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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTrump orders US to 'shoot down and destroy' Iranian boats 'harassing' US warships
Chris RiottaNew York @chrisriotta
1 minute ago
Donald Trump said he instructed the Navy to shoot down and destroy" Iranian gunboats if they harass US ships at sea following a tense encounter between US warships and Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard in the Persian Gulf.
In a tweet posted on Wednesday morning, the president wrote: "I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea."
The apparent orders follow reports last week that Iranian fast boats were coming into close proximity with the US warships while conducting a drill near Kuwait.
The Navy later released video of the incident, which showed the Iranian boats nearing US vessels, with at least one pointing a deck-mounted machine gun towards the American boats.
Irans Revolutionary Guard seemed to blame the US, saying the close encounter was caused by the unprofessional and provocative actions of the United States and their indifference to warnings.
Link to tweet
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Someone should remind Spanky that you "shoot down" aircraft and you "sink" boats.
jpak
(41,758 posts)Laelth
(32,017 posts)This order puts the navy in an impossible bind.
-Laelth
CaptYossarian
(6,448 posts)If they had any.
Amishman
(5,557 posts)If they come close enough and are ignoring commands to turn away, this could be considered defensive action.
Not going to be a popular opinion on here, but with the Cole precedent it makes sense if they are being sufficiently aggressive, which from the descriptions its pretty close.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)I would merely prefer to have individual Captains make these decisions on a case-by-case basis (as opposed to an executive order compelling us to open fire on any aggressive Iranian vessel). If the President had not targeted Iran, specifically, I would be less concerned.
-Laelth
disagrees with Navy ships defending themselves against threats. They also didn't need Trump to tweet an order to do so.
This is just something shiny to distract people.
Laelth
(32,017 posts)-Laelth
Frustratedlady
(16,254 posts)We need to get him out of the Oval. God help us!
Guilded Lilly
(5,591 posts)Aviation Pro
(12,167 posts)...of Shitbag's head spur.
brer cat
(24,565 posts)sinkingfeeling
(51,457 posts)Igel
(35,307 posts)Protests are filed when they lock on radar.
Now, having Chinese run into a Vietnamese or Japanese boat ... Let them sink. (It's suspiciously like that Venezuelan incident a couple of weeks ago.)
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)MyOwnPeace
(16,926 posts)It didn't seem to have any effect in 2016 - enough were mesmerized by those beautiful red hats........
ck4829
(35,076 posts)Dawgman49
(226 posts)and how does the idiot define"harassment"?...so if they give us the finger...?...more distraction
ck4829
(35,076 posts)dweller
(23,632 posts)on flying carpets ?
🤔
✌🏼
bluecollar2
(3,622 posts)pwb
(11,265 posts)Goofy red governors , Immigration, now Iran? Anything to hide is grave mistake.
dalton99a
(81,486 posts)to divert attention from his mass murder
lark
(23,099 posts)He's ensuring there is a 2nd wave and thinks this might distract th base from the fact that they and their relatives are dying/ Stupid fucking murderous idiot is the worst thing that has happened to America in our entire history.
DFW
(54,378 posts)He'll give the order to sink any aircraft that paddle too close to our coastal installations.
ck4829
(35,076 posts)malaise
(268,997 posts)Ah well those oil prices must go up by any means necessary
Wednesdays
(17,373 posts)Mark my words.