U.S. Agrees to Settle Iranian Lawsuit

[saxitoxin]

Two U.S. Navy small boats spying on Iran broke down and drifted across the sea border into the territory of Iran. A flotilla of the Navy of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution (N-IRG), which was monitoring the U.S. operation, kindly towed the broke-ass U.S. boats to Farsi Island and is in the process of transferring the sailors to an airport for a civilian flight to Bahrain.

Iran detained 10 US sailors after two small patrol boats reportedly drifted into Iranian waters in the Gulf, US officials say.

They say the Riverine boats apparently developed mechanical problems and were taken to Iran's Farsi Island.

Tehran says the crew and the boats "will be returned promptly", Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook told the Associated Press news agency.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35295766

I bet they're glad they didn't break down in front of the Israeli Navy ... they have a tendency to machine-gun stranded American sailors to death.

[saxitoxin]

This is basically like a weird stalker driving up and down in front of your house everyday in a black van. Then one day his van breaks down and careens onto your flower garden.

Instead of shooting him, you call him a tow-truck and then pay for a cab to take him home ... even though you know he's going to be back the next day in his black van circling your street again.

[puhrinsuhtun]

The US never should have been in Iranian waters in the first place.

Iran has the right to self defense and the right to protect its own borders.

[saxitoxin]

The US never should have been in Iranian waters in the first place.

Iran has the right to self defense and the right to protect its own borders.

Agreed. And defense of its borders includes the right to preemptively neutralize regional existential threats.

[GabonX]

It doesn't look like they were in Iranian waters, closer to the half way point between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

In a blatant act of war, two days before sanctions were due to be lifted, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) early Wednesday, Jan. 13, grabbed two small US Navy patrol boats in Persian Gulf waters and seized 10 American seamen as spies.
The Fars News agency, the IRGC’s mouthpiece, used the term “snooping.” Another Iranian report called the detained Americans “prisoners.” Administration officials in Washington said the ships were on a routine mission from Kuwait to Bahrain when they experienced mechanical problems and contact with them was lost when they “strayed into Iranian waters.” Other US officials stressed that it is unclear exactly what happened. When they were captured, the boats appear to have been under the guns of IRGC commando boats near the tiny Farsi island, which the Guards have closed off as their base.
In an effort to defuse the incident, Secretary of State John Kerry called his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, stressed the gravity of the situation and insisted that the sailors were “going to get out.”
Hours later, the Iranian foreign minister got back to Kerry with the cool message that the American seamen were in good health and had not been harmed, but said nothing about releasing them or the US boats.
DEBKAfile’s Iranian and intelligence sources note that Iran’s act of aggression against the US was orchestrated by the IRGC, like the provocative test launches of nuclear capable ballistic missiles in violation of UN Security Council resolutions a couple of weeks ago, and the mob torching of the Saudi embassy in Tehran and the kingdom’s consulate in Mashad.
While the Obama administration and Kerry make every effort to present Iran as fully compliant with the terms of the nuclear accord, concluded with the six world powers last November, the hard-line Guards, the strongest political and military power in Iran, are engaged in deliberate delaying tactics.
Washington initially announced that sanctions would be applied against Iran over the missile tests, but then quickly backtracked. The IRGC saw this as offering a clear field to escalate its anti-US tactics and move from undermining the nuclear accord to a direct assault on an American target.
According to our Iranian sources, the ruling elite in Tehran is in a high state of tension, not only because of the dispute between moderates and hardliners over the nuclear accord, but also in the run-up to two cardinal elections on the Feb. 26 to the Majlis and the powerful Assembly of Experts, which holds the prerogative for selecting or removing Revolutionary Iran’s supreme leader.
The approach of these two votes is having an unsettling effort on the Islamic Republic’s political stability with dire fallout on the key issue of its controversial relations with the United States.
http://www.debka.com/article/25158/Iran ... n-as-spies

[saxitoxin]

It doesn't look like they were in Iranian waters, closer to the half way point between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

In a blatant act of war, two days before sanctions were due to be lifted, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) early Wednesday, Jan. 13, grabbed two small US Navy patrol boats in Persian Gulf waters and seized 10 American seamen as spies.
The Fars News agency, the IRGC’s mouthpiece, used the term “snooping.” Another Iranian report called the detained Americans “prisoners.” Administration officials in Washington said the ships were on a routine mission from Kuwait to Bahrain when they experienced mechanical problems and contact with them was lost when they “strayed into Iranian waters.” Other US officials stressed that it is unclear exactly what happened. When they were captured, the boats appear to have been under the guns of IRGC commando boats near the tiny Farsi island, which the Guards have closed off as their base.
In an effort to defuse the incident, Secretary of State John Kerry called his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, stressed the gravity of the situation and insisted that the sailors were “going to get out.”
Hours later, the Iranian foreign minister got back to Kerry with the cool message that the American seamen were in good health and had not been harmed, but said nothing about releasing them or the US boats.
DEBKAfile’s Iranian and intelligence sources note that Iran’s act of aggression against the US was orchestrated by the IRGC, like the provocative test launches of nuclear capable ballistic missiles in violation of UN Security Council resolutions a couple of weeks ago, and the mob torching of the Saudi embassy in Tehran and the kingdom’s consulate in Mashad.
While the Obama administration and Kerry make every effort to present Iran as fully compliant with the terms of the nuclear accord, concluded with the six world powers last November, the hard-line Guards, the strongest political and military power in Iran, are engaged in deliberate delaying tactics.
Washington initially announced that sanctions would be applied against Iran over the missile tests, but then quickly backtracked. The IRGC saw this as offering a clear field to escalate its anti-US tactics and move from undermining the nuclear accord to a direct assault on an American target.
According to our Iranian sources, the ruling elite in Tehran is in a high state of tension, not only because of the dispute between moderates and hardliners over the nuclear accord, but also in the run-up to two cardinal elections on the Feb. 26 to the Majlis and the powerful Assembly of Experts, which holds the prerogative for selecting or removing Revolutionary Iran’s supreme leader.
The approach of these two votes is having an unsettling effort on the Islamic Republic’s political stability with dire fallout on the key issue of its controversial relations with the United States.
http://www.debka.com/article/25158/Iran ... n-as-spies

Farsi Island is an Iranian island. Iranian territorial waters, just like American, extend for 12 miles off the coastline of any portion of its land territory. Here's a map from the Telegraph:



The US Navy can approach to within 12 miles of the island, no problem. When it gets closer than 12 miles it has entered the sovereign territory of Iran, no different than if Iran dropped paratroopers on downtown Denver. But it appears this was an innocent mistake by American sailors who got lost at deep sea and were helpfully brought to land by Iran after they accidentally violated international law by breaching Iranian territory; they got treated to a few hours of world famous Iranian hospitality in a five-star hotel, and then got first class airline tickets home -

The U.S. Navy sailors are so grateful right now it wasn't the Israeli Navy that found them ... this is what the Lizards do when they find the U.S. Navy spying on them -

[mrswdk]

Such graciousness, even in the face of runaway aggression and belligerence.

Iran playing Jesus to America's Darth Vader.

[saxitoxin]

This isn't that unusual, though. In 2007 when the Royal Navy violated Iranian territory, Iran did not immediately roar up, guns blazing, at their boats. It politely towed them to shore, gave everyone a hot meal, made sure they got a much-needed dose of Vitamin C, had them all fitted for free custom-tailored suits (no neckties as in keeping with Iranian custom) and then sent them home.

In Iranian culture there is a thing known as Taarof which demands a host provide any convenience or luxury their guest desires even if inconvenient.

the Royal Navy's extremely short sailors wave goodbye after sampling Iran's world-famous hospitality

[Bernie Sanders]

This isn't that unusual, though. In 2007 when the Royal Navy violated Iranian territory, Iran did not immediately roar up, guns blazing, at their boats. It politely towed them to shore, gave everyone a hot meal, made sure they got a much-needed dose of Vitamin C, had them all fitted for free custom-tailored suits (no neckties as in keeping with Iranian custom) and then sent them home.

In Iranian culture there is a thing known as Taarof which demands a host provide any convenience or luxury their guest desires even if inconvenient.

the Royal Navy's extremely short sailors wave goodbye after sampling Iran's world-famous hospitality

Iran saves their neckties for their own civilians, who dare question their leaders.





The Iranians even use heavy equipment to hang those damned dissidents

Click image to enlarge.

[patches70]

This is basically like a weird stalker driving up and down in front of your house everyday in a black van. Then one day his van breaks down and careens onto your flower garden.

Instead of shooting him, you call him a tow-truck and then pay for a cab to take him home ... even though you know he's going to be back the next day in his black van circling your street again.

It's probably a good thing that Iran is not as trigger happy as the Turks!

[saxitoxin]

This is basically like a weird stalker driving up and down in front of your house everyday in a black van. Then one day his van breaks down and careens onto your flower garden.

Instead of shooting him, you call him a tow-truck and then pay for a cab to take him home ... even though you know he's going to be back the next day in his black van circling your street again.

It's probably a good thing that Iran is not as trigger happy as the Turks!

Haha - great point!

[saxitoxin]

The U.S. sailors have issued an apology to Iran and the U.S. government has officially expressed its gratitude to Iran for extending its hospitality to the lost sailors.

US Secretary of State John Kerry said he wanted to "express my gratitude to Iranian authorities for their co-operation in swiftly resolving this matter".

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35300019

Photos published by the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution of the sailors show them relaxing and lounging and snacking on tea and dates and generally enjoying treatment that the U.S. itself doesn't extend to Mexicans who enter its territory without proper passports and visas.

[Bernie Sanders]

Hmmm, might be that Iran wants the US to release that 150 BILLION dollars that we have frozen. Plus, the fact we had Farsi Island surrounded with our warships, hmmmm.

[saxitoxin]

Hmmm, might be that Iran wants the US to release that 150 BILLION dollars that we have frozen.

Yes, that explains why the U.S. apologized and expressed its gratitude to Iran.

The U.S. sailors were released on the same time schedule as all other military trespassers have been released in recent years by Iran. No faster, no slower.

Plus, the fact we had Farsi Island surrounded with our warships, hmmmm.

No you don't.

[Bernie Sanders]

Hmmm, might be that Iran wants the US to release that 150 BILLION dollars that we have frozen.

Yes, that explains why the U.S. apologized and expressed its gratitude to Iran.

The U.S. sailors were released on the same time schedule as all other military trespassers have been released in recent years by Iran. No faster, no slower.

Plus, the fact we had Farsi Island surrounded with our warships, hmmmm.

No you don't.

Wrong! They held their British military hostages much longer.

Iranian military personnel seized 15 Royal Navy personnel during 2007 and held them for 13 days. On 23 March 2007, 15 British Royal Navy personnel, from HMS Cornwall, searching a merchant vessel were surrounded by the Navy of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and subsequently detained off the Iran-Iraq coast. In the course of events, the British forces claimed that the vessel was in Iraqi waters, but the Iranian side insisted that they were in Iran's territorial waters. The 15 personnel were released on 4 April 2007.

[saxitoxin]

Hmmm, might be that Iran wants the US to release that 150 BILLION dollars that we have frozen.

Yes, that explains why the U.S. apologized and expressed its gratitude to Iran.

The U.S. sailors were released on the same time schedule as all other military trespassers have been released in recent years by Iran. No faster, no slower.

Plus, the fact we had Farsi Island surrounded with our warships, hmmmm.

No you don't.

Wrong! They held their British military hostages much longer.

Iranian military personnel seized 15 Royal Navy personnel during 2007 and held them for 13 days. On 23 March 2007, 15 British Royal Navy personnel, from HMS Cornwall, searching a merchant vessel were surrounded by the Navy of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and subsequently detained off the Iran-Iraq coast. In the course of events, the British forces claimed that the vessel was in Iraqi waters, but the Iranian side insisted that they were in Iran's territorial waters. The 15 personnel were released on 4 April 2007.

Iran rescues American sailors who are lost and you are throwing around words like "hostages?" Even Secretary of State John Kerry said he was grateful to Iran.

What do you do when a guy stops to help you change your flat tire? Scream "stop raping me!"? Sheesh.

Rude, ungrateful, self-entitled, arrogant.

[Bernie Sanders]

Kerry was grateful that the moderates came through in Iran. Otherwise, the extremists of Iran would of got our extremists pissed off and things would have gotten out of hand.

Iran would still had their 150 BILLION dollars frozen, sanctions would be in place and Iran would of drowned in their own oil. Looks like Iran saw the consequences.

Plus, a boon to American consumers, gas stays below 2 dollars a gallon!

[patches70]

[Bernie Sanders]

Iran knows, if a Republican gets elected President......Mullahs are kissing President Obama's feet.

[saxitoxin]

Kerry was grateful that the moderates came through in Iran. Otherwise, the extremists of Iran would of got our extremists pissed off and things would have gotten out of hand.

Oh good. Another thread about actual event soccurring in the news, cited to mainstream sources, hijacked by "Story Time with Bernie Sanders" where he derails the thread with a rambling, unsourced fantasy of how he imagines things went down behind the scenes, interspersed with GIFS of American flags and eagles.

It's like being caught in the afterwash of Sean Hannity's wet dream.

[GoranZ]

Iran saves their neckties for their own civilians, who dare question their leaders.





The Iranians even use heavy equipment to hang those damned dissidents

Click image to enlarge.

Iranian rapists... they got what they deserve, according to Iranian law.
Bernie, you know what... If you were born in Iran you would have ended like them with your essay

[Bernie Sanders]

WRONG Goran, they stone the women who get raped. Plus, women can get stoned for other offenses too.

http://www.academia.edu/3382573/Violence_against_Women_in_Macedonia_Legal_Equality_for_Unequal_Citizens

Click image to enlarge.

[GoranZ]

Iran knows, if a Republican gets elected President......Mullahs are kissing President Obama's feet.

Iran knows that they must muster their S300 by that time. If they do, any American president can s*ck their balls for breakfast

Bad, or worse? Depends on what the meaning of ‘S-300’ is
Iran claims Russia has started delivery of S-300 missile defense system

The problem is that no one knows what did the Iranians get last year

http://www.academia.edu/3382573/Violence_against_Women_in_Macedonia_Legal_Equality_for_Unequal_Citizens

If you use the same resource on multiple threads... The author is Muslim(and not from Macedonian ethnicity, he only has Macedonian citizenship). He is talking about his(and yours Bernie) kind

[saxitoxin]

WRONG Goran, they stone the women who get raped. Plus, women can get stoned for other offenses too.

Name one instance, with a reputable source, where an Iranian woman has been stoned to death for being raped. This is a racist trope propagated by Islamaphobes and bigots. Next you'll be telling us African-Americans are more likely to be rapists because "that's just how they are." The fact is, the places where women are stoned for being raped are in America's allies like Saudi Arabia.

Also, with respect to non-rape adultery, in 1981 Ayatollah Khomeini outlawed stoning by decree throughout Iran. Some local judges in remote and rural areas have ignored this decree since Khomeini's death, however, an Iranian PAC "Campaign to Stop Stoning" currently is promoting legislation in parliament to formally restore the ban. It's a slow process but that's how democracy works, it's slow and deliberative. It took the USA 80 years to outlaw hacking the limbs off runaway slaves, so you're in no position to finger-wag on the basis Iran has been working on this for 30~ years.

[Bernie Sanders]

Iran is such a decent country for women and children.
http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/countries/middle-east-and-north-africa/iran

Iran wants to eliminate age of consent to marry girls to under 10 years old.
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/329317
http://files.wikipg.com/images/kc4/context/files/Iran_Child4.gif



She's in for a BIG SURPRISE!