Posted on 10/07/2008 6:15:17 AM PDT by tomnbeverly
US WARPLANE FORCED TO LAND IN IRAN.
“So how did it get from that to US Warplane held in Iran? Unbelievable reporting- starting with Reuters and/or AP?”
They and BBC took their story from Iran’s FARS News Agency.
Let's suppose the incident actually happened. Not saying that it did, but just suppose....
It could be that things went down as stated ... or it could be that the plane flew there on purpose, that the "high ranking officers" were there to talk with Iranian officials, and this is the Iranian cover story for it.
The question being, in that case, what would they be talking about?
Hmmm...a few problems there...if it is HU-25, that is Coast Guard version of Falcon F-20, so eight would be a tight fit, also would NOT have civilian crew....these facts just don't fit together.
Hm.... now there's one that I'll bet Strunk & White never covered. ;-)
They could have launched military strikes against us and don’t say that we wouldn’t be yelling for the same thing if they had bombed our embassy somewhere else in the world.
It can be configured a number of different ways, normally has a crew of five and can carry a number of passengers.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/hu-25.htm
Man, I woke up early this morning to read the headline “Iran forces down American fighter plane.” Fell back asleep, woke up two hours later to read “Iran said it forced down foreign (relief) plane, then allowed the plane to continue (to Afghanistan) after questioning its passengers.”
Quite a difference, eh? Incredibly irresponsible (original) reporting.
Use of sub-contract, so called “civilian”, formerly active duty and highly trained flight crew is quite common.
Interesting scenario. If true, it could have to do with Iranian involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan and striking a deal or about Iran’s nuclear program. If that were the case, why would the Iranian news agency report it?
To give some explanation of their presence, which would have been noticed. (Again, assuming that such a report is true in the first place.)
I'm thinking back to the Iran Contra mess, way back when.... at the time, National Review published a piece by (or quoting) Oliver North saying that the real, unstated reason for the dealings with Iran were a result of an (Israeli?) intel report of a serious threat by the Russians, who would destabilize the Iranian regime, move in, and have access to Persian Gulf ports. The arms deal with Iran was intended to help prevent that threat.
A few of years later, the Iranians actually confirmed that scenario when Rafsanjani (or some Iranian president) by defending himself against the deal -- he called it a "Mossad trick" or some such -- but essentially confirmed the gist of the old NR report.
The point of the story being, I don't for a minute assume (as Obama does) that we and Iran "don't talk." The story shows that we and they can actually work deals together, when circumstances require it.
But there are a lot of reasons, on both sides, to hide the both the fact that we talk, and also what we talk about. Given the forces deployed in the region, both sides -- and especially Iran, I would think -- understand the dire consequences that would result from one side mistaking the other sides' actions or motives.
I would not assume that such contacts were comfortable or cordial; but I would assume that they are not infrequent.
We talk all the time to the Iranians thru third parties and I have no doubt that there are other face to face diplomatic contacts in third countries similar to the more publicized one between Amb Crocker and the Iranians.
Falcon—>>>
http://www.dassaultfalcon.com/aircraft/7x/
Karl Rove, 5 generals, a cake and a Bible?
Interesting, is someone meaning to stir up trouble?
Post #267 has link to the rest of the story, it was not an American plane.
WASHINGTON — EXCLUSIVE: Amid false allegations from Iranian media that a U.S. plane was forced down after accidentally entering Iranian airspace, FOX News learned Tuesday about another tense incident that occurred last month near the Strait of Hormuz.
On Sept. 6, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard threatened to shoot down U.S. helicopters flying cover aboard the USS Peliliu patrolling in the area, according to a classified military transcript of the radio exchange.
According to the transcript, the Peleliu, while en route to the Strait from the Gulf of Oman — was engaged in flight operations using CH-46 helicopters when they encountered an Iranian P3 surveillance plane overhead. The U.S. Navy, which considered the plane as outdated and a non-threatening presence, had a friendly exchange with the Iranians.
The Peleliu established bridge-to-bridge contact with the P3, saying:
USS Peleliu: “Unknown aircraft at 2000ft, this is a coalition warship operation in international waters, we request you remain clear.”
Iranian surveillance plane: “Good morning coalition warship, how do you feel?”
But a few hours later, while entering the Strait, the situation gets tense after an Iranian patrol boat demanded the warship’s identification number, despite being in international waters.
After the Peleliu identified itself, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard asked if it had any support ships in the area or any helicopters currently flying. The Peleliu responded that it was not authorized to provide that information.
Three hours later, according to transcripts, there was another confrontation.
Iranian Revolutionary Guard: “Your helicopters have breached Iranian air space. You have broken international rules. Your breach has been reported to the Iranian government. You are required to land your helicopters.”
USS Peleliu: “No challenges are intended to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Iran.”
Iranian Revolutionary Guard: “Last warning, your helicopters are in jeopardy.”
The Peleliu continued without landing the CH-46 helicopters.
Military sources told FOX News that this sort of incident happens nearly daily around the Strait, which is heavily trafficked by oil tankers.
As the only sea passage for the export of oil from the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz is the world’s most important chokepoint, and any incident there can negatively affect the price of oil.
This incident — along with January’s confrontation in the Strait, where five armed Iranian boats “swarmed” three U.S. Navy warships in international waters are examples of how the U.S. is walking a tightrope in dealing with Iran at a time that there are no relations and no hotline between the two governments that could defuse any sort of crisis. Officials told FOX New that this kind of diplomacy, right now, is being left up to U.S. sailors.
On Tuesday, Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported that a U.S. plane was forced to land in Iran after it accidentally entered that country’s airspace. The Pentagon dened the report and said that all U.S. planes were accounted for.
Soon after, a senior Iranian official denied the Fars report, saying both the aircraft and the people on board were Hungarian.
“The Fars report was not accurate. It was a Hungarian aid plane. No American was on board. The incident happened on Sept. 30,” a senior Iranian official told Reuters.
FOXNews’ Jennifer Griffin, Justin Fishel contributed to this report.
Could you please add (Hungarian Aid Plane) to the title?
Thank you!
great pic
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