I don't think it needs to be said that if provoked we will defend ourselves. At least one of the captains fired warning shots and Paul did not question that. Paul has said before that we will defend ourselves and called for retaliation after 9/11. Paul is no pacifist. At the same time, what those ships were doing may have been provocative, but it doesn't warrant retaliation. The situation was handled. We don't need to get all huffy every time a little dog barks at us. Sometimes we can afford to take the high road. Especially when we have put Iran in an awkward position by causing political instability directly below their border. Can you understand how they'd be feeling a little tense? You do know that Iranians are human too, right? This is what I'm talking about. We are a powerful nation. Why are we bribing countries to trade with us? At the same time, why do we want to spend the money of Americans, both willing and unwilling, to get in the middle of regional conflicts around the globe? If people were giving the option of donating to a preemptive strike on Iran, we most definitely would not raise the money needed. We can have a more sound national defense without sticking our noses in regional conflicts around the world. Most of those conflicts need to be decided by the parties directly affected. I saw the video. Paul never questioned the decision of the captains.
Ok. I actually watched the video after I posted that question. But thanks for letting me know, anyway.
Im sorry guys but Ron Paul came off like a complete fuggin moron in the debate. I had no preconceived opinions or any prior judgments regarding Paul but it was obvious why he was excluded from previous debates and why he wont even sniff a small percentage of the delegates needed to garner the repub nomination.
Condemn what exactly? Like you said it was International water and they can move about as they want as we can. Maybe they saw us coming close their border so they sent out some boats to check it out just like we would do. Maybe they just wanted to get a close look at a really big ship. Who the fack knows? Did they do something threatening, NO
Did you watch the video? I would most certainly characterize what they were doing as threatening. It doesn't take a genius to know that, given the current state of diplomatic relations with Iran (or lack thereof), a group of speedboats buzzing around Navy ships in international waters isn't some joe schmoes getting a close look at a really big ship. Let's put it in perspective: say you're walking through the woods and you see a big grizzly bear and you decide to get close and run around it to get a good look. You think that bear isn't going to get up and come after you and maul you? The bear perceives you as a threat because of the way you are acting. Same thing here.
It is INTERNATIONAL WATERS they have every right to be there as we do. Do you honestly think if boats came close to our land in INTERNATIONAL WATERS that we wouldn't send something out to check it out? For whatever reason you fearmongers feel you need to make Iran look bad and what is your reasoning? To say that they support "terrorism" in Iraq by giving monies to certain groups? Didn't we give money/weapons to Sadam/Bin Ladin , aren't we arming the arabs which want to fight Israel. We can't even practice what we preach. How about the supporting of a military dictator in Pakistan who overthrew an elected government. But we preach Democracy in Iraq. Ugh.
I've lost all hope for you. What's it like to live in that nice little bubble of yours where everything is happy and peaceful and all is right in the world? Of course they have every right to be in international waters - I never said they didn't! But when they start buzzing around OUR Navy ships in what is clearly an act of provocation, we have the right to protect OURSELVES, international waters or not. Furthermore, it's not that we were coming close to their land. We were sailing through the Strait of Hornuz, which is a very narrow strait that just happens to be the only way in and out of the Persian Gulf. So it's not like we were sailing through uncharted waters and this was something new. Oh, and let's not forget the radio transmission of "I am coming to you, you will explode in a few minutes." Sorry bud, but whether that transmission came from the boats or from the shore or wherever, that is a THREAT. Yes, we gave money and weapons to Bin Laden back in the early 80s when Afghanistan was fighting the Soviets. Remember that little thing called the Cold War? And sure, we helped out Saddam when Iran started messing with them. Then Saddam decided to invade Kuwait, which was a big no-no. How are we arming the Arabs that want to fight Israel? Last time I checked, we support Israel. Bottomline is that we've got American interests abroad and you better believe we'll do everything in our power to protect those interests. I'd rather be a "fearmonger" who has an idea of what reality is like as opposed to somebody who thinks all will be well in the world if we just leave everyone alone. Cuz that just ain't happening, pal.
