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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| US Navy rescues six Iranian seamen |
| 2006-03-02 |
| MANAMA - Six Iranian seamen who had been adrift in the waters of the Gulf for 10 days have been rescued by a US warship, the US 5th Fleet Command said in Bahrain on Wednesday. TuesdayÂ’s rescue was carried out by the guided missile destroyer USS Gonzalez during a security patrol in the central Gulf, the statement said. The Iranians said their vesselÂ’s engine and rudder failed on February 18. A Gonzalez boarding party gave the crew food and water as they had exhausted their supplies, the statement said. US Sailors determined that the dhowÂ’s engine was beyond repair. Gonzalez then coordinated the seamenÂ’s repatriation with other coalition forces in the area. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #6 Pappy cranky. |
| Posted by: 6 2006-03-02 18:17 |
| #5 I thought we had extra assets in the area, especially with the escalating nuclear saber rattling going on. This net has massive holes in it. What Pappy said. Yes, it's a scary time out in the Gulf area. And yes, we have a powerful military. That doesn't mean that we can keep track of everything that happens or control every detail - quite the contrary. Contested theaters of conflict are chaotic and can change rapidly. OTOH we have the most professional and best equipped and best trained military there is -- or has ever been. Trust these men and women to do their jobs well, okay? |
| Posted by: lotp 2006-03-02 14:08 |
| #4 I can't believe it took the Navy 10 days before anyone noticed they were afloat! Lots of dhows in the Gulf. Lots of dhows in the Gulf doing nothing but drifting, especially during the daytime (nightime is another matter). The only way to find out one is disabled is if the crew asks for help or indicates it's disabled. That's standard procedure with any vessel. I thought we had extra assets in the area, especially with the escalating nuclear saber rattling going on. This net has massive holes in it. Get real. One, there is no mandate to stop and check every frigging dhow in the Gulf. Two, it's a waste of assets unless there's a damn good reason. We knew the dhows shadowing us in the Gulf were monitoring us (the cammie trousers under the robes were a good indicator) but unless they are a threat, there's no valid reason to stop and board them. Third, stopping and checking every frigging dhow without a mandate is not only a waste of assets, but it tends to piss off governments that are otherwise relatively friendly. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2006-03-02 13:27 |
| #3 I can't believe it took the Navy 10 days before anyone noticed they were afloat! I thought we had extra assets in the area, especially with the escalating nuclear saber rattling going on. This net has massive holes in it. |
| Posted by: Danielle 2006-03-02 13:04 |
| #2 True. but look at it this way. There are now six more Iranians walking around thinking that those damned yanques may not be so bad after all. Every little bit helps. |
| Posted by: kelly 2006-03-02 12:10 |
| #1 Awefully civil of them. I wouldn't expect the same treatment if I were adrift in Iranian waters. |
| Posted by: Shomock Hupunter6844 2006-03-02 11:16 |