Was Radio Threat To U.S. Warships A Hoax?

Well-Known Prankster May Have Sent Threatening Message During U.S.-Iran Standoff

(AP)  Sailors in the Persian Gulf have known him for years: a radio operator who taunts and insults passing ships. The rants are heard, logged then mostly forgotten.

But now the phantom voice has taken center stage in the latest flurry of claims and counterclaims between Iran and the United States following a tense high seas confrontation - raising new questions about whether Washington could have gotten a key element of the story wrong.

The radio transmission - a staccato burst suggesting U.S. Navy ships were targeted for explosion - was a central part of an audio-video presentation that U.S. officials claimed showed Iranian speedboats swarming three Navy warships on Jan. 6 in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway that is the only entry and exit to the Gulf.

Iran has called the U.S. recordings fabrications. Tehran's rebuttal received fresh attention after a newspaper that focuses on Navy issues said veteran U.S. sailors believe the threats could have been a well-known Gulf gadfly who has been pestering Gulf ships since at least the 1980s. There is also the possibility that more than one broadcaster has been contacting ships over the years.

Such renegade broadcasters are called by the ethnically offensive moniker, "the Filipino Monkey" - a name used by mariners around the globe for someone who uses a radio for unnecessary or inappropriate transmissions.

The questions raised in the Navy Times on Sunday also come at a sensitive time for Washington as President Bush visits Gulf nations and presses for greater unity against Iran's attempt to expand its influence in the region.

Seagoing exchanges between U.S. and Iranian vessels are not uncommon in the crowded Gulf shipping lanes, especially near the Strait of Hormuz where Iran's coastline is within miles of international waters.

Last week, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said there had been two or three similar incidents over the past year, but "maybe not quite as dramatic" as the Jan. 6 confrontation. None had been publicized until the eve of Bush's trip to the region, even though in one, in December, a U.S. ship actually fired warning shots toward an Iranian boat.

In the Jan. 6 incident, the Pentagon said U.S. Navy commanders also were considering firing warning shots, before the retreat of the five Iranian speedboats, which the Pentagon said were operated by the elite Revolutionary Guards.

Washington released a tape of a radio transmission of a male voice speaking in heavily accented English on an open frequency: "I am coming to you. ... You will explode after ... minutes." The White House called it a dangerous act, adding that the Iranian sailors also dropped boxes into the sea near the U.S. vessels.

"Inbound small craft: You are approaching a coalition warship operating in international waters. Your identity is not known; your intentions are unclear," the unidentified Navy crew member says on the tape. He then cautions the Iranians that they would be "subject to defensive measures" if they did not pull back.

The airwaves on the sea are full of rogue broadcasts. Many are dismissed as harmless snippets or remarks, but the one heard during the encounter with the Iranian craft was taken seriously.

Still, the Navy has said it cannot pinpoint the source. Over the decades, neither the location or the nationality of the Gulf radio prankster - or pranksters - has been determined.

Other evidence also has cast doubt on whether the threat came from the Iranian boats, including a lack of background noise - such as boat engines or wind - on the audiotape. Other analysts have noted the voice does not sound like an Iranian accent.

Cmdr. Lydia Robertson, spokeswoman for the Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, said Monday that the Navy - while trying to determine the transmission's source - still believed the overall incident was highly provocative.

"The Iranian boats were coming close to the ships, making aggressive maneuvers and objects were being dropped into the water," she told The Associated Press.

Cmdr. Jeffery James of the destroyer USS Hopper, one of the U.S. warships involved, said Sunday that it was the confluence of factors that caused most alarm.

"Whether it (the radio threat) was coincidental or not, it occurred at exactly the same time that these boats were around us, and they were placing objects in the water - so the threat appeared to be building," James said.

Joseph Cirincione, of the liberal Center for American Progress in Washington, said the Bush administration could stand accused of having "needlessly hyped a threat for political purposes" if it's determined the radio voice was not from Iranian forces.

Another danger is weakening U.S. credibility among European allies the United States needs to maintain a tough line against Iran on standoffs such as Iran's nuclear ambitions and its suspected aid to Shiite militias in Iraq. France, Germany and Britain are likely to stay allied with Bush on Iran, but only as long as they believe the United States has compelling evidence of Iranian wrongdoing.

U.S. sailors say they have heard the prankster - who is possibly more than one person - transmitting "insults and jabbering vile epithets" on unencrypted frequencies during Navy exercises in the Gulf for years, said the Navy Times, a privately owned newspaper.

"Navy women - a helicopter pilot hailing a tanker, for example - who are overheard on the radio are said to suffer particularly degrading treatment," the newspaper said Sunday.

Rick Hoffman, a retired Navy captain, said a renegade talker repeatedly harassed ships in the Gulf in the late 1980s when U.S. warships protected Kuwaiti oil tankers during the Iran-Iraq war.

"For 25 years there's been this mythical guy out there who, hour after hour, shouts obscenities and threats," Hoffman told Navy Times. "He could be tied up pier-side somewhere, or he could be on the bridge of a merchant ship."

The Iranians frequently send frigates and patrol craft or reconnaissance planes, including U.S.-made P-3 Orions, to watch U.S. ships in the Gulf. The Navy often responds by scrambling jet fighters to intercept and shadow Iranian planes.

Said Cirincione: "We have to take a step back and make sure we don't hyperinflate these threats, to prevent a shooting war that nobody really wants."

Mickey Gurdus, an Israeli who has been monitoring radio and TV broadcasts for Israel Radio for four decades, believes the Gulf broadcast was not a hoax and "could have been psychological warfare."

"I can't imagine that there is anyone in the proximity of the Strait of Hormuz that would carry out a hoax like that," said Gurdus, who did not monitor the original radio broadcast Jan. 6. "I think this was something real."

Gurdus said he believes the broadcast heard by the U.S. vessels were UHF or VHF transmissions that would originate within a 60-mile radius of the strait if made from land and 180 miles from an airborne transmitter.

Michael O'Hanlon, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, said he was surprised that the source of the transmission remains unclear, because of the many decades of U.S. naval presence in the Gulf.

"You would have thought we would have been able to nail this down," he said.

[walt1944-2009]

We are now hearing that the radio messages during the recent Iranian boat incidents may have been a hoax!

How much more of the story is a hoax???

The Gulf of Tomkin, all over again, and maybe this time, given the lying track record of the administration of the Great Emperor Bush II, we have finally got wise to them.

FOOL ME ONCE, SHAME ON YOU; FOOL ME TWICE, SHAME ON ME!!!!!!!!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!!

[cfin5]

What''s the point? And who cares who it is? Next time they want to play "Rat Patrol" with the safety of our sailors, I expect to read an article titled something like "U.S. Navy calls Iranian''s speed boats bluff,....no survivors".

[gladetryst]

Of course, if we left the Gulf they could play around all they wanted and the Sons and Daughters of Americans wouldn''t have to worry who was sailing around the Gulf, eh?

[libsluvsuvs]

No incident, no credible threat...just more fear and war mongering by the mass murderers in Washington and Tel Aviv.


Posted by Prinzowhales at 09:01 PM : Jan 14, 2008
+ report abuse

*****

humm I am sure that is the same idea when you said osama was giving you a postate exam when he had his entire fist up your arse..or like the WTC is not an attack but an elaborate conspiracy..I dont think you have any credibility.

[libsluvsuvs]

Prinzowhales you can be considered a filipino monkey..the islamic liberal netroot version

[libsluvsuvs]

FOOL ME ONCE, SHAME ON YOU; FOOL ME TWICE, SHAME ON ME!!!!!!!!


Posted by walt1944 at 08:46 PM : Jan 14, 2008
+ report abuse

****************

dont worry liberal hollywood, the liberal media and the DNC got you fooled everytime...SHAME ON YOU DUMBAS*S

************************

[rafterman1]

===dont worry liberal hollywood, the liberal media and the DNC got you fooled everytime...SHAME ON YOU DUMBAS*S===
posted by Libsluvsuvs

Still pushing the myth of the liberal media, huh? Pathetic since we know the media is a money-making corporate entity and is owned by mostly rich Republicans.

===humm I am sure that is the same idea when you said osama was giving you a postate exam when he had his entire fist up your arse===

Ask George where Osama is. Is he still "wanted dead or alive"? Or is he "not concerned where he is"? Osama, the greatest mass murderer of Americans and Bush isn''t concerned where he is.

[robertkjjj]

Prinzowhales, it''s always easy for me to know who to support or vote for. I simply note who you are against and that is who I side with.
Since you are pure stupidity, then the opposite side would have to be pure intelligence.

[incog-nito]

lexluthor5: The "gadfly" wouldn''t be the one starting a world war. Incidents like these don''t start war. The leaders who use them as a pretext do. I bet that Bush is pretty disappointed about this, but I''m sure he''ll find something else.

[nothappyatall]

ran has called the U.S. recordings fabrications. Tehran''s rebuttal received fresh attention after a newspaper that focuses on Navy issues said veteran U.S. sailors believe the threats could have been a well-known Gulf gadfly who has been pestering Gulf ships since at least the 1980s.
Other evidence also has cast doubt on whether the threat came from the Iranian boats, including a lack of background noise - such as boat engines or wind - on the audiotape. Other analysts have noted the voice does not sound like an Iranian accent. "


LOL just like Iran and others have said- FAKE, the tragic part is Bush is happy to start WW3 over a FAKE "harassment" or "attack", had the ships shot those 5 speedboats, we would have claimed just like with the Tonkin Gulf incident- that we were "attacked" or "threatened"

And you morons out there still believe ANYTHING the Bush regime or their minions say or claim? he found real suckers in y''all, cause I''ve been saying for years- NEVER trust ANYTHING the US Govt says does or claims, the US Govt, the police, the FBI, CIA and all the rest are NOT your friends or buddies, they are NOT there to help or protect YOU, they are there to line their bank accounts with YOUR cash however and force you like dumb sheep to do whatever they want.

It wouldn''t be the first time our government has lied to us.

[telecom_1]

When Iran provoked are US Navy by their idiotic behavior I instantly understood that it was the same day that the free peoples of The United States of America was debating freely in New hampshire over the who would become the next leader of the USA. The Iranian Dictators are threatened by freedom especially freedom like in America where the people have freedom of choice who will be are leader. Iranian Dictators created news by provoking a great nation, like a little dog biting at the heels of a giant man. They were nervous that the whole earth seemed to be watching America freely debating everything. So Iran manufactured news by provoking America in order to get media news coverage of their ploy to overshadow the greatest freedom of peoples choice contest in the world.

[ontheleft]

If the United States government told me the sky was blue I wouldn''t believe them.

[telecom_1]

A fool is known by their words and mrconservatv has proven to be rebel for disobeying the terms of this forum and is spamming trash not wisdom.

[cdfoxtrot]

When Iran provoked are US Navy by their idiotic behavior I instantly understood that it was the same day that the free peoples of The United States of America was debating freely in New hampshire over the who would become the next leader of the USA. The Iranian Dictators are threatened by freedom especially freedom like in America where the people have freedom of choice who will be are leader.... Blah, blah, blah.

Posted by telecom_1

What are you? Nine years old?

[cdfoxtrot]

A fool is known by their words and mrconservatv has proven to be rebel for disobeying the terms of this forum and is spamming trash not wisdom.

Posted by telecom_1

Did they not teach you basic grammer?

[b0ludo]

To those of you who are so quick to release your vomit against the land that saw you get hatched, I have a curse... I hope you get to live in a place like Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, Syria, Cambodia or Ghana... Keep up your attacks, continue to be the fifth column for the Muslims, commies, or whomever is the enemy at bat, and you may end up one of the aforementioned *** on earth as your country of citizenship. Left, right or just plain screwed up, life in any of these countries would make you wish you could live in the land of the free, home of the brave, where you could freely release the poison in your pen. Gone would be your right to live out of wedlock with your girlfriend, gay or straight, let alone marry anything other than the opposite member of your species, whatever that happens to be. The day after you spoke badly about the government thug of choice, your life would be over, literally. Useful Idiots, one and all, you think anything else would have to be better than what we have... Look around, read a book or two, the world is a little scarier than your hatred-fed delusions would lead you to believe.

[closethippy1]

The following is an excerpt from what the Iranians claim to be a recording of a threat from the American side: "Persian, listen to me. You toucha my boat I breaka your face, OK?!"

I don''t know but it doesn''t sound real to me. What d''ya think?

[feelfree1]

Re: "Washington released a tape of a radio transmission of a male voice speaking in heavily accented English on an open frequency: "I am coming to you. ... You will explode after ... minutes." The White House called it a dangerous act, adding that the Iranian sailors also dropped boxes into the sea near the U.S. vessels."

The alleged radio "threat" was an obvious and sloppy hoax, as many commentators pointed out immediately right in this forum.

What we still need to know though, is where did the lie about the alleged "box-bombs" come from?

Neither the U.S. nor the Iranian videos ever showed these alleged bombs, much less anyone throwing them in the sea. We also never saw the Iranian boats EVER in a position where they could place anything in the path of these ships, in any case, so this was simply a non-threat.

CBS owes us an explanation as to where this "box-bomb" nonsense came from, however, and as to why they so eagerly propped-up this fraud, by airing only a slick digital cartoon of the alleged "box-bomb" event, as their only evidence that it had taken place.

Journalism, CBS?

I think not.

Libsluvsuvs wrote:

"humm I am sure that is the same idea when you said osama was giving you a postate exam when he had his entire fist up your arse..or like the WTC is not an attack but an elaborate conspiracy..I dont think you have any credibility."

Sounds like you''re talking about GW Bush.

[mcv57]

The Bushwacker and his crooked regime at it again. C-O-V-E-R-U-P procedure (1) blame someone else (no accountability objective).

Obviously another Buckwacker plan gone sour.

[feelfree1]

Re: "Other evidence also has cast doubt on whether the threat came from the Iranian boats, including a lack of background noise - such as boat engines or wind - on the audiotape. Other analysts have noted the voice does not sound like an Iranian accent."

This evidence was spotted immediately by several contributors to this forum, while CBS still had no clue. CBS Newz is 1 week late with this information.

[mcv57]

GEORGE B I T C H just delivered another 20 Billion dollar with of Arms to Saudi

Bin Laden was was a Saudi

15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudi

Where is

C o C k Cheney

phony, fraud, liars, theives, crooks, terrorists,

Republican hero''''s LOL
Posted by mrconservatv


Bin Laden was a stooge . . . remember Oswald. Put the GOP old scheme into place, and you may solve the enigma. Why do you thing Bin Laden is allowed to live, he was part of the plan that the Bushwacker and the corporate oil mongos had outlined. Bin Laden is just an excuse to bring troops into the U.S.

The scary part of Part II: the Bushwacker and his military machine will invade Iran. I very seriously doubt if Russia is going to let the Bushwacker have anymore control of the world''s oil.

Nostradamus is correct: Russia and China will join in alliance.

[mcv57]

Correction: Bin Laden is just an excuse to bring troops into the middle east.

I going to bed. ... bye.

[feelfree1]

Re: "For 25 years there''s been this mythical guy out there who, hour after hour, shouts obscenities and threats," Hoffman told Navy Times."

I have to say, if this legend is true, then is a dangerously funny bit, in my opinion. That is some *** fine dark humor.

This heckler has been at it for 25 years though and it did not occur to our Naval geniuses that the message might be from the "Monkey"?

Hard to believe. The threat was plainly pasted on to the end of the video, to make the 2 seem related. The Pentagon goons are simply backpedaling, now that their shabby "Gulf of Tonkin part II" hoax has been laid bare for all to see.

Where do the lies end?

[feelfree1]

mcv57,

Re: "Bin Laden is just an excuse to bring troops into the middle east."

Agreed.

[grazinggoat]

Mickey Gurdus, an Israeli who has been monitoring radio and TV broadcasts for Israel Radio for four decades, believes the Gulf broadcast was not a hoax and "could have been psychological warfare."

"I can''t imagine that there is anyone in the proximity of the Strait of Hormuz that would carry out a hoax like that," said Gurdus, who did not monitor the original radio broadcast Jan. 6. "I think this was something real."

-Mickey-Mouse Gurdus must be part of the CBSNews staff in the Gulf Region. Surprisingly he Was Not on duty when that happened. Was it his voice, I mean his real voice producing the threat?

-Could someone please check for a resemblance between this very voice and that of an actor from Hollywood that voiced Freddy the Monster... LOL!

[rowdytexan2]

Hell, any novice on a computer could cut and past a better sound hoax than that! And they expect us to believe this krap???

[brianbwb-2009]

Hell, any novice on a computer could cut and past a better sound hoax than that! And they expect us to believe this krap???
Posted by RowdyTexan2

They were hoping we would, but since we didn''t buy it, they are going to have to stage another 9?11.

[watcher269-2009]

Hmmm, A perceived threat from Iran JUST before the President visits the Middle East. Coincidence, convenience, fabrication?

Would our Government LIE to us just before our valued President makes his first Official Trip to Israel, Saudi Arabia and Usama Bin Laden''s Family Ranch just outside the "I Hate America" Saudi Training grounds for America Attackers?


Naaaa!

[johnshaft4]

It was a desperate attempt by druggy Limbaugh trying to boost his dwindling ratings...

[closethippy1]

Can you say M-O-S-S-A-D?

[watcher269-2009]

Can you say M-O-S-S-A-D?

Posted by closethippy1

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


It is rumored that Mossad has film footage of the first plane hitting the towers. Ask yourself how?

[usayesterday]

The Gulf of Tonkin...



...and the Persian Gulf will soon share an "incident" that will be eerily familiar, but equally devastating.

[woodjd42]

The Gulf of Tonkin...



...and the Persian Gulf will soon share an "incident" that will be eerily familiar, but equally devastating.


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

Posted by USAyesterday

The incident of the gulf of tonkin never happened. LBJ just used it to escalate the Vietnam war.

[antizion]

The Mossad cooked up 911 with a CIA blessing, why wouldn''t they now get us to attack their other enemy Iran?

This is how ALL wars start. You tell the people they are being attacked and then denounce the peace makers for their lack of patriotism.

War is how rulers get rid of their violent stupid class if they have one. No wonder America has been at war for a hundred years and turned the world into our killing fields.

We were hijacked by the Zionist back in 1898. We were made most vulnerable by our open non racist policy.

[jjp735i]

What Bush blamed Iran and maybe was wrong? Who would have thought that could happen?

[antizion]

"The incident of the gulf of tonkin never happened. LBJ just used it to escalate the Vietnam war. Posted by USAyesterday"

Just like Roosevelt, LBJ had a girlfriend.

The Zionist blackmailed Roosevelt to join WWII which was started to break the military alliance between Turkey (who controlled Palestine) and Germany in order to create Israel.

Just like Germany was imploded from within by Zionist and jews, so too now is America by many of the same families that supported Hitler and his final solution (Israel).

[iceman_1960]

"Can you say M-O-S-S-A-D?"
- Posted by closethippy1 at 02:46 AM : Jan 15, 2008

This doesn"t sound like them. It"s too amateurish.

It was probably the same little no-life hacker who has been doing this for years.

"I am coming to you. ... You will explode after ... minutes."

("Sailors in the Persian Gulf have known him for years: a radio operator who taunts and insults passing ships. The rants are heard, logged then mostly forgotten.")

[cbs_oliver]

The story was dubius from the start and evidence of deliberate misrepresentation was quickly presented by numerous sources.

But the main media, including AP and CBS, continued to pretend oblivious ignorance.

Really somebody should be fired at AP and CBS.

At least the Navy liars had the decency to parse their words so carefully that what they said could technically mean the opposite of what they appeared to be saying. They are still doing that.

[brianbwb-2009]

"We were hijacked by the Zionist back in 1898. We were made most vulnerable by our open non racist policy." Posted by AntiZion

Wrong son, America has been ans still is one of the most racist countries on the globe, as evidenced by your post.

But the real culprit is simple greed, we were hijacked by the greedy who pooled their resources to fashion an environment where their greed has been able to bankrupt the nation twice, and is well on the way to the third, and what may be final bankruptcy.

[mcvet]

...and the Persian Gulf will soon share an "incident" that will be eerily familiar, but equally devastating.

Posted by USAyesterday at 05:01 AM : Jan 15, 2008
+ report abuse

Of course! Bush and the Fascist have to start another war, that''s the ONLY way they can maintain the hold they have on the week and simple minded. So a LIE like the Gulf of Tonkin is certainly not out of the question.

[navyretired2]

"Journalism, CBS?

I think not.

Posted by FeelFree1 at 11:47 PM : Jan 14, 2008"

Totally agree. CBS is getting completely suspect. I''ve all but stopped reading this site because of their intentional disilluioning. Then I stop by to read this article (since I kinda like the Navy) and BAM! Looks like the C fell off and all we''re left with is the BS.

[iceman_1960]

"I"ve all but stopped reading this site because of their intentional disilluioning."
- Posted by NavyRetired2 at 07:39 AM : Jan 15, 2008

Disilluioning is bad enough.

Intentional disilluioning is outrageous.

[ajaxtheleast]

Beware the unasked-for VOLUNTEERED explaination!

[gkc99]

"The Zionist blackmailed Roosevelt to join WWII which was started to break the military alliance between Turkey (who controlled Palestine) and Germany in order to create Israel.
Just like Germany was imploded from within by Zionist and jews, so too now is America by many of the same families that supported Hitler and his final solution (Israel"--Posted by AntiZion



Not another Nazi cockroach crawling out of the woodwork. These vermin make the antiwar movement look bad. Time to send them to the showers!

[gkc99]

The US government routinely boards ships on the high seas outside of US territorial waters. So what''s the beef with the Iranians? If it''s OK for the US Navy and Coast Guard to board any ship anywhere based on their "War on Drugs" excuse, they can''t whine too loudly about Iranian ships patrolling coastal waters of Iran.

But any excuse will do for the Darth Bushit regime to cook up a war with Iran to keep Neocons in power in the US. Any! Beware the Gulf of Tonkin! These people are proven liars.

[ajaxtheleast]

"Oilficial" trip actually. "A *** for tat" about
oil as NPR reported. And with the lame duck, it''s
a good bet that King Abdulah will be the one
supplying the "tat".

[xounds]

Forget firing someone from CBS or the AP. Fire the dumkopfs in the Navy who can''t tell hackers from attackers. I can''t wait until our gullible President fades away to his brushy little ranchette near Waco.

By the way, it''s interesting that he called Rice over to ask her why the U.S. hadn''t bombed railroad lines into the Nazi death camps during WWII and stated "We should have bombed them," but he is quite aware of the millions dead in the Congo and elsewhere and chooses to ignore it. Knowing the U.S., some of his spawn will someday be laying a wreath in the Congo, and asking, "How come Great-grandpappy George W didn''t bomb em and stop it?"

[xounds]

Also, if some of you are going to call other posters "Nazis," get your facts right. They would be neo-Nazis unless they were part of the Third Reich. Many neo-Nazis make true and valid statements as to the damage done to societies by certain groups.