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The Editor of the Spokesman-Review Steve Smith posted a thread re the game of chicken the Iranian IRG patrol boats were have with the US Navy in the Strait of Hormuz. Smith was complaining about the graininess of the video. Smith was also opining that the Bush Administration may try to get their own Gulf Tokin Resolution out of such a confrontation. Smith later responded with the usual MSM accepted truth that Bush et al have lied to the American people:

. . . Which brings up the question of my cynicism.

President Johnson and the Pentagon lied us into the Vietnam cynicism, I fear, is rooted in reality. Does anyone really think it is outside the realm of possibility that this administration would, at least, overstate matters to get its way.

Here's my reply:

"Bush lied" re Iraq is an opinion and not a fact. But because it is repeated time and time again by the MSM it's an "accepted" truism. I concur there were major mistakes made before and after the invasion of Iraq.

I doubt I can change your opinion but for others do read Kenneth Timmerman's new book, Shadow Warriors

You can read the rest of the thread here:

Confrontation in the Gulf...

RBT

Update:

Here's more courtesy of the S-R Editor Smith's blog:

Hey here's a piece that going to run in the WaPo tomorrow re the Iranian incident. Any comments?

RBT

c-iran-post-1stld-writethru
(updates throughout)
(wap) (ATTN: Foreign editors)
//Gulf Threat May Not Have Come from Iranians, Pentagon Says// (Washn)
By Robin Wright
(c) 2008, The Washington Post
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon said Thursday that the radio threat to bomb U.S. warships in the Persian Gulf last weekend may not have come from the five Iranian Revolutionary Guard speedboats that approached them — and may not even have been intended against U.S. targets.

The communication Sunday was made on radio channel 16, a common marine frequency used by ships and others in the region. "It could have been a threat aimed at some other nation or a myriad of other things," said Rear Adm. Frank Thorp IV, a spokesman for the Navy.

In the radio message recorded by the Navy, a heavily accented voice said, "I am coming to you. You will explode after a few minutes." But Farsi speakers and Iranians told The Washington Post that the accent did not sound Iranian.

In part because of the threatening language, the United States has elevated the encounter into an international incident. Twice this week, President Bush criticized Iran's behavior as provocative and warned of "serious consequences" if it happens again. He is due to head Friday to the Gulf, where containing Iran is expected to be a major theme of his talks in five oil-rich sheikdoms.

Update II:

S-R Editor Steve Smith has continued this debate in a new thread. Spook86 at In From the Cold has responded to the WaPo article and to some of their commentors:

What Happened in the Strait of Hormuz, Revisited

[...]

As we noted in a previous post, the decision of U.S. commanders to hold their fire was based on a variety of factors, including intelligence data. Information available in the ship's combat information centers (CICs) may have provided key insights into the Iranians' intentions, giving commanders the data they needed to make the right decision.

Put another way: the commanders of our vessels knew what Iranian assets were active, and had some idea of what they were saying to each other. Based on that knowledge, they (apparently) viewed the small boats as a localized threat, assessing that other Iranian naval, air and missile units were not prepared to join the fray. Under those conditions--and with that level of intel detail--it would be easier to hold fire, and avoid triggering a much more serious incident.

[...]

Update III:

The folks at Pajamas Media (PJM) have this analysis. This goes with my previous posts that internal political factions within Iran are potentially involved.

RBT

Ahmadinejad's Carefully Choreographed Naval Confrontation

The tense encounter between Iranian speedboats and American warships was no fluke, writes PJM’s Middle East analyst Meir Javedanfar. It is part of a strategy to bolster Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s base ahead of crucial elections. And more provocations might be on the way.

[...]

Update IV:

HT Atlas of Atlas Shrugs

Now this has some potential re this incident.

RBT

THE NEW WAR: IRANIAN WAR GAMES

They are planning something. Oh yeah.

Iran Encounter Grimly Echoes ’02 War Game By THOM SHANKER

WASHINGTON — There is a reason American military officers express grim concern over the tactics used by Iranian sailors last weekend: a classified, $250 million war game in which small, agile speedboats swarmed a naval convoy to inflict devastating damage on more powerful warships.

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Update V:

Here's some more about the "Radio Monkey" aspect from Spook86:

The Monkey Did It?

Last Sunday's naval encounter between U.S. and Iranian naval forces in the Strait of Hormuz has taken another strange turn. Reports in The New York Times, Navy Times and other publications suggest that a heckler may have been responsible for a threatening radio call, heard by American vessels as Iranian fast boats approached.

Pentagon officials tell Navy Times that the comments may have come from the "Filipino Monkey" a name given to mysterious--and profane--hecklers who often broadcast on VHF Channel 16, used for bridge-to-bridge communications in the Persian Gulf and elsewhere.

[...]

Update VI:

More from Spook86

The View from the CIC

A week after our confrontation with Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, ABC News secured an interview with the commanders of two U.S. Navy ships involved in the incident. Captain David Adler of the cruiser USS Port Royal and Commander Jeffrey James of the destroyer USS Hopper spoke with ABC and provided a tour of their vessels. Their comments on the episode are certainly illuminating; they're convinced that the threatening radio call came from Iranian navy elements, not a heckler. As Captain Adler and Commander James described the incident:

[...]