Iranian ships 'force' US and Royal Navy vessels to change course

[TomCADem]

Source: MSN/BBC News

A US Navy ship was forced to change course when fast-moving Iranian vessels approached it in the Strait of Hormuz, US officials say.

The USNS Invincible changed direction when the other vessels came within 600 yards (550m) before stopping.

Three British Royal Navy vessels, accompanying the American ship at the time, were also forced to move.

A US official told reporters the Iranian vessel had tried to position itself between them.

Read more: http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/iranian-ships-force-us-and-royal-navy-vessels-to-change-course/ar-AAnUvJq?li=BBnb7Kz

[Tanuki]

1. Didn't Donnie Dipshit vow that if Iranian sailors so much as flipped the bird to one of our ships

that they would be fired upon in retaliation?

[AJT]

2. Shhhhh, don't tell him. He's busy settling petty slights

via twitter.

[virtualobserver]

3. as it always does, the testing of the new President has begun

North Korea is pushing as well

[LompocDem]

4. Turning for a broadside

The maneuver was most likely initiated to turn their defensive armament towards the threat. The phalanx missile defense systems effective range is about 3000 meters IIRC. Simply turning a fleet or group of ships isn't always a defensive maneuver as this article seems to portray.

[heaven05]

5. ratchet, ratchet, ratchet

till baby-potus, bannon and miller have their war to distract from their current problems. It's going to happen folks. Too many military egos in this thing also. They don't give damn who's running the show, just who has the biggest *****.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

6. Getting it setup for a "Gulf of Tonkin Incident" reboot. Gotta justify that 54 bil DOD piss away!

War is always the ultimate distraction for dictators who are failing at ruling their minions. While a terror attack would be a more effective diversion it is more difficult to stage but a war is easy to start, difficult to end and it can lead to an easier re-election campaign!

[Johnyawl]

8. It's not just our "dictator"...

...There are hardliners in Iran who want war with the US. The danger is the two sets of idiots may just get what they want.

[MineralMan]

7. Actually, no. The US and UK vessels made the decision

to avoid those Iranian vessels. Had they decided to destroy them, those Iranian vessels would be scrap metal at the bottom of the Strait of Hormuz.

The were not "forced" to do anything. A decision was made to change course.