E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSThe Strait of Hormuz has become a flashpoint and now tensions could escalate beyond angry rhetoric. NBC's Richard Engel reports.
Last week's close encounter between U.S. ships and Iranian speed boats in the Strait of Hormuz was considered "routine" and a "very common occurence" especially for ships transiting the strait, a senior defense official and a U.S. military official tell NBC News.
According to the officials, the U.S. Navy amphibious ship New Orleans was heading through the Strait of Hormuz nearing the Persian Gulf on Jan. 6 when three Iranian boats approached at high speed. The New Orleans radioed the usual warning to the fast boats to keep their distance. The Iranians did not respond by radio, but simply turned and sped away. The fast boats never got closer than 700 yards.
On the same day, the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Adak was also approached by Iranian fast boats, one which had a machine-gun mounted on the bow. As in the case of the New Orleans, the Iranian boats turned away when warned off.
The officials told NBC News on Friday that the encounters occurred just as the Iranians were wrapping up their "naval exercises" in the Gulf and the strait.
The officials called the encounters "predictable behavior that has been going on for years."
U.S. Navy officials said the communications were "professional," and the U.S. ships were not forced to increase their security or threat levels.
U.S. officials denied a report that Iranian boats "harassed" the U.S. ships or displayed hostile intent.
Tensions over Iran's nuclear program have escalated in recent weeks to their highest level in years. Tehran has threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, raising global fears of a possible military clash.
January 6, 2012 - Three Iranian Fast Boats speed within several hundred yards of the USS New Orleans, an Amphibious Transport Dock ship, as it transits the Strait of Hormuz.
Jan. 6, 2012 - Three Iranian fast boats trail in the wake of U.S. Coast Guard cutter Adak as it operates in the Persian Gulf.
More from msnbc.com and NBC News:
Leave a Comment:
Lyndon Johnson could have started a major war over this non-incident.
Everyone loves a major war. Until we start "losing" or if we get into a stalemate. If we actually looked at support for the war in Iraq, more than half of the US population supported it until 2005, when sectarian violence began to rise.
Source: http://pewresearch.org/pubs/770/iraq-war-five-year-anniversary
Similarly with US efforts in Afghanistan, over half the American public supported the war until 2008, when US deaths began to rapidly increase.
Source: http://www.pewglobal.org/2008/06/12/global-economic-gloom-china-and-india-notable-exceptions/
http://icasualties.org/oef/
My point is that no matter how strong support there is for US intervention in any conflict, American support for it will rapidly decrease the moment we stop "winning." It is not only the war mongers who want war. An overwhelming supermajority of Americans want war so long as it is over quickly.
Everyone doesn't "love" war (crimes against peace). It's just that some in this "human" race need the "excitement" to give their "lives" "meaning". Just because people are too stupid to think for themselves and are led into "wars" such as Iraq by lies and deceit, including the vast majority of the media doing so doesn't equate to "love". That's an oxymoron, but so are the ones who think they are "brave" by wanting to kill and obliterate other societies, but are fascist and racist regarding their own.
Hey Truthin, You need excitements, go get your self a girlfriend, life of our brothers and sisters are too much for you little excitements.
The war mongers must really be disappointed ... they were counting on shooting by now.
I am not a war monger, but I feel this war with Iran was the real justifiable war all along. Iran, Russia and China are plotting to destroy the United States from within and from without. It's not the will of the everyday person but their leaderships including ours that desire a show down. How much more proof does anyone need? We're not far from a RUMBLE!
Sure you are .... every war is justifiable to a war monger. They just desire some wars more than other wars. Its all a matter of choice but war mongers tend to like and justify all wars.
Judson: Move over there then........ Enjoy yourself. bye!
Conflict with Iran is all but inevitable.
But we need to get out of Afghanistan first. These wars are two expensive to keep double-dipping.
The republican party, the criminal gang of corporate thugs masquerading as a viable political party are who is plotting to "destroy America from within" Fed. In fact, they are halfway there already. If the American people are stupid enough to allow it, this group of traitorous scum will finish the job too.
Leroy Brown: You missed a few others: Council of Foreign Relations, Trilateral Commission, Bilderberg Group, Club of Rome, United Nations, World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund.
Many factors are leading to a Show down of epic proportions..... Iran is just another piece of the puzzle.
Fed up:
Ding, ding, ding! Winner winner chicken dinner!
Justifiable? How? I see no reason to start shooting first. Iran hasn't started a war since the 1800s and that was with Russia. Funny how the more oil they have the more justifiable it is? What was our excuse in Iraq again? Nonexistent WMDs? Now it's Nukes which again they say they aren't building. I never believed the Iraq story from day one but I guess the ruse managed to fool the less savvy. This is the second time however and there should be no excuses.
Looks like we're trying to take the high road in all our dealings with Iran. Wise move. Not typical of us, but wise.
LMARCT: You can do all the rump kissin' you want. I will never cater to their feelings. Never forget 9/11!
What did Iran or the Iranian navy have to do with 9/11?????
Fed up,
Rump kissing? No one's kissing rumps here. By taking the high road, I mean that we are not exaggerating this story into something it's not for propaganda purposes.
I seriously have no idea of what your point is.
MBinCoeur: In a way you're correct. I am off topic relating to the speed boats/ Iranian navy. My belief is these constant acts of defiance, aggression and political posturing all stem from Iran's loathing of America and involvement in 9/11.
LMARCT: Huh? What you said "high road in all our dealings with Iran." I say screw pussy footin' around Iran. Then you say "....I mean that we are not exaggerating this story into something it's not for propaganda purposes." what do you mean?
Fed: I think I get what you're trying to say. Imanutjob has said he believes the U.S. was behind 9/11. If the Iranians are dumb enough to pick a fight with the U.S. navy they're nuttier than a fruit cake.
MBinCoeur: I loathe Islam and all things Iranian.... The Iranians have been brainwashed to the point of no return. I think maybe we've participated in a muddled conversation together.... Oh, well I am done fixing or outlining America's problems this evening... c-ya. :D)
Fed Up simple question, what the hell has Iran ever done to you, not your country, but you? Or are you just a religious bigot?
From the looks of things, he's a bigot against humanity and the "human" race, such as it is; although he (it) appears to be emulating it.
Fed up says I loathe Islam and all things Iranian.
I guess that kinda says it all,racist and xenophobic too,a twofer.With no-nothings like that you can't counter with logic,they have none,its just pure hate.But I do wonder if people like that ever considered that they say and act just how they say their enemies are,lol.
I am glad Democratic cool heads prevailed over the Republican hot heads.
Obama 2012!!
We are just waiting for the fools to cross the red line and then these shiites (drop an i and e for lack of a better description) will get exactly what they deserve. Their destiny is fish food just like osama. The fish will love it.
Bigot much?
I for one, am sick of the US war posturing that has lasted over a decade. It's not good foreign policy and it erodes our financial infrastructure. Today's politicians are corrupt using a wag the dog mentality, and giving in to financial reform that eliminates the middle class.
Please vote for Ron Paul if this make sense to you.
Citizen-Kane, a decade????? Where have you been, this is the 65th year of constant war for the United Imperialist Empire States of America and no end in sight unless the people end this governments reign of terror over it's citizens and the world.
how long you gonna deny 9/11 was an inside job? Fed Up-3261941 your profile picture makes more sense than your words. wish you would understand what " not for propaganda purposes means".
Netpoison: Don't forget these: Council of Foreign Relations, Trilateral Commission, Bilderberg Group, Club of Rome, United Nations, World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund.
So lets see know Fed Up,first it was the secular government of Iraq that was supposed to have teamed up with their blood enemies the ultra-religious Sunni extremists to have been behind 9/11.Now your saying it was the Iranian Shia Muslims the blood enemies of the Sunni extremists that teamed and were part of 9/11.Do you know anything about the Middle East,or do you just like to post nonsense.
Iran needs to think about going to war against an enemy spending more than the rest of the world combined on defense. Dolphins have been part of the navy for over 30 years. Only question will be how will a war end. With a quick surrender or complete destruction of iran.
The third and more likely option,is a hundred times the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.We are there for untold years,killing and being killed in the thousands.Spending so many of our lives and so much of our money that our economy is in total depression and our people have turned so against the government that they are forced to withdraw,ala Vietnam.
We should have sunk their ship and told the world the Iranian sailor are sleeping with the fish. Maybe the sharks liked their test like Osama bin Laden. We could not let the midget running Iran thinks he could Fuxx with the United States.
We seem to be "sticking it to them"(their nuclear program) literally with magnet bombs.
Lets "stick" it to them some more, maybe a way to avoid a big war.
Hey that rhymes.
Of course they are not hostile with the speed boats, they know we are ready to fire,and we are almost done "pussy footin" around.
Solution;non nuclear bunker busters that have been successfully tested in Israel,coincidence I think not.
Iran could be killing their own scientists. The guy was too young to have been a critically needed. Iran could have planted the bombs and blamed on israel. Iran can see the economic sanctions & revolution. Another country whose people siding with obama & the apple siri.
I doubt it. Mossad, the Israeli spy agency, was most likely behind the assassinations. They're perfectly capable of operating spies within Iran and carrying out the murders. They've been doing it for a long time, and it's not like they can't keep doing so now.
"Iran could be killing their own scientists"? Does that qualify as a "conspiracy theory'?
Of course, the computer controled and aimed mini guns along the rail of the New Orleans were trained on the Iranian gofast boats the entire time. The inside limit that any US ship will allow "enemy" craft is 450 yards, at which point they would have been turned into fiberglass splinters and a fine oil mist. The Iranians already know that.
@ marshal;
What do you mean? I am cornfused by this statement.
Iran is not going to war, they are actually showing great restrain, while Israel and the US keep stabbing a finger into their chest shouting "what ya gonna do about it?"
@mike;
This is more about stopping their nuclear weapons ambitions,than going to all out war. The outcome of that is obvious.
They are threatining to shut down the straight of hormuz,if sanctions are imposed on their oil exports,how is that showing restraint? They tell an aircraft carrier that alone could probably win a war against them to stay away,how is that showing restraint,they sentence an American to death for supposed spying,how is that showing restraint? They sabre rattle weekly against us sir,where have you been?
You are dealing with a government that drags people out onto soccer fields and shoots them in the head while the families watch on for petty crimes,and no due process.,they were going to hang a woman for being raped.Yes restraint is the word for these guys.wow
He's not dealing with them but he is supporting them , as usual radical muslim supporter brainwashed liberal . .
Not as "brainwashed" as you two oblivious to the acts of your own country; thinking like yours made Naziism a force. No one was able to legitimately complain evidently because the "Homeland" was sacred. What a bunch of b.s. People see right from wrong, but on this website it's better to be a "lamb" to the facists, because you can't be "brave" standing up to what is wrong if it interferes with an agenda to make us "great" at the expense of humanity and the world of beings.
Somedude and Coraltaxi: Thank you for responding to Mike Christian. I had to vomit after reading his clueless post. I don't want to get banned for tearing his worthless tush a new one.
have you got your brain removed?? just wondering.
@ truthin;
No country is perfect,but if you think we are going to make the same mistake here as NK, you are seriously kidding yourself. We are going to take out their facilities have no doubt about it,and noone is going to do anything about it.period!
55 of them to be exact.
Russia,nor China is up for a fight they have their own problems,and will not risk going backwards over Iran,they have vested interest only in Iran,they are not allies.
Why are we brainwashed? Because we do not want nuclear weapons in the hands of a repressive regime?
What the heck does that mean???
You have no knowledge about Iran.You've confused several reports from different countries with Iran.Believe it or not there is more than one country in the Middle East,and every time a story comes out with the word Muslim in it,its not always about Iran.
@ unclebob; Who are you talking to?Not that your directing at me but this story is about Iran,I havent thought about Muslims?
Everyone should remember 1 fact, those who live by the sword, die by the sword. At this point, that will be our only legacy for our grandchildren. A war torn planet.
I hope the posters understand that the Irani vessels were not ships. Only three small patrol boats.. they did not come close to the US ships. It likely would have meant the small vessels were history. Whatever it was, it was a long way from warlike. The US ships and their crews were in no real danger.
Iran already knows how the US is with firepower, they already have seen this. They know their chances of winning are slim to none. They should give up their nuke ambitions and we should help them with electricity in exchange for oil.
"Your flag decal won't get you into Heaven anymore...they're already overcrowded,from your dirty little war..."-John Prine
Excuse me, where is the chat room for the intelligent people?
The russians probably already gave iran some nukes that's why all the bravado .
How come is North Korea get food ad and Iran gets war threats both country have China support why don`t the US seek help from China help find some answers they do have powerful Navy.
Michael..... First, North Korea, has big Alley,,,,, U.S. No big alley, China say to current administration.... You too - Dinkee Dou....... President Obama.....
President Obama's reply....... DINKEE IS DOWN , HAVE TO LOOK AT Micheal ........
Hi.. If we do nothing, people will B*&^ch.... If we do something, people Will B*&^ch.... LETS lean on the side of caution....... Pull our military out..... Send in some other non American vessel, carring the American flag......
IF THEY, ( Iran ) attack ....... LEVEL THE WHOLE PLACE....... DONE.... SIMPLE MATH...... OH, WAIT WE THE American people, don't have the Integrity to do something like that..... AND THEY KNOW IT......................
Soon or later China and Russian Navy needs to offer concessions
there to help ease tensions like they did with North Korea if feasible.