Navy Fired Shots At Iranian Craft In Dec.

U.S. Reports For First Time Confrontation Involving Small Boat In Strait Of Hormuz Last Month

(AP)  The U.S. Navy said Friday that one of its ships had fired warning shots at a small Iranian boat in the Strait of Hormuz in December during one of two serious encounters with such craft that month.

The USS Whidbey Island fired the warning shots on Dec. 19 in response to a small Iranian boat that was rapidly approaching it, said a U.S. Navy official.

“One small (Iranian) craft was coming toward it, and it stopped after the Whidbey Island fired warning shots,” said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

It was the first official confirmation that the United States had fired warning shots in any recent confrontation with Iran in the Gulf.

In the second incident that month, the USS Carr encountered three small Iranian craft on Dec. 22, two of which were armed, said the official. The USS Carr did not fire warning shots, but sent warning blasts on the ships whistle, which caused the boats to turn around.

The official could not confirm whether the craft in either incident belonged to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, the elite military force whose boats swarmed three U.S. Navy ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday.

The top U.S. military commander in the Mideast said Friday that Iran runs the risk of triggering an unintended conflict if its boats continue to harass U.S. warships in the strait.

Adm. William J. Fallon, chief of U.S. Central Command, also said a threatening radio call heard during Sunday's encounter was likely connected to the Iranian vessels' provocative actions. He said the exact origin of the message was still unknown.

“This kind of behavior, if it happens in the future, is the kind of event that could precipitate a mistake,” said Fallon. “If the boats come closer, at what point does the captain think it is a direct threat to the ship and has to do something to stop it?"

Iran has tried to downplay Sunday's incident as a normal occurrence, but U.S. officials have said that five Revolutionary Guards boats charged three U.S. Navy ships in a threatening manner, dropping boxes in the water in an apparent attempt to intimidate the Americans. The confrontation occurred just days before U.S. President W. Bush was scheduled to begin his first major Mideast trip.

The Pentagon has released a video of Sunday's incident, showing small Iranian boats swarming around U.S. warships in the Strait of Hormuz. In the recording, a man threatens in accented English, “I am coming to you. ... You will explode after ... minutes.”

Fallon said Friday that the U.S. was still trying to determine the source of the threatening radio call but remained convinced that it was related to the actions of the Iranian boats.

“The voice is very strange. I don't know whether it came from the boats or one of the shore stations,” he said in a telephone interview from Central Command headquarters in Florida. “But the timing of it is pretty suspicious. In my mind it is related to the maneuvers.”

“It certainly doesn't sound like a third party that just happened to say something threatening at that moment,” he added.

The radio call was heard over an open frequency often used by mariners to identify themselves and avoid accidents.

Iran has denied that its boats threatened the U.S. vessels and accused Washington of fabricating the video. Tehran has released its own video of the incident, which appeared to be shot from a small boat bobbing at least 100 yards from the American warships.

The footage does not shown any Iranian boats approaching the U.S. vessels or any provocation, and does not include threatening radio call. U.S. officials have said the controversial parts had been edited out of the Iranian video.

U.S. Navy and Iranian officials have said in the past that vessels from the two rival nations frequently come into contact in the waters of the narrow, heavily trafficked Gulf. They often communicate by radio to avoid incidents.

But the latest incident was the first time U.S. officials have spoken of such a direct threat from Iranian boats.

[mudrose-2009]

So it''s not the first time, heh? But the U.S. made it up. Well, I say next time the do it, I''d fire a warning blast and then blow the bastardos up and they deny it too.

[andor3]

so the only thing they know for sure is the radio call did NOT come from the Iranian speedboats and they were not threatening, because there is no boat noise in the radio call and a boat that intends to attack does not announce its intentions in time to get shot out of the water.

they also know it is an open marine radio channel so any joker with a boat or a radio could have sent the call.

So... who has motivation to provoke a confrontation between Iran and the USA? Who shot Mr. Burns?

[brianp55]

They are testing our resolve, just like they did with the British. If we are in international waters and they start *** around.....ANNIHILATE THEM!

[gkc99]

And, as the Neocons nose dive in the polls, we can expect many more such "incidents".

So if the Iranian navy were operating in the English channel and making threats against the Queen, I''m sure the English would send them big bouquets of flowers, eh?

[excoachken]

The film of the "threat" is a little bit grainy, but maybe that''s so you won''t be able to see who is really driving those Evinrudes. Can anybody say "Gulf of Tonkin?" Who said it happened before--- Oh yeah,Mudnose, the same dudes who want us to nuke Iran, regardless.

[rowdytexan2]

"Fallon said Friday that the U.S. was still trying to determine the source of the threatening radio call but remained convinced that it was related to the actions of the Iranian boats."

It was probably some kid on the radio system on a lark, for pete''s sakes. Plus, clearly the video showed no boxes going in the water from any of the boats.

Also when the ships fired warning blasts, the boats turned around and left. Had they truly been kama kazi''s, they would have kept coming and tried to get at least one boat in there to damage a ship.

Again, these are fully loaded battleships in open water with the capability of swatting these boats like flies. And happens often.

NOW, they have decided to make it an internationl incident, right about the time Bush gets $70 billion more in his war chest.

Gear up, folks, we''re going to have to rope and hogtie him to keep him out of Iran. He''s determined to make up something that will give him an excuse. I wouldn''t put it past him to be provoking this.

[gkc99]

"So it''''s not the first time, heh? But the U.S. made it up. Well, I say next time the do it, I''''d fire a warning blast and then blow the bastardos up and they deny it too"--Posted by mudrose


The typical knee-jerk response we can expect from a Bushbot Zombia?

Or maybe just plain old jerk, eh?

[smirk5]

A war with Iran will be great for Bush and his buddies. Their kids won''t be fighting in it and they won''t be paying for it. But, they''ll make a ton of money off of it. What''s the downside for them? Nothing. And, who cares if there''s a downside for the riff-raff of America, right?

[greeneyes222]

As well they should have fired.

If Iran didn''t want a confrontation they would keep approaching with their boats. But as long as there are people who whine about "Bush''s war" at every turn without looking at the situation in question, they get a lot of moral support for their antics.

The solution is simple - if the Iranians don''t want to be fired on, they don''t approach. Duh.

[robertkjjj]

Next time these little weiner boats come close, do the following:
(1) chew them to tiny pieces with the electric Vulcan gatling guns
(2) use big scooper nets to pick up the pieces
(3) incinerate said pieces on board the ships
(4) then , when asked, say "What boats?"

[yongamerica]

But the U.S. made it up. - mudrose
The US did make up the fact Iranian speed boats were so close to US ships that warning shots were fired.

[closethippy1]

So the US fired on Iranian boats this past December and the Iranians didn''t complain about it?
It sounds to me like a country we can do business with.

[harrydoghiny]

Ah yes, the old "anonymous source" who is speaking to a "sensitive issue" We''d like to tell you the truth, but it''s classified. Trust us though, it''s really bad.

[speakinup]

RowdyTexan2 - did you watch the full encounter? Was it even all on tape ? No.

So how can you say there were no boxes dropped overboard into the way of the US ships ? You can''t with any certainty.

Yet here you are doing just that.

Objectivity is the first casuality when you are an Iranian.

Battleships ? RowdyTexan2, you don''t even know what a battle ship looks like. HA HA HA - what a hoot! Now the USS Whidbey Island is a battleship according to RowdyTexan2!

Honey, quite exposing your ignorance, will you. If you are going to make a statement - at least TRY to make it factual, don''t be a j-whitman.

[denn034]

Iran is lying and it makes sense for the Navy to defend itself. Besides, are we going to let the forces of chaos rule or do we insert ourselves to replace chaos with order to protect our interests in the region. Personally, I think the meddling Russians are behind the constant problems we face in the Middle East in general. One can also see how the Muslim''s ultra-conservative worldview leads to their viewing us, even American conservatives, as liberal threats to Islam when in fact we''re not and the Russians play on that to undermine us and help themselves, I get that distinct sense every time I hear a Russian politician or diplomat speak. Conservative books do say that the Russians are meddling after all.

[joyous88]

we should stay out of their waters, we are trying to provoke a war,

check out the gulf of tonkin - another conservative LIE

[libsluvsuvs]

So the US fired on Iranian boats this past December and the Iranians didn''''t complain about it?
It sounds to me like a country we can do business with.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by closethippy1 at 05:58 PM : Jan 11, 2008
+ report abuse
*************

after the USS Cole, the iranians are lucky they were not blown out of the waters. Normally when you are intention are not too good, you would not ''complain'' about it...dont tell me you never tried to test the limitions of something and then being dealt with..oh forgot you are liberal..you would ''complain'' either way

[libsluvsuvs]

anybody cannot level with these anti-american liberals..wonder why???? because they TRULY BELIEVE THAT THIS COUNTRY IS EVIL and GUILTY of everything without any benefit of the doubt..

[libsluvsuvs]

but yet............they still live here...i wonder if iran or middle east better yet..these muslims would give such gracious rights to these liberals about ''COMPLAINTS''..

[inventagod]

The Navy? Aren''t those the guys who lied about the last incident?
You complacent Republicans are being led by the nose into the next Oilwar by Bu$hCo and the NeoCons...
If you let them do this, you are as stupid as they believe you are... and they DO believe you are stupid.

Of course, you bought those huge SUVs so you really do need that oil, huh?

[libsluvsuvs]

pop quiz,,what country handed liberal icon president Jimmy Carter a huge serving of a shi*tsandwhich??

[libsluvsuvs]

per my observation, these liberals, WHO VOTES DEMOCRAT, are too critical of this country, they inspire terrorism, the justify terrorism and recents events shows that they are even willing to assist in terrorism..question is...how could the democrats, who are pretty much controlled by the liberal masses..be able to protect this country from its enemy if they bed with the enemy...SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT!

[joyous88]

Yep, this country is in great shape,
the conservative evangelical republicans who post here either can not read or they only read their bibles, but only the parts they like.

[closethippy1]

Iran is lying and it makes sense for the Navy to defend itself. Besides, are we going to let the forces of chaos rule or do we insert ourselves to replace chaos with order to protect our interests in the region. Personally, I think the meddling Russians are behind the constant problems we face in the Middle East in general. One can also see how the Muslim''''s ultra-conservative worldview leads to their viewing us, even American conservatives, as liberal threats to Islam when in fact we''''re not and the Russians play on that to undermine us and help themselves, I get that distinct sense every time I hear a Russian politician or diplomat speak. Conservative books do say that the Russians are meddling after all.
Posted by denn034 at 06:25 PM : Jan 11, 2008

This post doesn''t make sense at all. If the Iranians and the rest of the Middle East have no problem dealing with Russia, which probably is the number one exporter of child pornography, then why the fuzz about the US?
It''s got nothing to do with religion, does it? It''s a matter of foreign policy, isn''t it? Russia doesn''t see a need to get in anyone''s face over there but the US, propelled by the neocons and Israeli supporters, it''s making an issue out of everything.

[noloyalisti]

The US military is a state sponsored terrorist organization. I guess it is OK to spread terror through war as long as it is us, not them.

The Iranians have just as much right to be in the Strait as we do. The difference is they are not guilty of crazed invasion, occupation and murder.

I can''t understand why low life conservatives hate America which is pupulated by liberals

[antizion]

The US video was faked and the Iranians proved that. I guess CBS didn''t get the word and is still trying to push the official propaganda.

The US mass media should put to rest forever the notion of Jewish supremacy.

[downsteamjim]

To rharrin1: Who was President during the planning for 9/11? Who was President when the Cole was attacked? Who is worried about the rights of terrorist even if it endangers U.S. citizens? Who is working to make sure we are not able to intercept or prevent future attacts? Answer: DEMOCRATS

[downsteamjim]

To Loyalisti: Please calm down. There are still places like North Korea, Somalia, Myanmar, Cuba, Zimbabwe where you can join in with kindred souls.

[checkthepast]

Since Medina and Umar the aggresion and killing has not stopped. Whether killing a common enemy or killing each other it is not important to the children of Ishmeal as long as they are killing, including themselves. "No one can make peace with someone that hates you more than they love their own children". Wake up, look at our planets history since 622, then give us all an intelligent and fact based opinion.

[checkthepast]

Since Medina and Umar the aggresion and killing has not stopped. Whether killing a common enemy or killing each other it is not important to the children of Ishmeal as long as they are killing, including themselves. "No one can make peace with someone that hates you more than they love their own children". Wake up, look at our planets history since 622, then give us all an intelligent and fact based opinion.

[speakinup]

"The US video was faked and the Iranians proved that. I guess CBS didn''''t get the word and is still trying to push the official propaganda.- anitzion

Oh yeah ? In which pig''s eye ?

[checkthepast]

Since Medina and Umar the aggresion and killing has not stopped. Whether killing a common enemy or killing each other it is not important to the children of Ishmeal as long as they are killing, including themselves. "No one can make peace with someone that hates you more than they love their own children". Wake up, look at our planets history since 622, then give us all an intelligent and fact based opinion.

[downsteamjim]

To Checkthepast: You''re repeating yourself. You''re repeating yourself. You''re repeating yourself.

[itgranny]

We keep beating our chest and they keep beating their''s. We''re both making the other one the boogieman and it''s leading us into a very dangerous unstable situation (much the Cuban missile crisis).

I can''t say as I blame Iran totally, we declared war on their neighbor under false pretenses and are eying them next. While Iran''s history towards the US isn''t lily-white, neither is ours towards theirs. We better start figuring out how to get along with each other or we''ll both find ourselves in a situation we don''t want to be in.

[shingles1]

From The Navy Times:

The threatening radio transmission heard at the end of a video showing harassing maneuvers by Iranian patrol boats in the Strait of Hormuz may have come from a locally famous heckler known among ship drivers as the %u201CFilipino Monkey.%u201D...

In recent years, American ships operating in the Middle East have had to contend with a mysterious but profane voice known by the ethnically insulting handle of %u201CFilipino Monkey,%u201D likely more than one person, who listens in on ship-to-ship radio traffic and then jumps on the net shouting insults and jabbering vile epithets....

Rick Hoffman, a retired captain who commanded the cruiser Hue City and spent many of his 17 years at sea in the Gulf was subject to the renegade radio talker repeatedly, often without pause during the so-called %u201CTanker Wars%u201D of the late 1980s.

%u201CFor 25 years there%u2019s been this mythical guy out there who, hour after hour, shouts obscenities and threats,%u201D he said. %u201CHe could be tied up pierside somewhere or he could be on the bridge of a merchant ship.%u201D

And the Monkey has stamina.

%u201CHe used to go all night long. The guy is crazy,%u201D he said. %u201CBut who knows how many Filipino Monkeys there are? Could it have been a spurious transmission? Absolutely.%u201D

[excoachken]

Isn''t anybody concerned that our military fired weapons upon people of another country and we were not told about it for weeks afterward? With 30 different news channel on every television, why didn''t we hear about it? Oh yeah, I forgot, it was probably one of those big news nights, when Brittany forgot to wear her underwear!

[shingles1]

The link:

http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/01
/navy_hormuz_iran_radio_080111/

[downsteamjim]

Until the Nobell Piece of the Action Prize whinner Jimmy Carter sold out the Shah, Iran was a great friend of the U.S. It seems likely that most of the people of Iran still think well of the U.S. [It they can forgive us for allowing the mullahs to take over.] But as long as we can''t drill in the U.S., use nuclear power, etc. we will have to stay in the Middle East. I guess all liberals could quit flying, driving their cars etc., but that''s obviously too much trouble.

[checkthepast]

Since Medina and Umar the aggresion and killing has not stopped. Whether killing a common enemy or killing each other it is not important to the children of Ishmeal as long as they are killing, including themselves. "No one can make peace with someone that hates you more than they love their own children". Wake up, look at our planets history since 622, then give us all an intelligent and fact based opinion.

[beehive21-2009]

That''s BS, had they fired upon them ,who could tell the story,surely not dead men form the deaths of the ocean ?

[downsteamjim]

To Checkthepast: Will you continue to post the same gobbledegoop until the writers'' strike is over?

[clestes-2009]

Sounds like trouble to me. Thank God for Adm Fallon. he told ship COs to be extremely careful and not to let any small incident get out of hand.

I am sure Cheney and the few neocons that are still around are hoping for something to happen, but if we escape from trouble for the rest of this lame duck admin, it will be due to him.

When the history of this time is written, Adm Fallon will be a hero.

[clestes-2009]

downsteamjim,

What do you think, that there will be no alternate energy developed?? Our days of being totally dependent on the middle east for our energy are numbered.

[gce65]

Very curious that we didn''t hear anything about the December incident at the time, since we heard about the January incident practically the same day it happened and then saw US Navy video the next day. Was that not "a sensitive issue" too?

Does anyone have any other corroborating evidence the December incident even took place? Seems strange they kept it so quiet then--"said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue"--or couldn''t Bush use it for any political gain since he wasn''t coming to the Middle East a couple of days later?

[gce65]

shingles1:
I''ve been in the Gulf and through the straights of Hormuz 4 times in the 90''s.
That "Philipino Monkey" insult is not a recent one. The guy on the radio is not the Philipino Monkey, but insult insults the Philipinos in and around the Gulf, many who work on US warships. The common taunt is, "Philipino monkey! Philipino monkey! You don''t know who your daddy is."

[libsluvsuvs]

Posted by gce65 at 10:14 PM : Jan 11, 2008
+ report abuse

*****

i would say i would pay for you to fly to iran so they can show you some ''proof'' but chances are they might just make your monkey arse into a domestic help..

iran can have thier di ck up your arse and you still ask for proof..and when cornered you would just say .""oh it was a prostate exam" .....pathetic fool!

[feelfree1]

"In the recording, a man threatens in accented English, %u201CI am coming to you. ... You will explode after ... minutes.%u201D

The accent sounded a lot like an Israeli accent, to me, which would make sense, since we now know that the alleged "threat" was in the audio-only portion of the Navy''s recent account of the latest Iranian boat encounter, is a shabby hoax, and since the Israelis have attacked our naval vessels in the past.

[feelfree1]

Correction:

Should be:

"...since we now know that the alleged "threat" THAT was PRESENTED in the audio-only portion of the Navy''s recent account...is a shabby hoax..."

[smirk5]

From the Navy Times on recent overblown Iran incident:
"The threatening radio transmission heard at the end of a video showing harassing maneuvers by Iranian patrol boats in the Strait of Hormuz may have come from a locally famous heckler known among ship drivers as the %u201CFilipino Monkey.%u201D"
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/01/navy_hormuz_iran_radio_080111/

[downtowner97]

New rule: The media and government are no longer allowed to use the word "elite" to describe ANY soldier from any Middle Eastern country. Acceptable words are "pesky", "dangerously insane", "delusional", "suicidal", or "misguided", but never "elite" I don''t think these "elite" guys even wipe after taking a squat in the desert.

I repeat, there are no "Elite Iranian Revolutionary Guards". The "Elite Republican Guards" in Iraq surrendered to unarmed news reporters in the first days of BOTH wars we fought with Iraq, and Iran wasn''t able to beat them in 9 years of intense fighting.

There is no Iranian or Iraqi soldier who could beat an American soldier in a fair fight. That''s why they plant roadside bombs. Planting roadside bombs is not the sign of an "elite" fighting force.