Was it appropriate for the Navy patrol boat Sailors to apologize to Iran?

2016-01-19T07:29:12-05:00

Response by SGT John " Mac " McConnell made Jan 19 at 2016 7:37 AM

2016-01-19T07:37:14-05:00

Make's one wonder...

Response by SSG Everett Parris made Jan 19 at 2016 7:56 AM

2016-01-19T07:56:03-05:00

When I was deploying to Iraq, MI (military intelligence) briefed us. They said that as a BN HQ that the enemy knew every thing we know already. That we were not high up enough yo know anything that the enemy didnt already know. So we were told to tell all we know if captured. It would not make a difference in any way at all. Not what i had been trained to do tho.

Response by CPT Jason Mitchell, MBA made Jan 19 at 2016 9:07 AM

2016-01-19T09:07:31-05:00

I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but this whole incident seems a bit odd. Considering how the Sailors were following SOPs, and had two PT boats, then how could both have broken down and drifted into Iranian waters? Also, the Navy C&C back on the larger vessels would have been tracking them going off course WAY BEFORE the Iranians would have intercepted. Considering this falls smack in the middle of the Iranian Sanction debacle makes me think it was some sort of PR stunt by our administration (along with Iran) to paint us as aggressors and Iran as soft-handed even during such a "massive" transgression. I'm sure it will be like the Benghazi incident, and we will never know the truth from the mouths of our own politicians.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2016 10:10 AM

2016-01-19T10:10:45-05:00

Code of Conduct section V:
When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am required to give name, rank, service number and date of birth. I will evade answering further questions to the utmost of my ability. I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country and its allies or harmful to their cause.

You be the judge.
Undoubtedly that Lieutenant will be answering questions on exactly this subject.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2016 10:19 AM

2016-01-19T10:19:31-05:00

SPC Private RallyPoint Member Reports from the Pentagon indicate this was a part of the negotiation to get the Sailors released. Iran used it to override the important news event which was, The U.S. Is Lifting Sanctions On Iran, in light of the Nuclear agreement. This is tactic for Iran to save face in the Middle Eastern community.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jan 19 at 2016 10:35 AM

2016-01-19T10:35:33-05:00

SPC Private RallyPoint Member it was despicable that the US sailors who apparently drifted into Iranian waters had to apologize on Iranian state television which was subsequently broadcast throughout the Muslim world.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2016 10:37 AM

2016-01-19T10:37:14-05:00

Seeing how they this was their area of operation, I would have expected they were briefed in how to respond to ANY type of questioning if ANY incident was to occur before they set out on mission.

Response by MAJ Jim Woods made Jan 19 at 2016 1:27 PM

2016-01-19T13:27:05-05:00

I realize this is a different time, and I'm not sure but it sounds like they forgot the Code of Conduct. In my day there would have been bingo ammo, empty shell casings, and lot's of hair, teeth, and eyeballs. There is a reason that there were 2 boats involved. They are not allowed a transit such as this without a "Buddy Boat". The purpose of the is so that if one runs into trouble they have assistance.

That being said, you mean to tell me that both boats suffered identical GPS's failures and they didn't know where they were? And their comms with higher went out? OMG...... This sounds amazingly similar to something that happened a few years ago on 9/11/2012 now repeated on the high seas. How about some of you SpecWar/Swabbies jumping in here. Am I off base? Straighten me out......

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2016 4:23 PM

2016-01-19T16:23:50-05:00

They weren't prisoners of war. We're not at war with Iran. They weren't conducting military operations against Iran as ordered by the US government. They fucked up and entered the waters of another country that we have a tense and volatile relationship with. If you think about it, an apology makes sense. If we publicly claim we made a mistake and unlawfully entered their territory with armed military men by accident, why wouldn't we say "sorry, our bad" and get the hell out of there?

Things like this are way, way more complicated than many think. Even within Iran, there are hardliners and military leaders who would like nothing more than to keep them hostage and scuttle the nuke deal. Fortunately, because of our improved diplomatic ties we were able to get the sailors and their boats and equipment back in less than 24 hours. It could have gone much worse, with a much greater negative impact on the security situation.

As for the outrage about the propaganda video, what would anyone expect? But the US lost any moral authority to bit ch about a minor violation of conventions after our disgraceful actions at Abu Ghraib and with our waterboarding. Plus, I'm pretty sure I've seen video on our TV of people getting arrested by our border patrol for illegal entry.

If you don't want a country to put our military on the news, keep them from "misnavigating". If you don't like Cam Newton dancing in the endzone, don't let him score. When you screw up and hand the enemy a propaganda tool on a silver platter, don't be shocked when they use it.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2016 9:37 PM

2016-01-19T21:37:39-05:00

thanks everybody for the input I just wanted to know my fellow soldiers was thinking I worry about these things I was disturbed by the photos of our sailors underneath their hands behind their heads with guns pointing at him it really bothered me whatever the reason it made us look bad and I was bothered by that I have the most respect for our soldiers sailors airmen and Marines I know that we all love our country once again thanks for the response

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2016 7:50 AM

2016-01-20T07:50:14-05:00

This can not be answered in black and white. Was it ideal for us that they said what they said? No, not at all. Couple things to consider. They did not have SERE training. Unless you have been trained in the tactics that can be used you may not be aware of what is going on.

A couple of points to consider are.

They were not POW's they were technically detained personnel. In this status you are not afforded the Geneva Convention and you are subject to their laws. Second, we do not know what kind duress or coercion they were under. Third, unless they had resistance training they would not have known what kinds of ways they can be exploited.

Without going into detail. Resistance training teaches you that there are many ways to use a detained person or POW as propaganda value, and there are many ways to get people to do or say things without realizing what was going on.

When I went to SERE I was surprised how easy it is, especially in today's age to do and say stuff that can show up on camera that sounds extremely damaging, without even realizing at the time on what you ae doing.