The Iran War Crisis: Are We Headed Towards a Gulf of Tonkin Incident?

National Interest ^ | May 25 2019 | Lawrence J. Korb

[rintintin]

Many analysts have argued that the rising tensions between the United States and Iran in the Persian Gulf region, especially the claims by the United States that Iran is increasing its military capabilities bear disturbing similarities to the run up to the Iraq war in 2002 and 2003, when the Bush administration falsely hyped Iraq’s pursuit of weapons of mass destruction.

While this analogy may be correct, the events are actually more similar to the Gulf of Tonkin incident, which occurred in August 1964—something I remember well.

On August 2, 1964, the destroyer Maddox—which was part of a carrier battle group deployed to the Gulf of Tonkin to conduct reconnaissance and intercept North Vietnamese communications in support of attacks by South Vietnamese patrol boats on North Vietnamese coastal targets—was approached by three North Vietnamese torpedo patrol boats. As they drew near, the Maddox fired three warning shots and the North Vietnamese responded with torpedoes and machine gun fire. The Maddox returned fire, eventually expending 280 shells and damaging the North Vietnamese torpedo boats. These attacks also killed four North Vietnamese sailors and wounded six more. There were no U.S. casualties and the Maddox was essentially unscathed.

While President Lyndon Johnson’s national-security team was deliberating how to respond to this situation, another attack occurred. At 9 a.m. on August 4, 1964, the Maddox reported that, based on radar and communications intercepts, North Vietnamese ships and aircraft were poised to wage another attack. Two hours later it claimed that it had actually been attacked by North Vietnamese torpedoes—a claim the captain of the Maddox eventually backtracked on.

[RoseofTexas]

I just wonder what Iran did with the 150 BILLION$$$$$ Ovomit gifted them?!!

[Midwesterner53]

This could become very serious very quick. Iran is more stupid than we thought if they are openly attacking ships.

[karnage]

I doubt it.

[AppyPappy]

Yeah but Trump is a businessman. He’s probably thinking “US oil just got more attractive”

[Brilliant]

I think that Trump is just laying it out for Iran. If they attack they will pay. That makes war less likely I think.

[kabar]

Gulf of Tonkin is a loaded pejorative description. These are not American vessels that have been attacked. I would advise against military action against Iran.

[july4thfreedomfoundation]

Actually, that $150 billion belonged to Iran.

It was frozen for years in U.S. accounts.

However, since Iran is known to have deployed IEDs in Iraq which crippled and killed U.S. military men and women, I would have liked to have seen lawsuits against Iran by the wounded military personnel and the families of those killed, and some of this money used to pay judgments against Iran.

Also, Americans who were held hostage from November, 1979 to January, 1981 should have been paid compensation from that money. The same goes for individuals and American corporations who had their assets seized by Iran when the Shah was overthrown.

[SkyDancer]

Do what Reagan did and reflag all those ships as American.

[IronJack]

These are not American ships. Let their owning nations defend them. The second so much as a slingshot is fired at an American vessel, let Iran join Iraq in the Got Crushed by the US, Middle East chapter.

Until then, mind our own business.

[TigersEye]

Gulf of Tonkin is a loaded pejorative description.

Yes, it is which puts this article squarely in the category of demagoguery.

[Tejas Rob]

>>Do what Reagan did and reflag all those ships as American.<<

Reagan sunk half the Iranian fleet.

[kabar]

I don’t recall Reagan ever doing that. Do you have a source for that assertion?

[wannabegeek]

Probably the writer of the article didn’t see yet U.S. Navy report unexploded mine found still sticked at one of the tanker. Gulf of Tonkin, what? In April 14, 1988, USS Samuel B. Roberts stuck a mine while navigating around Persian Gulf that found out crazy Iranians layed the mines supposedly to victimize commercial vessels passing through the Straits of Hormuz. April 18, 1988, came the operation praying mantis, the U.S. Navy in retaliatory attacked Iranian military targets: a Iranian frigate sunk, a gunboat sunk, 3 speedboats sunk, another frigate damaged, 2 platforms destroyed, etc. If Navy determine the unexploded mine(s) found in the stricken super are Iranian made, Mr. Trump might order sink all the Iranian Ghadir-class submarines lurking around the Persian Gulf.

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[SkyDancer]

Dunno, grandad just mentioned it happened right after he got our hostages back and to prevent Iran from attacking ships.

[Forward the Light Brigade]

I want PROOF that Iran was doing this rather foolish move. It could a false flag operation from Saudi Arabia, Gulf States, or Russia. Or it might be some radical Iranian minor nut who wants war. Or it might be some religious Nut Mullah who thinks Allah will help them win or force Islamic/ Western War where all Islamic lands will join in a universal war on the hated Crusaders and Jews. It might be a plot by Israel to end the Iranian threat to them. BUT we need real (or well faked) proof of Iran’s hand in this.

[DownInFlames]

Gulf of Tonkin was phony. This is real. Real ship are being attacked in international waters with real damage visible to the public.

[Spruce]

Just search for “reflag kuwaiti tankers”

[JGT]

It was part of Operation Earnest Will, 1987-88, during the Reagan Administration.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Earnest_Will