Iran Seizes 2 US Navy Boats, Crewmen For "Illegally Entering Iranian Waters"
Update: Iran plans to return the crewmen to a ship from the USS Truman carrier strike group on Wednesday.
JUST IN: Plans are in place for Iran to return U.S. sailors to U.S. Navy Wed. morning, gulf time, US defense official says - Reuters
— CNBC Now (@CNBCnow) January 13, 2016
JUST IN: #Iran to return detained #US sailors to a ship from USS Truman carrier strike group: US defence official
— The Straits Times (@STcom) January 13, 2016
So we suppose we can just call the sailors "State of the Union hostages". The rationale for waiting until tomorrow (i.e. until after Obama's speech): it's safer to carry out the exchange in daylight, according to an unnamed US official.
In short, the Ayatollah has just pulled off one epic publicity stunt.
* * *
Tensions were already running high between Tehran and Washington in the wake of Iran's move to test-fire a next generation surface-to-surface ballistic missile with the range to hit Israel.
And then the IRGC conducted a live-fire rocket test within 1,500 yards of a US aircraft carrier in the Strait of Hormuz.
Now, in a further escalation, Iran has reportedly seized two US Navy ships.
- 2 U.S. NAVY BOATS IN IRANIAN CUSTODY, PENTAGON SAYS: AP
- RHODES SAYS U.S. WORKING ON RETURN OF CREW
- RHODES SAYS U.S. WORKING TO RESOLV
But nobody panic, because Iran has promised to return the crew "promptly" and as CNN adds, according to Iran the sailors are safe:
.@PressSec: "We have received assurances from the Iranians that our sailors are safe" https://t.co/GV9hdWZy3P https://t.co/1ioOtqYVH4
— CNN (@CNN) January 12, 2016
That appears to contradict a statement from Fars which says the US has "repeated" calls for the crew's release.
AP writes that the Pentagon says it briefly lost contact with two small Navy craft in the Persian Gulf on Tuesday but has received assurances from Iran that the crew and vessels will be returned safely and promptly.
Pentagon says these photos show examples of the type of craft involved in Iran incident pic.twitter.com/47ClLilOZK
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) January 12, 2016
"Riverine command boats or RCBs, are actually Swedish CB-90s and are a type of fast attack craft," WaPo notes, adding that "in a number of pictures released by the U.S. Navy, the boats are outfitted with a number of light, medium and heavy weapons including .50 caliber heavy machine guns and GAU-19 miniguns."
"RCB’s can carry contingents of infantry and special operation forces and are often crewed by sailors in Riverine squadrons, known by some as River Rats," WaPo continues. "The riverine force came of age in the Vietnam War in what was then known as the Brown Water Navy. In the 1960s and early 1970s boats such as Patrol Boat, River (from ‘Apocalypse Now’ fame) and Swift Boats were the River Rats vessels of choice."
Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook tells The Associated Press that the boats were moving between Kuwait and Bahrain when the US lost contact with them.
Cook says, "We have been in contact with Iran and have received assurances that the crew and the vessels will be returned promptly."
The crews, which total 10 Navy sailors, are being held at Farsi Island, a highly restricted island between Bahrain and Kuwait, where Iran has a naval base. US officials are saying it is unclear how the crew members ended up in Iranian waters, though Secretary of State John Kerry has kept phone contact with Iranian officials in Tehran, urging for a release. A senior official told NBC News the Iranians understand a mistake was made and have agreed to a release to come in hours.
According to AP, an anonymous senior official says Kerry "personally engaged with” Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif to work out a solution almost immediately upon hearing of the development around 12:30 pm EST.
Josh Earnest, the White House spokesperson, said the sailors will be released "promptly" and " allowed to continue their journey."
The international incident comes on the day President Obama will give his final State of the Union speech of his tenure. Obama's political opponents are capitalizing on the timing, especially since the International Spectator, citing Iran Revolutionary Guard, reports that "seized US sailors will not be released tonight or before State of the Union address."
Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) told CNN, "senior members of Barack Obama's administration are apologizing for Iran seizing two US Navy vessels and holding 10 sailors hostage. The White House tonight is a hot bed of cold feet."
Presidential candidates Dr. Ben Carson and Jeb Bush have taken to Twitter to criticize Obama's reaction. Bush called for "no more bargaining" and an immediate return home for the sailors, whereas Carson took a shot at Obama's "preparing to talk about his so called 'accomplishments'" in reference to tonight's national address.
If our sailors aren’t coming home yet, they need to be now. No more bargaining. Obama’s humiliatingly weak Iran policy is exposed again.
— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) January 12, 2016
BREAKING: While POTUS is preparing to talk about his so called "accomplishments", 10 of our American sailors are being held by #Iran.
— Dr. Ben Carson (@RealBenCarson) January 12, 2016
This marks the second time in as many weeks that the President's "soft" policy on Iran has come under fire. Following the abovementioned rocket incident GOP lawmakers called for fresh sanctions on Tehran in connection with two ballistic missile launches in October and November. The White House was apparently prepared to announce a new set of measures aimed at around a dozen individuals and companies but at the last minute, the administration backed out. Obama's cold feet came after President Rouhani ordered the defense ministry to accelerate the country's ballistic missile program in the event new sanctions were put in place.
Meanwhile, according to Iran's version of today's events, Fars News agency says US sailors picked up by Revolutionary Guard Corps, from hardline camp who are opposed to the nuclear deal. Fars adds that the sailors were detained for illegally and "intentionally" entering Iranian waters even though they knew the area well. Tehran also contends the US ships were having "technical difficulties."
Fars News says IRGC detained 10 US military personnel in 2 boats for illegally entering Iranian waters in Gulf https://t.co/daqeCflOrM
— Borzou Daragahi (@borzou) January 12, 2016
Fars says US sailors know area, carrying GPS, intentionally entered Iran's territorial waters
— Sobhan Hassanvand (@Hassanvand) January 12, 2016
Fars: Both US boats "illegally" entered 2 km into Iranian waters, and IRGC confirms this info on their GPS record. https://t.co/V266Fsx42h
— FDD's Iran Project (@FDD_Iran) January 12, 2016
Just in: Iran's Fars news agency says 10 US sailors held include one woman
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) January 12, 2016
#Iran Questions:
- Kuwait to Bahrain is 300 nautical miles. Why were US sailors traveling by small boats? Joy ride? https://t.co/xmRCY6Or36
— Tarek Fatah (@TarekFatah) January 13, 2016
And here is the full Fars statement, google translated:
According to defense Fars News Agency, Iranian Revolutionary Guards 10 US military with two boats illegally entered Iranian waters in the Persian Gulf had been detained.
According to the information received by the Fars news agency every American boat is equipped with 3 machine guns caliber 50 (one in front and two on the sides of the float).
The two vessels illegally entered and patrolled about 2 km deep inside Iranian waters, and the information recorded on their GPS device and is now in the hands of Iranian Revolutionary Guards.
The military said among the arrested were 9 men and one woman. They carried heavy weapons in their vessels.
US officials repeated calls for the release of prisoners will continue with Tehran.
So, they are prisoners, and unlike the White House tried to spin it, guests of honor?
Ironically, earlier we asked:
Is Iran going to wait until the end of the SOTU address before returning the 10 sailors?
— zerohedge (@zerohedge) January 12, 2016
We now have the answer:
BREAKING: Iranian Revolutionary Guards official says seized US sailors will not be released tonight or before State of the Union address.
— The Int'l Spectator (@intlspectator) January 12, 2016
(23 votes)
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So oil briefly dips below $30 a barrel and that day the US enters iranian waters "accidentally".
So oil briefly dips below $30 a barrel and that day the US enters iranian waters "accidentally".
Time for another oppps..."was that an Iranian passenger plane"....my bad...
Probably two raiding craft with a seal team split into the two boats.
What's sad is those 10 guys were probably "sacrificed", and no doubt their commanders were hoping for worse fates than merely being captured.
Anyone here still trust the US military? Hope you don't have any of your offspring in uniform.
Got to spike the price of oil and defense stocks somehow...
She's a grand old (false) flag, she's a grand old (false) flag..... How does that song go?
"every heart beats true for the red white and blue" Used to sing it in grade school. Strangely, one of the verses is "and for-ever in peace may it wave" could be a mis-print on the original music sheet.
Since the Iranian navy is about 6-8,000 miles away, I could GIVE a flying fuck if they captured the entire US 6th Fleet.....hell, it would cut operating costs and help our deficit!...
I long for the days when I wouldn't have known what was happening 3 counties over until a newspaper came in a week from now telling me. Iran? I shouldn't even know it's a thing, let alone be expected to give a fuck what they're doing.
Lest we forget how fucking desperate we both are and have been...
From the "back of the rack"!...
what is the definition of 'promptly'.....several hours...WTF
what is the definition of 'promptly'.....several hours...WTF
Runny sinus' and seeping at the anus and for the young lady that accompanied them x 2 (corn hole and $$ hole) fair game...
Given what we've been doing the last 14 years? If I were the Iranians I would!!!
P.S.
To the Iranian Navy film it just like the American military personnel did and still do at places like "Abu Ghraib"!!!
Promptly:
Just after the Iranians bolt them back together.
Real story of what happened.
A couple of USA PT boat lost power, sent out an SOS, the Iranians responded first, offered help and safe harbor to the distressed boat so that they could do repairs.
2 vessels lost power at the same time? Or 2 boats were sabotaged at the same time? I'm assuming there's no need for a convenient distraction.
"A couple of USA PT boats lost power"
How can both lose power a the same time?
Real story of what happened.
Double post
Why don't we send Oblippo the clown over there to do some very stern presidential hand wringing, that will teach them, unless of course it would conflict with his golf schedule, then fuck it, we will go to war...
Maybe he should try the crocodile tears trick on the Iranians.
Or invite them to his favorite Chitcago bath house. They'd feel so special.
sounds like a security check on the israelis' part.
Deploy the McCain.
These American Zionist spies, snooping near the secret base on the off limits island....
How about the yankee divers with explosives... what about them? And the zio spies they dropped off to swim to shore....
Sanctions immediately lifted....not that we exchange anything for hostages these days.
They say they were Riverine boats....maybe 44 footers...
unlikely zio yankee spy story...
so the spies use boats instead of cars to get to where they are going, travelling in small patrol boats.
And one breaks down and the other can't tow it? Or did both of the spy boats break down?
If the US was "testing" the Iranians, they got their result. Cool. Iranians gave them prompt and courteous service. But hoist out your sloops, John K., you can't indiscriminately sail in Iranian waters. One more notch in Iran's belt, one more notch down for the Obama administration.
John McCain must be having a HARD attack
McCain getting reacharound from his husband Graham.
Why are yankee spy vessels traveling over 500kms in such little boats, and if one broke down, they don't have any rope for a tow?? So they just need to drift into Iranian waters..
seems unlikely.... sounds like BS to me. or US technolgy is so poor... nothing in US arsenal works
Sounds like a navy seal group.
Those boats are not blue water seaworthy.
They are only good near shore and in rivers/bays.
They drive up and down mississippi river and others and scare the civilian polulation.
Our troops are crooks and moral cowards and I always like to remind them of this fact.
That's not fair to our troops...younmen who don't know better. I was one of them years ago and just wanted to better my life and did.
"I was one of them years ago and just wanted to better my life and did."
The federal reserve banks and the jewish people thank you for your service.
Fuckstick.
The president is leaving an empty chair for the sailors tonight at the State of the Union Address. Clint Eastwood loaned him one.
and so if it is true that yankee broke down and Iran helped them... it still is somehow Iran's fault and all the more reason to nuke them... according the CNN zionist sources
NEED...TO...GET...PRICE...OF...OIL...HIGHER!!!!!
So no Americans were killed. Netanyahu isn't going to be pleased.
damn! not enough to hate those persians. i was looking forward to hating some persians. i guess i'll have to keep them under the general hate for muslims.
The Iranians are Obama's buttboys so this isn't a problem.
Neocons must be sportin' a huge boner
"
Every single one of them fully erect, both inches.
Includes even aunt Nuland.
Yes, the murderous Iranians did this. They attacked the USS Maddox in the Gulf of Tonkin as a deliberate attack on the US Navy. Shame on them.
Senator MaCain ... What shall we do?
Yankees send spy boats then cry foul when they get arrested...
if you go spying on any soverign nation, what would you expect?? Try that in Russia or North Korea... or near a US naval base...
i hope the Iranians do the smart thing and welcome their new guests with utmost hospitality for the international cameras views of course. A PR campaign of this nature would truly be wasted. If you want to fuck with your enemies head you kill them with kindness.
You are right - "Always forgive your enemies - Nothing ANNOYS them so much" - Oscar Wilde
The world has the most expensive, extensive, expanding 'security' states. Yet we read this lates BULLSHIT.
Perhaps it is this:
http://bitterivy.tumblr.com/post/26782756102/to-be-or-not-to-be-mel-broo...
Funny, ain't it...or not funny; just using the USA as shield, sword and Treasury for hateful Israhelli expansion in the Middle East under the Wolfowitz Doctrine, Project for a New American Century, the Trilateral Commission...all for the Internationale, and their pet fiefdom, genocidal maniac Israhell.
Iran: treat my countrymen well, and live another day. Take a note out of Putin's playbook, and General Suleimani.
Do not die for vanity or money.
This guy?
http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/civilization/images/6/6d/Suleiman_in...
And the streets of Jerusalem were washed with rose water after the great ancient battle. The great general Suleiman bid it so.
It sickens me that Christianity is dying in its birthplace under zionist genocide while Persians, Muslims and Orthodox Jews do not want that to happen.
The money power and zionists hate all.
When is Hollyweird set to release a film about the USS Liberty atrocity?
Crickets...