U.S. Would Have Fired on The Iranians

UK Independent via. Hot Air ^

[Weight of Glory]

The executive officer - second-in-command on USS Underwood, the frigate working in the British-controlled task force with HMS Cornwall - said: “The unique US Navy rules of engagement say we not only have a right to self-defence but also an obligation to self-defence. They [the British] had every right in my mind and every justification to defend themselves rather than allow themselves to be taken. Our reaction was, ‘Why didn’t your guys defend themselves?’”…

[Weight of Glory]

This is a story that is out of the UK Independent, but I was restricted from directly linking to it. Use the link to Hot Air, and scroll down to the link HA provides, to read the full article.

[farlander]

From the article :

"Yesterday, the former First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Alan West, said British rules of engagement were “very much de-escalatory, because we don’t want wars starting … Rather than roaring into action and sinking everything in sight we try to step back and that, of course, is why our chaps were, in effect, able to be captured and taken away.”

Ahem. 'De-escalatory' ? Sooo... when they come to kill you in your own house will you try to 'de-escalate' by killing yourself ? What the hell in the world are these people smoking. Someone even gets close enough to try to board you *do* sink everything in sight and ask questions later.

[kingu]

It just goes to show you that all this is related to knives having pointy parts on the end. Once they get the sharp points off the end of chef knives and the like, everything will be all better.

[ICE-FLYER]

This is a direct act of war by the Iranians. They ought to be retaliated against.

[DogBarkTree]

I would never say that we or our Brit pals cant fight and kick butt but Id be willing to bet if this were 15 Yanks instead of Brits the outcome would have been the same. I cant understand why everyone is so scared of these Persian m&%$^#r &^@*$#rs.

[clintonh8r]

I guess "Rule Britannia" is no longer in effect. Why even bother to have a Royal Navy if the SOP is to "de-escalate"?

[Weight of Glory]

" Ahem. 'De-escalatory' "

Yeah! It does seem as though the Brits know of a mysterious land where they acquire all the "squishy" words they use.

[RightWhale]

I don't know if the US Navy would have fired, but if I were in the group and we had been furnished firearms and bullets, the weapon would have been used when the demand to surrender was issued.

[Mr. Mojo]

Yesterday, the former First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Alan West, said British rules of engagement were “very much de-escalatory, because we don’t want wars starting"

Memo to the Brits: The war has already started.

[OldFriend]

Yes, I noticed how the sailors on the USS Cole fired on the explosive laden dinghy bearing down on them. /s/

The sailors on the USS Cole had NO ammunition in thier weapons.

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

This happened Friday. Come Saturday morning I would have made sure president Makmood would have awoken to boatless Navy. With the promise he soon would arise to an aircraftless Air force and finally with the promise he soon will have to stop worrying about waking up in the first place.

[Obie Wan]

Well First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Alan West,it's obvious the Iranians aren't playing by your rules of engagement !!!

[cripplecreek]

Looks like the Lebanese (Syrian/Iranian) grabbing of Israeli soldiers was a test case. The world screamed excessive force and the Israelis backed down.

[Weight of Glory]

"I don't know if the US Navy would have fired,"

True, always tough to say what you WOULD do. However, at least our guys SAY they would do it; and in the world of "don't-say-this-or-that" it is something!

[Enterprise]

I agree that we would have fired on them. Let us take a moment to reflect on an old prayer, because it is as powerful now as it was then, and oh so appropriate. Merciful Father, hear our prayer, protect our brave men and women so far from home, in such grave peril. These are our best, they stand where we cannot, death stalks them, and they are precious beyond all treasure.

"Eternal Father, strong to save
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave.
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep
Oh hear us when we cry to thee
For those in peril on the sea."

[RightWhale]

You know the story of the isolated Marine on Guadalcanal who was surrounded and thought he was going down, fighting of course. Then another Marine called from a couple trees away. 'There's two of us! Let's go!' And they did.
They busted out of there yelling and shooting.

[navyguy]

Have to agree with you there. We're usually no better. Its part of our hands off policy with Iran.

Sometimes I get so tired...

[waimea.man]

So: (1) will the ROE change for the Brits (and for the US if they aren't different)? and (2) will the Iranians try something similar again (with hopefully different results)?

[ansel12]

"Id be willing to bet if this were 15 Yanks instead of Brits the outcome would have been the same. I cant understand why everyone is so scared of these Persian m&%$^#r &^@*$#rs."




Then what does this mean?

"Asked by The Independent whether the men under his command would have fired on the Iranians, [Lt. Cdr. Erik Horner] said: “Agreed. Yes. I don’t want to second-guess the British after the fact but our rules of engagement allow a little more latitude. Our boarding team’s training is a little bit more towards self-preservation.”
The executive officer - second-in-command on USS Underwood, the frigate working in the British-controlled task force with HMS Cornwall - said: “The unique US Navy rules of engagement say we not only have a right to self-defence but also an obligation to self-defence. They [the British] had every right in my mind and every justification to defend themselves rather than allow themselves to be taken. Our reaction was, ‘Why didn’t your guys defend themselves?’”…

[FreeReign]

Yesterday, the former First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Alan West, said British rules of engagement were “very much de-escalatory, because we don’t want wars starting … Rather than roaring into action and sinking everything in sight we try to step back and that, of course, is why our chaps were, in effect, able to be captured and taken away.”

If British ROE were more appropriate, they wouldn't come looking for you chumps er... chaps.