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[quote]
Five Iranian high-speed attack craft accosted a trio of U.S. Navy warships Sunday in the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. 5th Fleet commander said, prompting evasive maneuvers by the U.S. ships and reportedly bringing them close to opening fire.</p>
<p>No one was hurt and the Iranian boats withdrew before any shots were fired, but Pentagon and White House officials stressed Monday that the incident was dangerously provocative in the choke point through which about 20 percent of the worlds oil passes.</p>
<p>The cruiser Port Royal, the destroyer Hopper and the frigate Ingraham were in international waters on their way into the Persian Gulf around 8 a.m. local time Sunday when the Iranian encounter occurred, said Vice Adm. Kevin Cosgriff, speaking to Pentagon reporters via a satellite video uplink Monday afternoon....
<p>It’s a good thing those sailors are such a cool bunch of highly trained professionals. I’m quit a bit more nervous about questionable actions like that and if in command would likely have blown those little speed boats out of the water first, asked questions later. But of course, that’s only one of the many reasons why I’m not a naval commander.</p>
<p>That in the height of a threat situation the US Navy should not have been prepared to counter the threat? That the Navy should have kept the communication embargoed? That the Navy should have ignored it? That we should have destroyed the boats just because we could?</p>
<p>It seems the US Navy’s SA was spot on and it acted entirely appropriately.</p>
<p>The proper response is simply, “Thank you.”</p>