U.S. Navy Officers in Crosshairs Over Iran Debacle

Foreign Policy ^ | 6/22/2016 | Dan De Luce

[LadyBuzz]

The U.S. Navy is weighing whether to punish several officers and sailors for the botched mission that resulted in two boats inadvertently straying into Iranian waters, embarrassing Washington and handing Tehran a propaganda victory, Foreign Policy has learned.

[Uncle Sam 911]

Hard to train and maintain in Obama’s skeleton military. So long as women are in every job, gays are out and Christians not, he is happy.

[SoCal Pubbie]

I think you nailed it. Obama is a real heel. No sole whatsoever.

[GoldenPup]

The gubbermet and navy has been lying their collective asses off about this issue since it happened. Time to recognize the public will NEVER hear the truth about this incident.

[nuke_road_warrior]

Let me see if I’ve got this right. There are several endemic failures including lack of proper maintenance, lack of proper training, lack of outside support, and sending small boats on a voyage across open water in a hostile environment, yet only nine relatively low responsibility individuals are being investigated?

Sounds like the investigation should go all the way to the commander in chief.

[mad_as_he$$]

No, they weren’t SWCC boats.

[atc23]

After almost 30 years active duty, and now just an old retired guy, I seem to remember a requirement for “Code of Conduct” training. I recall something about the enemy and a soldier, sailor, airman, (Ooops Read: Air person) and Marine’s required behavior. Maybe these sailors just missed that block of instruction.

I doubt the Nav teaches young recruits that block anymore - it's not safe to require a FREAKING NAVAL COMMAND TO NEVER, EVER GIVE UP THE SHIP

I cannot even comprehend the thought of anyone ever stepping foot on our deck unless they were filled with lead first. What a world, what a world.

BTW, does anyone think it's kind of curious that nothing with this "administration" ever really adds up?

[Uncle Sam 911]

Retired here too. No effort to throw sensitive items over board, no effort to retrieve the broken boat. However, no money for training, for spare parts, for training or anything other than left wing social experiments with readiness.

[CPOSharky]

From what I have read, the chain of command on those two boats went from an LT, or LTjg, to a white hat. There did not seem to be a CPO present. If present, the chief would have taken over and gotten the group out of harms way.

[gigster]

but NO TOE LINE?... I Think you wanted to ask: No TOW Line?

[mbynack]

The whole think stunk to me.

Why were the boats there to begin with? What were they doing?

With all the advanced navigation equipment available, how is it possible for two vessels to accidently wander into Iranian waters?

Why didn’t the undamaged vessel tow the other one to safety? They had to have had mooring lines or they could have improvised something.

These guys were confessing to international crimes and crying within a day. I know pilots where were in solitary confinement in the Hanoi Hilton for years and tortured and still refused to make statements like that.

The earthquakes we’ve been feeling are probably all the Navy vets rolling over in their graves.

[lacrew]

I’m in the minority here, but I don’t see anything conspiratorial about the event. Just a good old fashioned screw up.

But the heart of the issue is that our sailors and marines did not know if they were ‘allowed’ to fight. So they let a few Iranian fishermen take them prisoner. Heck, we don’t even know for sure if the sailors had ammunition. This speaks to a bad command climate from top to bottom.

Also, it seems that the movement of these boats was logistical, and not part of a tactical plan...and the Navy treated it like they were just shuffling some cars around on a used car lot. These guys don’t appear to have had good communications, or even anybody who would notice that they weren’t where they were supposed to be. Way too complacent for moving around in the Gulf. Again a bad command climate.

Too much attention to social issues, and not enough to the important stuff.

[The_Media_never_lie]

I was a coastie in the reserves four 14 1/2 years. We always thought that the Navy was better at breaking things then rescuing people!

[paddles]

VADM Donegan (5th Fleet) should be relieved. He was ultimately responsible for what happened.

[piasa]

Those weren’t SWCC those were just coastal boats.

[Hulka]

Not entirely sure they were actually in Iranian waters.

Launching from Kuwait and heading south, there is no way, based on tide currents, that these boats would ever stray or drift into Iranian waters (within 3-miles of the Iranian coast-line-—3 miles. . .that would require the boats driving north).

Here is a graphic depiction of the current flows: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZl8fVHWanQ

Perhaps the Navy, always the most sensitive to the political waters (since Tailhook), they are sacrificing a few personnel to make it the fault of the US (Navy) and therefore can’t blame Iran for their actions.

[Hulka]

Add Post 35. . .

[Hulka]

Post 35. . .

[Hulka]

Indeed. . .Post 35.

[Hulka]

Wander into Iranian waters. . .see Post 35.

[Hot Tabasco]

Those who GAVE THE ORDERS to stand down instead of fight need the punishment.

They couldn't fight, they were in Iranian waters without permission.

Imagine the international incident that would arise if a Chinese patrol boat entered into U.S. territorial water off the coast of California then opened fire on the U.S. Coast Guard ship that tried to intercept them..........Both cases would be considered an act of war.