Posted on 06/14/2019 12:57:36 PM PDT by Mariner
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Iranian military fast-boats in the Gulf of Oman are preventing two privately owned tug boats from towing away an oil tanker damaged in attacks on Thursday, a U.S. official said on Friday, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The U.S. official did not say how the United States knew of the reported standoff between the Iranian fast-boats and the tug boats, which were trying to tie up and tow away the Norwegian-owned Front Altair. The United States blames Iran for Thursdays attacks against the Altair and the Japanese-owned Kokuka Courageous.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Of note: The source is not named. "US official".
But if true the US Navy can get there pretty quick, unless order to stand off.
Are they being coached by John F’n “Swiftboat” Kerry (who I hear sorta served in Viet Nam)?
Make sure it’s Iran.
If it’s Iran sink every ship in the country.
And if they try to defend from air, take out their airforce.
If it’s not Iran, then figure out who.
If it’s Iran fast boats, it ought to be fairly easy to link them to Iran.
I don’t think we should be the world’s policeman.
Norway might want to do something.
Japan might want to do something.
Arab states who export oil through the Straits of Hormuz might want to do something.
Why should the US do anything?
We should stick with economic diplomacy aimed at ending their nuclear program. No ships in the water. No boots on the ground.
“But if true the US Navy can get there pretty quick, unless order to stand off. “
Yes, and the US Navy has aircraft that could have been on scene in a matter of minutes, which makes me wonder just how long we’re going to tolerate Iran screwing around? How about our A/C sinking all their “fast boats” ( which they probably got at Bass Pro Shops)? NO more sternly worded letters! Ditto for our border with Mexico, this $hit needs to be fixed.
Is it in international waters? Or territorial Waters?
Nothing about this story smells right... most especially Mike “Mr. Crypto” Pompeo and John “Draft Dodger” Bolton.
It is an interesting position to take. I believed it, once, myself.
The alternative put forward by the globalists is the corrupt U.N.
Your alternative, of small countries taking up the baton, leads to lots of small wars and ineffectual "policing".
The world has prospered under the Pax Britannica, which morphed into the Pax Americana after WWII.
The United States has prospered as well.
Somebody has to maintain freedom of the seas and some reasonable facsimile protecting global commerce.
It doesn't happen by accident, or randomly.
Real good approach with fanatical, religious zealots - works every time.
No...wait...
For good or ill, America has ensured that the seas are not subject to piracy since the days of Thomas Jefferson.
You going to trust Britain to do it?
“orway might want to do something.”
Norway is a NATO country. Just sayin.
I hate Iran. We owe them big time.
Time to pay them back.
Because abandoned ships belong to the first person to get there?
Since Pompeos active and speaking this week, maybe he can comment on Mexico and Ebola?
Secretary Pompeo?
Hello?
What I like about the story is the assertion that the US official did not say how we knew this. I guess that Reuters hasn’t heard about that new-fangled invention called RADAR. I understand that it has even been installed in some of the US Navy’s top-of-the-line warships and aircraft, but maybe that’s just a rumor.
“How about our A/C sinking all their fast boats
There are an estimated 2,000 small missile boats armed with up to four anti-ship missiles and probably a variety of anti-aircraft weapons. The Iranians have an estimated 150 midget subs capable of firing a variety of ordinance. In a war game against swarm attacks the US lost 16 ships including an aircraft carrier.
True, the US could probably reduce Iran but at what cost? Also, what is our national interest? The US is, for all practical purposes, oil independent (despite Obama’s best efforts.) The US doesn’t have a dog in this fight. The only interest would be humanitarian. If Iran manages to shut down 20% if the world’s oil supply it would trigger starvation and mass immigration to the West. Starving people can get on ships and head across the Mediterranean or Atlantic.
Although Saudi Arabia is the real sufferer here, they probably can’t do much about it as their military doesn’t function well outside of air-conditioning. They are getting their butts handed to them in Yemen.
It’s a mess no matter what happens. Iran is a bad actor but is it the US’ job to do something about it? (On the other hand, literally, no one else can.)
> Norway might want to do something. <
I agree. For whatever reason, you wanna register your ship in Norway, or in Panama, or whatever? You don’t want to pay the costs associated to register in the United States? Okay, fine.
but then realize that the U.S. navy has no duty to automatically protect you.
I have to agree. I thought the same until I saw Obama back away and watch the world go to hell in a handbasket.
If we’re not the world’s policemen, nobody else will do it. Nobody else has the military or the backbone to do it. That’s probably the best thing about Trump winning instead of Hillary...If she had won, the UN would be running the country right now...at any rate, somebody has to stay on top of bad actors like Syria and Iran, and nobody else will do it. We saw that for 8 years of former president stompy feet. If you want more of that, then we don’t need to be the world’s policeman.
Instead we have a new sheriff in town, and a good chance of our country remaining the leader of the free world, at least for the next 6 years or so. Maybe by then someone else will emerge who has sense enough to keep things on track.
And I’m glad to say I’ve changed my mind, maybe we do need to be the world’s policeman...
Or.....we might remember who our friends and allies are so when we need a hand in the future, we still have friends and allies....
“There are an estimated 2,000 small missile boats armed with up to four anti-ship missiles and probably a variety of anti-aircraft weapons.”
Not even the Us, China or Russia has 8,000 anti-ship missiles in inventory. Probably not even combined inventory.
That’s a mighty big claim.
Do you have a source for that?
The U.S. Navy should protect the seas, but shouldn’t the Arab nations with all their billions of oil dollars protect their own little sea, the Persian Gulf?
Instead, one of the Arab nations, Iran, blew up a tanker in its own sea, causing tanker insurance rates to soar, so that many nations will now find it more profitable to buy oil from safer areas.
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