Saturday, July 29, 2017

Rumors of War - Persia

Iran: U.S. Navy again fired warning flares at vessels in Persian Gulf - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier fired warning flares at their vessels in the Persian Gulf. The IRGC Navy said the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and another warship approached an oil and gas platform Friday in the Persian Gulf at about 4 p.m. before dispatching a helicopter and firing the warning flares. It was the second such encounter between the two nations this week. [...] On Tuesday, a U.S. Navy ship fired warning shots at an armed Iranian patrol boat in the Persian Gulf."

Comment: If I'm reading between the lines correctly, this represents a welcome change in the rules of engagement under the Trump Administration. As you will recall, these kinds of encounters have happened often in the past and under the Obama rules the Navy would react defensively, both in procedure and in press release. This latest incident seem to have been staged on purpose, a provocative act by a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier to make a point after the previous incident involving a much smaller Navy ship. Nicely done!

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