 3/9/09

Freedom's Lighthouse ^ | March 9, 2009 | BrianinMO

[Federalist Patriot]

Here is a video report by Jim Miklazewski at the Pentagon on news that the USS Impeccable, an unarmed U.S. Navy ship, was harassed yesterday by 5 Chinese Ships in International Waters. The Impeccable is a minesweeper, and reportedly used water canon to force one of the Chinese ships away that was attempting to latch onto the Impeccable with a grappling hook. The incident took place in international waters in the South China Sea, about 75 miles south of Hainan Island. The United States has reportedly lodged a protest with the Chinese Government. . . . . . (Watch Video Report)

[Jeff Head]

This is the third incident with this vessel. If they are going to send them on a military mission...they better protect her. They could eaily temporary duty people in cuh incidents and have mounts that come on for such missions and off for others.

In addition, once it is cler that they are provoking and harassing her, as has been clear over the past while with this particular vessel, we should be keeping a much better watch over her, with either an FFG, a DDG, or some form of support nearer at hand.

IMHO, we never want another Pueblo and this is heading that way.

[stuartcr]

You should suggest this to SecNav and MSC, they probably hadn’t thought about it.

[Smokin' Joe]

Pretty basic, that once we have the sonar signatures of the new subs, they will be known throughout the fleet.

Those D/E boats can be very quiet, and despite the vagaries of a littoral environment could be especially deadly there as well as in blue water.

I am sure the Chinese would love to board and examine the ship, just to enhance their countermeasures as well.

Yep. It should have an escort or two to reduce the 'sitting duck' nature of the mission. However, kudos to the Captain and crew for keeping this from developing into an 'incident' the Chinese could use. The lack of major armaments on the vessel precludes nonsense about "aggression". Might have been the first bath the Chinese crew had in months...

[Star Traveler]

You said — “Heck I am curious to see the Obama response. “

Reaction here...

U.S. Will Continue to Sail in International Waters, Official Says
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2203840/posts

[Star Traveler]

You said — “Obama will issue a full apology tomorrow.”

Well, you should be pleasantly surprised by the reaction, then...

U.S. Will Continue to Sail in International Waters, Official Says
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2203840/posts

—

I’ve been surprised that the Obama Administration has continued several of the military policies of the Bush Administration. It doesn’t seem he’s doing too bad in that area...

Now..., I’m not saying I would vote for the guy..., still wouldn’t do it... LOL...

[Eva]

I don’t know about Obama not doing too bad in the area of military affairs. There was a caller on Rush, today, a military mom, who was in tears over Obama and the military, saying that Obama was putting her son’s life at risk.

[Star Traveler]

Did she say what was happening so that this is the case?

[smokingfrog]

I’m pretty sure that modern day minesweepers do not have metal hulls.