Posted on 01/17/2016 1:57:49 PM PST by Taxman
CENTRAL VIEW for Monday, January 18, 2016
Iranian coup: A tale of two U.S. Navy vessels
Last week, the U.S. Navy dispatched two of its fearsomely armed Riverine Command Boats (RCBs) to patrol between Kuwait and Bahrain. Somehow, the RCBs were seized by the Iranian Navy; the crewmembers arrested, and -- even though the U.S. and Iran are not technically at war -- treated as Prisoners of War (POWs). How could this happen?
The Swedish-designed, U.S.- manufactured RCBs cost $2.8 million per copy. Each RCB carries six machine guns, to include a .50 caliber Gatling gun, plus grenade launchers. Covered with armor plating able to deflect AK-47 fire, the RCB’s 49.4 mile-per-hour top speed means RCBs can outrun every known surface warship.
To guard against surprise attack, RCBs carry the Sea FLIR III infrared sensor system, thermal imaging, a laser rangefinder, and long-range radar. Navigation is by a top-of-the line GPS and chart plotter system, along with traditional chart and compass back-up. The RCB’s world-wide communications gear nets with ships, aircraft, and ground forces.
Operating in pairs, the RCBs provide each other with mutual fire support. If one RCB is disabled, the other RCB can tow it to safety. Thus, the question arises: How could two RCBs lose their ability to navigate at the same time and stray into Iranian waters? And how could two world-class weapons platforms be seized by the, arguably, inferior Iranian Navy?
Apparently, one of the RCBs had a propulsion problem and radioed U.S. 5th Fleet in Bahrain for assistance. Congressman Louis Gohmert (R) of Texas claims the Obama White House intervened, asked the Iranian Navy to provide assistance, and ordered the U.S. 5th Fleet to stand down.
By long-standing naval custom, disabled boats found in territorial waters are rendered assistance, and simply escorted back into international waters. Their crews are not subjected to POW treatment or put on world-wide video display, looking like criminals.
But, instead of being treated as distressed vessels exercising the mariners’ right of innocent passage, the Iranians arrested the crew members, treated them as POWs, and, somehow, got the officer-in-charge to make filmed statements praising the Iranians and saying the treatment the crew received was: "Fantastic."
Absent Congressman Gohmert’s explanation -- citing White House intervention -- it appears Articles II and V of the U.S. military’s Code of Conduct were violated. Article II states: "I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command, I will never surrender the members of my command while they still have the means to resist." Article V reads: "When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am required to give name, rank, service number, and date of birth. I will evade answering further questions to the best of my ability. I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country and its allies or harmful to their cause."
Alternatively, could it be that the White House-imposed Rules of Engagement (ROE) robbed the RCBs of their "means to resist"? Were the RCB’s awesome weapons even permitted to be loaded? Congress should demand to see the Operations Order under which the two RCBs left Kuwait for Bahrain and demand copies of all the communications between the RCBs, U.S. 5th Fleet, and the White House. Meanwhile, the RCB crews are left twisting in the wind.
Nationally syndicated columnist, William Hamilton, is a laureate of the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame, the Colorado Aviation Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma University Army ROTC Wall of Fame, and is a recipient of the University of Nebraska 2015 Alumni Achievement Award. He was educated at the University of Oklahoma, the George Washington University, the Infantry School, the U.S Naval War College, the University of Nebraska, and Harvard University.
©2016. William Hamilton.
In the battle off Samar in WWII, the tiny ships of Taffy 3 were attacked by Japanese destroyers, cruisers, and battleships including the largest ever built.
They did not surrender or even stand their ground. They attacked. Their attack was so vicious that the Japanese admiral thinking he was facing the main U.S. force turned around and retreated.
They sacrificed themselves, literally, as that was their job. They did not surrender to some second rate power.
LTC Peters got it right when he called Ophonybama a “total pussy.”
That phrase accurately, IMHO, characterizes the entire Ophonybama administration’s character, top to bottom!
Perhaps the Bluebird of Happiness will crap on their birthday cake?
Concur!
All of us Real Americans who have lived through the nightmare that is the LIEberal thug Ophonybama administration KNOW that Justice will eventually prevail!
We just have to keep the Faith!
And keep pressing!
Not calling for a coup.
Calling for Impeachment in the House of Representatives,
Conviction in the Senate and Imprisonment in the Super Max!
For Ophonybama and every one of his LIEberal thugs!
WE can only hope that Ophonybama and his LIEberal thug administration keep on pissing on America to the point that, even in an election year, we impeach, convict and imprison him and his LIEberal thugs!
I’m no expert on this matter, but I believe that the military GPS signals cannot be jammed.
Roger that!
Some kind of “Black Swan” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_swan_theory) event?
Could be. Look at what has happened since: Iran “met” the “requirements” as set out by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); the sanctions were lifted; US released $1.5 Billion tO Iran; five US hostages were suddenly let loose.
Was this a pre-arranged setup?
YOUBETYOURASS!
Some kind of “Black Swan” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_swan_theory) event?
Could be. Look at what has happened since: Iran “met” the “requirements” as set out by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); the sanctions were lifted; US released $1.5 Billion ti Iran; five US hostages were suddenly let loose.
Was this a pre-arranged setup?
YOUBETYOURASS!
Obama doesn’t make any decisions like that without checking with foster mommy: President Jarrett—the Iranian muslim brotherhood plant gift that keeps on giving. That’s the US source of all of this entire iranian insanity. She calls the shots, or in this case, said hands up don’t shoot.
She illegally has SS protection, not authorized by any law. Assigned a detail to herself immediately upon boy barry’s immaculation. Kinda says it all.
What say you, Matt?
I’d wager that there were no SEALS or NERTS (What are NERTS?) on Farsi island.
We probably know everything there is to know about it — no need to send SEALS in.
We are back to “The truth will out” eventually.
Well, at least they all got out alive!
HST, you make a valid point — the pussification of America is in full view! LTC Peters got it right!
Refer to my “Black Swan” theory in post #111.
He took us there and threw away the paddles!
Travis’ essay is what got me started on this track.
See my post #111.
You have a firm grasp of the obvious!
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