world

U.S. sees 'disturbing trend' as Iran threatens to shoot down planes

26 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© 2016 AFP

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

26 Comments
Login to comment

George Carlin would probably have said:

"Shooting down planes? In the Persian Gulf?

That's OUR JOB!"

6 ( +8 / -2 )

maybe another $400,000,000 gift from Obama would make them friendlier?

Not big on fact checking are you.

However, the $400 million dollar transfer was actually an openly announced one, paid in settlement of a nearly 40-year dispute between Iran and the United States — a settlement that likely saved the United States several billion dollars.

Back in late 1979, after Iranian revolutionaries took 52 Americans hostage at the US Embassy in Tehran, the United States severed diplomatic relations with Iran and froze Iranian assets in America. Among those frozen assets was a $400 million delivery of fighter jets from the U.S. that Iran’s previous government had already paid for.

Although the American hostages were finally released a year later, issues such as the frozen Iranian assets (including that $400 million) were not settled at that time. Instead, an international court based in the Hague, the Iran–United States Claims Tribunal was established to deal with such legal claims. The tribunal process dragged on for years and years without a ruling on the $400 million being issued, and finally, when arbitration process was apparently about to wind up (quite possibly not in American's favor), the U.S. agreed to pay Iran back the $400 million principal along with $1.3 billion in interest. If the issue had gone to the tribunal for a decision, as was expected, the U.S. could have been on the hook for the full $10 billion in compensation Iran was seeking.

Link: http://www.snopes.com/2016/08/03/obama-bribed-iran-400-million-to-release-u-s-prisoners/

Obama saves the US money, and the right spins it as a $400 million gift.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Observe and draw your conclusions. Iran is still Iran. Their 'dynamics' decide whether to honor treaties, agreements and/or be civil.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

"Just what is the US doing sailing warships right up to Iranian waters anyway?"

Maybe they're trying to keep the Persian Gulf open so you can drive your car.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Unless the planes enter Iranian air space, Iran can't do anything.

Just what is the US doing sailing warships right up to Iranian waters anyway?

International space is international space - keep it international (just like public space is public space - keep it public - we may not agree what some people may do in public space, but we'll protect their appropriate right to do it, so that when it's our turn to use a public space, we would be able to do it).

Also: "Chinese naval ships came within 12 nautical miles of American soil"

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/chinese-naval-ships-came-within-12-nautical-miles-of-american-soil/2015/09/04/dee5e1b0-5305-11e5-933e-7d06c647a395_story.html

Everybody does it.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Gee what a surprise. And here we thought the Great Potus had pacified the Iranian mullahs by giving Iran a free path to the bomb and sending them 1.6 billion in cash in exchange for the hostages.

Who would have thunk that the Potus and Hillary were wrong.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

money for hostages. now thats class.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Hmm. I wonder what percent of national security experts we see here critical of Obama were frothingly gung-ho 13 years ago when the Dim Wit lied us into Iraq...

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Black Sabbath Thank you. Keep em coming Gary

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Has the U.S. been shooting down any Iranians planes lately?

It still doesn't justify shooting that passenger liner, and that'll always be a relevant record. I don't know what's more unsafe. To do maritime activities in your backyard, or to do them in someone else's backyard thousands of miles away.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

First the farce of a treaty with Iran, then the abduction of US sailors, the harassment of US ships and planes in the region. Then we have immense cash payoffs in untraceable foreign currency without the knowledge or consent of congress.

What the hell is going on?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

And here we thought the Great Potus had pacified the Iranian mullahs by giving Iran a free path to the bomb and sending them 1.6 billion in cash in exchange for the hostages.

Sigh. More right-wingers who can't be bothered to fact check. http://www.snopes.com/2016/08/03/obama-bribed-iran-400-million-to-release-u-s-prisoners/

The fact that Obama held back the money for the prisoners was kind of a dick move, when the money was already agreed to be given back to them. That said, it ensured the prisoners were returned, so if I was American, I'd probably be happy he did it.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

First the farce of a treaty with Iran, then the abduction of US sailors,

Those sailors were in the wrong by entering Iranian waters and the U.S. Navy admitted as much. When military forces (no matter how small) enter a foreign country's territory without permission you can expect them to be taken into custody. It wasn't an abduction, it was a capture.

What if the Iranians sent planes flying just off the coast of the US? I wonder what would happen?

No need to wonder. They would be intercepted by fighters, visually identified by the fighters, and escorted back out of U.S. airspace (if they had entered it). It happens all the time with Russian aircraft near the Bearing Strait. The Russians don't usually enter our airspace, but their training exercises often enter our ADIZ (Air Defense Interdiction Zone) - which is over international waters.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

money for hostages. now thats class.

As I said literally in the post right before this one:

Sigh. More right-wingers who can't be bothered to fact check. http://www.snopes.com/2016/08/03/obama-bribed-iran-400-million-to-release-u-s-prisoners/

The fact that Obama held back the money for the prisoners was kind of a dick move, when the money was already agreed to be given back to them. That said, it ensured the prisoners were returned, so if I was American, I'd probably be happy he did it.

They just keep repeating the same lies with no regard for the facts and truth.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

What if the Iranians sent planes flying just off the coast of the US? I wonder what would happen?

People don't realize that the US supports the international use of international space by following international norms.

For example, here's the US response in the article posted above:

"Chinese naval ships came within 12 nautical miles of American soil"

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/chinese-naval-ships-came-within-12-nautical-miles-of-american-soil/2015/09/04/dee5e1b0-5305-11e5-933e-7d06c647a395_story.html

[Retired rear admiral] Titley said the incident — and especially the lack of a dramatic U.S. response — could also have a softening effect on China’s position on maritime disputes in the South China Sea.

"As Chinese military spending grows, U.S. officials have criticized China’s aggressive stance in the South China Sea and its attempt to strengthen territorial claims by building up islands. Titley said a shrug by U.S. officials about this week’s activity in the Bering Sea may lead leaders in Beijing to ratchet down their own response to foreign presence off China.

“This is how mature superpowers operate,” he said. “You don’t go to general quarters every time there’s a ship operating legally.”

With China expanding its military, the United States appears willing to let it spread its wings as long as it doesn’t cross legal lines.

“China is a global navy, and we encourage them and other international navies to operate in international waters as long as they adhere to safe and professional standards and maritime laws of the sea,” said Navy Cmdr. William Marks, a Navy spokesman at the Pentagon.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

strangerland, the iranian military guys there were laughing their heads off and disparaging the US right after the money got handed over. stick to your narrative if it makes you feel better.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

What if the Iranians sent planes flying just off the coast of the US? I wonder what would happen?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

strangerland, the iranian military guys there were laughing their heads off and disparaging the US right after the money got handed over.

Probably - they used western methodology of a lawsuit to force the US to pay back money stolen from the Iranians by the US, knowing that the US didn't want to give back the money they stole. I'm sure they were probably laughing, though I doubt they were when the money was first stolen.

Stick to your narrative if it makes you feel better.

Well, the truth is just the truth. Sometimes it makes me feel worse. In this case, it doesn't really make me feel one way or the other.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

It is a good thing Obama spearheaded the Nuclear deal with Iran otherwise they might hostile to the USA.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Just what is the US doing sailing warships right up to Iranian waters anyway? Do they want to spark a war?

(That's a rhetorical question BTW)

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Has the U.S. been shooting down any Iranians planes lately?

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

ThePBot,

"It still doesn't justify shooting that passenger liner, and that'll always be a relevant record".

Never claimed that that tragic accident (20 some years ago now) was justified, just asking if the U.S. has been shooting down any Iranian planes lately?

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

maybe another $400,000,000 gift from Obama would make them friendlier? Obama bungles from botched Middle East manouver to the next but the guy " has class". If "classy" hillary takes over there'll be plenty more bungling to come.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Iranian leaders are right, showing Uncle Sam his proper place.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites