Slog - Comments on Competing Stories in the Persian Gulf

Comment by lostboy

lostboy — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 13:25:52 -0800

This Slate article also provides some useful perspective.

Comment by flamingbanjo

flamingbanjo — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 13:28:35 -0800

The Persian Gulf of Tonkin?

Comment by Tlazolteotl

Tlazolteotl — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 13:32:00 -0800

I am shocked, shocked I tell you, at the idea that our government would lie!

Comment by David Wright

David Wright — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 13:32:31 -0800

Shades of the Gulf of Tonkin...

Comment by NapoleonXIV

NapoleonXIV — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 13:36:29 -0800

Has anyone mentioned the Gulf of Tonkin, yet?

Comment by Cascadian

Cascadian — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 13:36:47 -0800

OK, I know this is paranoid, but I wouldn't put it past the rogue elements in the government controlled by Dick Cheney and the other neocons to manufacture this whole damn thing, including broadcasting threats on the Iranian radio channel that were designed to look like they came from the Iranians in order to spark an incident.

I'll be over here wearing my tinfoil hat.

Comment by lostboy

lostboy — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 13:43:17 -0800

Tlazolteotl @3, it's not clear at this point that either government has lied.

We have ample reason to be suspicious of US government statements, granted.� Would you really call the US govt version a lie, though, just because the Iranian govt says so?

Comment by Rotten666

Rotten666 — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 13:49:31 -0800

I think both governments are full of shit. This kind of stuff isn't entirely unusual. Remember the days when Soviet Migs would buzz our aircraft? And the Gulf of Tonkin talk might be premature. Overextended as we are, I cannot see any way that the US can wage a conventional war against Iran.

Back to work!

Comment by Just Me

Just Me — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 13:50:16 -0800

No one will even think of this but you know it sounds like Gulf of Tonkin. But again, no one else will mention that obscure event in history.

Comment by lostboy

lostboy — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 13:57:07 -0800

To clarify: I don't doubt that both governments are full of shit.

But I also wouldn't be shocked if both are giving honest but wrong versions of an incident with outside actors and/or a lot of ground-level CYA.� There isn't good evidence yet to call it either way.

And I agree, Gulf of Tonkin talk is way premature.

Comment by tsm

tsm — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 13:58:34 -0800

In the name of originality, I'll reference the USS Maine instead.

Comment by lostboy

lostboy — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 13:58:41 -0800

Make that, "...wouldn't be shocked if one or both..."

Comment by Phil M

Phil M — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 14:04:37 -0800

Flamingbanjo wrote:

The Persian Gulf of Tonkin?

David Wright wrote:

Shades of the Gulf of Tonkin...

NapoleonXIV wrote:

Has anyone mentioned the Gulf of Tonkin, yet?

Cascadian wrote:

I wouldn't put it past the rogue elements in the government controlled by Dick Cheney and the other neocons to manufacture this whole damn thing, including broadcasting threats on the Iranian radio channel that were designed to look like they came from the Iranians in order to spark an incident.

Just Me wrote:

it sounds like Gulf of Tonkin

Tsm wrote

I'll reference the USS Maine

You conspiracy theorists need to get a life. Damn it, where are the government monitors when you need them? Hello, Fnarf?

Comment by NapoleonXIV

NapoleonXIV — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 14:12:53 -0800

You can't have any discussion about boats without mentioning the Gulf of Tonkin.

Comment by Jersey

Jersey — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 14:22:09 -0800

Sorry but this administration's got me so cynical they could say the sky was blue and I wouldn't believe them.

Comment by Will in Seattle

Will in Seattle — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 15:02:50 -0800

Once again, the Red Bushies, caught lying in trying to make up lies to start a foreign war we don't need that has nothing to do with 9-11 or homeland defense.

Sigh.

Comment by Gabe Global

Gabe Global — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 15:10:36 -0800

Did you read Thomson's racist quote about this last night? "I think one more step and they would have been introduced to those virgins that they're looking forward to seeing." All Iranians, all the time are extremists. Unbelievable.

Comment by andy niable

andy niable — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 15:13:15 -0800

OH MY GOD, THEY'RE THROWING BOXES IN THE WATER NEAR OUR BIG U.S.WARSHIPS. (shitting self) OH MY GOD! DANGER! DANGER!

Comment by Reality Check

Reality Check — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 15:29:34 -0800

@ 17 No all of them aren't...

Only ones who challenge Aegis class destroyers with 17' fishing boats on a body of water the size of Washington.

Let's not forget what your lying eyes are showing you in that video... they buzzed around WARSHIPS in an attempt to start an international incident.

What other purpose would those tiny boats have been doing out there behaving like they did?

Comment by elenchos

elenchos — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:15:18 -0800

Maybe little boats were there to help keep a Republican in the White House. Keeping the US bellicose keeps extremists in power around the world.

Comment by Will in Seattle

Will in Seattle — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:21:35 -0800

@19 - um, it's international waters, they can do whatever they want there, and the US Navy knows the Iranians are well withing their rights in so doing.

As does Kaiser Cheney who had them record fake vids of the incident so he can have his war.