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Iran Attacked US Forces In September
Captain's Quarters ^ | March 23, 2007 | Ed Morrissey

Posted on 03/23/2007 8:30:31 PM PDT by jdm

While the world wonders about the attack on and abduction of 15 British sailors by Iranian forces earlier this month, US News & World Report published the details of an attack by Iranian forces on Iraqi and American troops last September:

As the British government demanded the immediate release of 15 of its sailors whose boats were seized by Iranian naval vessels in the Persian Gulf on Friday, U.S. News has learned that this is not the first showdown that coalition forces have had with the Iranian military.

According to a U.S. Army report out of Iraq obtained by U.S. News, American troops, acting as advisers for Iraqi border guards, were recently surrounded and attacked by a larger unit of Iranian soldiers, well within the border of Iraq.

The report highlights the details: A platoon of Iranian soldiers on the Iraqi side of the border fired rocket-propelled grenades and used small arms against a joint patrol of U.S. and Iraqi soldiers east of Balad Ruz. Four Iraqi Army soldiers, one interpreter, and one Iraqi border policeman remain unaccounted for after the September incident in eastern Diyala, 75 miles east of Baghdad.

The Coalition forces saw three Iranian soldiers in Iraqi territory. As they approached, two of them ran back across the border, but one remained in Iraq. The joint force started interrogating the Iranian, and that's when the attack commenced. A stronger contingent of Iranians materialized and threatened to attack the US/Iraqi patrol if they tried to leave. While the Iranian captain told them this, his forces started firing on the patrol with small arms and RPGs.

The Iraqis and Americans returned fire at that point, and they took no casualties. However, the forces were unable to account for a half-dozen Iraqis after the incident. The report does not say whether the missing men were ever found or released by the Iranians, assuming they were captured.

This isn't the first time Iran has captured British sailors, either. In June 2004, they seized three British patrol boats and detained eight sailors. Teheran released them shortly afterwards, but analysts believed that they wanted to shift attention from the recently-released IAEA report that accused them of dishonesty in violating the non-proliferation agreement. They also may have wanted to push oil prices higher in order to make Bush's re-election more difficult.

Iran should take care. The British still have diplomatic relations, and so far have acted as a brake on American action against the mullahcracy. London may decide that the Iranians aren't worth the effort.


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: brits; iran; sailors; usnews
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To: faq

It is noteworthy that Iran keeps poking us and provoking our allies. It's almost like he wants us to attack. Something is up...if we attack then we anililate Iran...everything. I think if the attack is more conventional...like taking out a few military targets...then it will give Iran an excuse to do something terrible and unexpected to the United States or the U.K.


21 posted on 03/23/2007 9:02:14 PM PDT by woofer2425 (Kerry LIED)
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To: All

Iran's provocations have puzzled me for a long time. It's appeared to me that Iran definitely wants us to attack them, and if they do and the Bush administration knows they do, some credit should go to Bush for holding back thus far and trying other avenues.
Ahmayouknowwhat most likely sees his best chance of luring us in is while Bush is in office, thus the uptick in provocations. The big question is: why? I mull things around in my head and imagine there are several possibilities. Having said that, we must deal with them strongly, but very intelligently.


22 posted on 03/23/2007 9:02:22 PM PDT by tabor
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To: tabor
Having said that, we must deal with them strongly, but very intelligently.

But isn't 27 years long enough?

23 posted on 03/23/2007 9:04:56 PM PDT by jdm
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To: tabor

Iran and our enemies know that they can get away with things. Britain and the United States are run by people who don't want to be bothered to do anything unless really provoked. Bush is trying to make it until he is out of office, why would he care.


24 posted on 03/23/2007 9:07:09 PM PDT by racing fan (Go Team Israel!)
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To: jdm

That goes without saying. I bet we're all in agreement that it should have been answered 27 years ago.


25 posted on 03/23/2007 9:07:10 PM PDT by tabor
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To: Southack
Every time they humiliate the west a little more and get away with it, the oil price rises $2-3 a barrel, they get paid, Ahmadinejad's stock goes up with the activists and the weaker willed mullahs lose a little more power within Iran.

They really don't worry the slightest bitty little bit that we will actually do something. It is called contempt.

26 posted on 03/23/2007 9:08:54 PM PDT by JasonC
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To: racing fan

My guess is he's frustrated as all get out.


27 posted on 03/23/2007 9:09:03 PM PDT by tabor
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To: woofer2425
They don't need an excuse. The sheer popularity they know they would get out of anything of the kind would be reward enough. They would be the most popular goons on the planet. They are itching to get the means to do so, and striving for it every day in every way. In the meantime, propaganda rubbing the west's nose in it has-been impotence is a decent consolation prize and warm up act.

Yes virginia, men can murder you and the world will applaud.

28 posted on 03/23/2007 9:11:53 PM PDT by JasonC
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To: jdm
What is being said now: ...the incident appeared to be the result of a “misunderstanding” which could be quickly resolved. Something tells me this won't result in an all-out war.

Sounds like you're right, but we shall see. If nothing else this serves as yet another reminder to keep our powder dry.

I'm reminded of the Marine who was guarding the Tehran embassy in 1979 (Kevin Hermaning?) expressing regret that he and the other Marines didn't open fire when the embassy was stormed. The West can afford no more displays of weakness towards Iran.
29 posted on 03/23/2007 9:12:08 PM PDT by The Pack Knight (A fine is a tax on doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.)
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To: tabor
Frustrated? You dream. He is positively beaming with the radiant glow of effortless and total triumph. He is positively glorying in the epic humiliation he is inflicting on the entire west. You have to have some kind of missing honor-bone disease not to see it.
30 posted on 03/23/2007 9:13:26 PM PDT by JasonC
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To: tabor

My guess is he's frustrated as all get out.
________________________________________________

Bush should do something then. He is sending the wrong message. The only thing they understand is force, so we should give them hell. He should act like Sherman. If not, quit now.


31 posted on 03/23/2007 9:14:29 PM PDT by racing fan (Go Team Israel!)
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To: jdm

"But isn't 27 years long enough?"

One should think so, however this blatantly curious situation rates caution.


32 posted on 03/23/2007 9:16:52 PM PDT by rockinqsranch (Dems, Libs, Socialists...call 'em what you will...They ALL have fairies livin' in their trees.)
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To: ElCid89
"I don't understand why they haven't already taken out a couple of Iranian naval vessels. I also don't understand how a frigate captain let two of his small boats get surrounded and captured by a group of Iranina patrol boats. "

That's troubling and I'd like to know the answer. This is not suppose to happen.

33 posted on 03/23/2007 9:16:59 PM PDT by blam
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To: jdm

If this report is correct then its proof that our government will not respond to Iran under ANY circumstances. It's obvious that our policy is to allow Iran to attack anyone they want with total impunity in a consequence free environment. President Bush should be publically castigated for this.

And the GOP leadership wonders why they lost the last election. Imbeciles.

When all hell eventually breaks out in this country (and it will) do NOT rely on the government to protect you.


34 posted on 03/23/2007 9:17:12 PM PDT by navyguy (We don't need more youth. What we need is a fountain of SMART.)
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To: racing fan

As much as I hate sherman and think he is anathema I do have to admit you are right and he should act like him.


35 posted on 03/23/2007 9:18:54 PM PDT by festus (The constitution may be flawed but its a whole lot better than what we have now.)
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To: jdm
Iran should take care. The British still have diplomatic relations, and so far have acted as a brake on American action against the mullahcracy.

Islam holds the British hostages. It has nothing to fear. Its tentacles are self evident. They leisurely open more and more command and control centers on British and U.S. soil, and the brake on American action comes automatically from America's domestic enemies.

36 posted on 03/23/2007 9:22:12 PM PDT by PGalt
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To: montanus; Sola Veritas
The American Navy now has two carriers in the area.

And... the French carrier just happens to be in the Arabian Sea right now... I think that there's a lot more going on here than meets the eye.

Which prompts a new variation on the classic joke: "If the Iranians attack the American Navy, would the French help?"

37 posted on 03/23/2007 9:27:08 PM PDT by tarheelswamprat (So what if I'm not rich? So what if I'm not one of the beautiful people? At least I'm not smart...)
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To: Southack
>>>Very odd.<<<

Not really. "Twelvers" act that way. Ahmadinejad and his Rev. Guards are "twelvers".

38 posted on 03/23/2007 10:10:02 PM PDT by HardStarboard (The Democrats are more afraid of American Victory than Defeat!)
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To: tabor
>>> I bet we're all in agreement that it should have been answered 27 years ago.<<<

Nothing would suprise me any more. But if Bush sends Carter to negotiate with the Iranians for a release of hostages, I'm moving to Australia!

Its past time that we send in a few waves of B-1's and take out every last coastal military installation that the Iranians have. They were repositioned from Diego Garcia to Qatar a few weeks ago....where are they now?

39 posted on 03/23/2007 10:16:58 PM PDT by HardStarboard (The Democrats are more afraid of American Victory than Defeat!)
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To: tabor
>>>...we must deal with them strongly, but very intelligently.<<<

How do you deal intelligently with a "Twelver"? They believe that the apocalypse will bring the 12th Imam out of a well about 45 miles outside of Tehran and he will bring peace, and the triumph of Islam, to the world.

Deal with that intelligently...? Very difficult when your opponents frame of reference is off the planet.

40 posted on 03/23/2007 10:23:25 PM PDT by HardStarboard (The Democrats are more afraid of American Victory than Defeat!)
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