Iran Releases Captured US Sailors After Questioning, Apology
On Tuesday evening, just prior to President Obama’s last State of the Union address, a geopolitical black swan landed on Farsi Island.
Ten US sailors and two US Navy boats were seized by Iran when they purportedly entered Iranian waters “illegally.”
The timing couldn’t have been worse.
Over the past several weeks, Obama has again come under fire for a “soft” approach to Iran after the IRGC conducted a live-fire rocket test some 1,500 yards from a US aircraft carrier in the Strait of Hormuz. That incident led directly to calls from GOP lawmakers to slap Tehran with fresh sanctions in connection with Iran’s test-firing of two next gen surface-to-surface missiles.
On the morning the new sanctions were set to be announced, the administration got cold feet and decided the US needed “more time” to study the measures. For Republicans, the abrupt 180 was further evidence that The White House is hopelessly inept in its dealings with what the GOP still deems a pariah state.
Of course the reason the administration shied away from announcing new sanctions is that the old sanctions haven’t been lifted yet. That is, the ink on the nuclear accord is barely dry and implementation is imminent. Angering Tehran would risk undermining the whole deal and that, in turn, would jeopardize an important part of Obama’s legacy.
Thus, the President had an impossibly difficult decision to make on Tuesday evening: mention the sailors and risk escalating the conflict and turning it into a protracted spat that could both derail the nuclear deal and imperil US citizens, or don’t mention the sailors and risk looking ridiculous by discussing “improvements” in relations with Tehran just as everyone in the chamber (not to mention the millions watching at home) wondered what’s to come of the ten hostages being held on Farsi.
The President chose not to mention the incident, but nevertheless, the Ayatollah had pulled of a rather epic propaganda coup. Effectively the IRGC clouded the President’s final address to the nation and it now appears there will be no repercussions.
On Wednesday both Iranian and US officials confirmed that all ten of the sailors have been released. The sailors departed the Iranian base on Farsi Island at 0843 GMT on the same boats that brought them there, a statement from the Navy said. “There are no indications the sailors were harmed,” the Pentagon added.
Iran says the decision to free the sailors was based on a determination that they’re incursion into Iranian waters wasn’t intentional.
Iranian television aired the following images:
"There appeared to be a bit of equivocation from Iran earlier Wednesday, with Iranian officials saying talk of an imminent release was 'speculation'", The Washington Post notes, adding that "an Iranian Revolutionary Guard spokesman, General Ramezan Sharif, indicated that the Iran’s next move and its timing will be determined by an investigation."
After questioning the group, the IRGC determined that a "malfunctioning navigation device" was the cause of the "intrusion."
Here's the official word from Fars: “Following technical and operational investigations and in interaction with relevant political and national security bodies of the country and after it became clear that the US combat vessels’ illegal entry into the Islamic Republic of Iran’s waters was the result of an unpurpuseful [sic] action and a mistake and after they extended an apology, the decision was made to release them."
Right. In reality, there's no telling why the sailors were in Iranian waters - maybe it was a "mistake" or maybe not. We'll never know. What we do know is that Iran has once again embarrassed the Obama administration and this time not by "testing" a rocket or two near an aircraft carrier or launching a ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear payload to Israel, but by actually capturing US soldiers and vessels. Expect the calls to get (much) louder from Republicans for new sanctions and a rethinking of The White House's relationship with Obama's new "friends" in Tehran.
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Is that the woman in the corner with the rag over her head?
Oh excellent ... this will be wonderful watching Christie & Rubio talk about how we should bomb them too ... along with the Russians.
Some people just need a machete taken to their knees.
Lucky for the 10 US Sailors that Iran does not have a Guantanamo, where they would be held without charge forever. Lucky also that the Iranians are sensible, instead of always trying to provoke and raise tensions.
Could you imagine the USSA government promptly releasing Iranian Sailors illegally entering territorial waters of Amerika with weapons?
On my way out I woulda said, "Hey, wrap this Persian rug up for me. I'm taking it 'cuz y'all wasted my time and stuff." But that's just the way I roll.
That rug really tied the room together.
Obama is a muslim faggot
Only very foolish people have not figured out that every one of Obama's actions on the international stage is designed to make America look weak and foolish.
The Destruction of white countries must come before the Joo World Order can flourish
Ashkenazis are White Folks too. They really despise the authentic Middle Eastern Jews.
Under a cover of being hijacked, I wonder what we just smuggled into Iran?
If you're in the Mid East and not friends with the Shia (Iran) you must be friends with the Sunni (Arabs).
I'll take the Shia, at least they have some Persian civilization left in them. The Sunnis are barbarians.
Under a cover of being hijacked, I wonder what we just smuggled into Iran?
They smuggled subversion, money and expertise in the form of help from western financed NGO's, whose only purpose is to bring freedumb, democracy and neo-liberal economics to Iran. This is done in order to free the people and bring them all the prosperity, love, unity and happiness we have in the west. Straight from page 1, in the propaganda handbook, issued by the State department and the UK, foreign office.
Also highlights the desperate need for changing our camaflouge patterns on our navy combat fatigues.
Yet the USA claims Turkey has a lethal right to defend its territory. Luckily Iran didn't take US' advice.
(Reply to Latina Lover comments way the hell above^.)
I love this micro example of American thinking in action.
35 upvotes for the sarcasm about American military infringing on territorial waters of a sovereign nation
9 downvotes that didn't care for the comparison being offered.
This is just another minor clue outlining the conditioning of the braindead zombies in America that believe we have the divine right to infringe, wherever and whenever we want and should that right be contested that we then have the right to bomb that sovereign nation into oblivion for not respecting our global authority as the worlds supreme police force.
This BS story has been splashed all over the internet to incite our NEED for war. The constant comments about how Obama is weak, our foreign policy is weak all of which is subliminal support for WAR and domination. That unless we intimidate and harass the world at large, we're weak. FUCK THIS BRAINWASHING. Americans are goddamn weak for being so susceptible to this manipulation. THAT'S WHO IS WEAK. BRAINDEAD ZOMBIES.
We must get two or three articles a week on ZH pushing war or some type of retribution for a contrived slight or insult.
*Exactly correct because Braindead Zombies don't create anything, they only know how to blindly consume and destroy.
They keep asking "Why were they in Iranian waters". How come nobody asks: "Were they even IN Iranian waters". I mean Islam is the religion of Piracy a little further south, so why not here? How come we accept their version? Does the navy not know where the hell its ships are? Oh, wait, I was navy, and they make Benny Hill look competent. never mind.
FORWARD CALIPHATE!
I think both sides are corrupt, and thus I upvoted you.
Why are we there is likely the better question, but do I think these guys had super secret orders to skirt the waters of Iran, and if they go in "oopsie" just to fuck with the Allatolah? No.
Could be an accident, could be the Iranians wanting to fuck with us and steal some equipment to reverse engineer, who knows.
My guess: Someone on orders from the Obama regime messed with the navigational device to create this incident specifically to embarrass the US Navy. That's how Obama rolls. He hates the military. He loves Iran. Once you realize Obama is a domestic enemy of the Constitution, it all makes sense.
good theory. particularly if applied to small boats, famously called "brown water rat's boats". as a reminder: "brown water", opposed to "blue water", means coastal in the jargon of Navies
Reminds me of the RQ170 that was captured by Iran being able to manipulate the GPS of the craft so it landed on its own on their airbase thinking that it landed in Ghandehar airbase in Afghanistan , these boats GPS!s also malfunctioned and one of them had engine failure .
Maybe Russians share the similar technology with them that they practiced on Donald Cook.
You forgot the part about Obama being a shapeshifting reptile. Also no need to order people to tamper with this boat's equipment, he just used the secret Orbital Mind Control lasers to confuse the sailers.
"
Could be rational response when military vessels of hostile state approach high security naval base. For general situation, any honest military person will tell that if country with naval base gives no response would display the command incompetent and derelict duty.
Unlike conclusion drawn by article, this incident responsibility is on US.
Iran did not using Wile E. Coyote giant cartoon electromagnet from dozens kilometers drag boats ashore. No surprise though if cartooner Ramirez depicts it as such.
"Islam is the religion of Piracy"? funny that. I guess the old Spanish treasure fleet crew's would have had more of the impression that the Church of England is the religion of Piracy
you can turn it as many times as you want on the head: Iran comes out of this story smelling of roses and moderation and diplomacy. the US... less so
you can try to turn it on the respective governments, and try to make the usual Obama-is-an-idiot commentary (nothing against them) or the usual Islam-is-responsible-for-ALL-evils...
... but the world is watching, and taking notes. with, penciled on the side: "what the heck were they doing?" and "what is a littoral combat ship again?"
Bloody Ghordius, there are NOT a lot of times that I, UPvote you.
You got it there though.
I worked for a 3-star in Afghanistan; if only people knew just how stupid our senior military leadership truly is, this country would be in shock.
Amen, brother.
Those who have not served have no idea.
<<How come nobody asks: "Were they even IN Iranian waters".>>
Because not even USA denied that aspect.
Because no one in his straight mind would think for one second that Iran could even consider the capture of American soldiers in international water. Bash them as much as you want, Iran respects more intl laws than the "civilized world". Only Western powers and their minions can act like Turkey did. And don't talk about Islam as a united world (if it was the case, the M-E wouldn't be such a mess). Say shiites.
http://thesaker.is/press-briefing-of-the-chief-of-the-main-operative-dir...
She probably just wanted to wear a rag on her head.
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wack off in front of a web cam for 95 bucks an hour doesn't you arm get tired?
She is covering her hair as a sign of respect of Iranians customs. Anyone see a problem with that ?
Got to admit this shows some class from Iran.
Is Iran really as bad as we're continually lectured? The fact that we're constantly told they're bad probably means they're not...
They gave them cushions.
And they caught them in the first place. Those Swedish boats do 40 knots and are well armed. It would be no simple feat to catch one on open water, so they must have caught them while loading/unloading, or while their divers were underneath so they couldn't skeddadle.
Yeah no Iran is our best buddies. Its those jooooooo's in Israel.
Why the use of the childish "jooooooo's"?
Israel is nobody's best buddy. It uses everybody for its own benefit. In particular, it is not the US best buddy - the USS Liberty, Jonathan Pollard and the 911 'good for Israel' Attack show that.
Indeed professor zonnebloem. Seems more like a diplomatic test by US, or a jammer test by iran.
No they aren't. They don't want to be a US ally so that automatically makes them a US enemy.
Their food is awesome, I do know that much (I snuck across the pontoon bridge over the Shatt-al-Arab from Iraqi Basra to the Iranian side for lunch one afternoon - AWESOME kebab.)
Calculus99,
Yes, some class from Iran.
On the other side of the coin, MSM showing clip of Biden saying there was no apology, he says, "...broken boat and boats can't apologize". Also debate on CNN with retards about whether there was an apology or not.
No class from US brass.
Just in time for the Republican Debate! Can anyone envision a time im History that we had a Republican in the White House that Americans were taken?
Most of the time Americans just get obliterated when Republicans are in office.
Malfunctioning navigation device?
The Iranians can make American GPS read what they want, can't they. They could have them sailing round in circles should they so desire.
Malfunctioning device, my ass. This was just another provocation against Iran by neocon factions within the USSA government, on the eve of Obama's speech. There are no co incidences.
Another "show of force" like the N. Korean fly by.
There have been recent reports of a US Hellfire missile being delivered to Cuba where it has been impounded by the Cuban authorities. The missile appears to have travelled via Germany, France and Spain before arriving in Cuba. Very odd, no?
What screams out is that the incident happened in 2014 and is only reported blaringly in the MSM now.
Someone has been attempting to destroy the US rapprochement with Cuba. Who? Cuban exiles in Miami - with access to US Hellfires? I don' think so. More likely the evil neocons and their PNAC. They have infiltrated the highest levels of the military and CIA.