Iran’s cartoon contest is an example of Iran’s focused lying, for propaganda purposes, thus evidence of their predisposition.
BigWhit wrote: But no, as far as I was trained we were only to give what the convention states we must and absolutely no more. This case is slightly different. They were in the wrong for being in Iranian territorial waters.
Ah. Rationality. A non-flame-throwing response. BigWhit is obviously a rational thinker.
Rationality …
The POTUS is a civilian, and the top commander of U.S. military forces. In the instance of the detained and humiliated sailors, evidence strongly suggests that the Rule of Law was followed, for these reasons.
The U.S. boat was seized just prior to The POTUS state of the union address. Unlikely a coincidence. The seizure was for propaganda purposes. It’s unlikely that an Annapolis-trained officer would have drifted so far off course or purposely taken a route challenging the line of Iranian space.
It’s likely that the crew saw trouble coming and requested orders. It’s likely the orders they received were to break military procedure, to surrender control of the vessel, to cooperate fully with the military force of a foreign nation, and to do and say everything they were told while at gunpoint.
British military is instructed to cooperate with rogue terrorists because the world understands that terrorists don’t follow rules, and because statements made by captives at terrorist gunpoint are obviously coerced bs.
Military personel in uniform of their country are not spies, no matter where they are.
It is unlikely that U.S. naval officers originated the decision to drop the protocol of name, rank, and serial number. Likely the decision came from the civilian head of the military, trickled down to civilian representatives with the authority to speak for the POTUS. Either this decision was specific to the incident, or the decision is in the rules of engagement.
In this case the Rule of Law was followed. The captain broke the training of name, rank and serial number as ordered. To maintain a public semblance of military procedure, the boat captain will be investigated, but in today’s kinder, gentler navy, the smart course will be to let him retain his career if he plays ball and keeps his mouth shut. In another less gentle time he would have been hung by the neck to shut him up, but in another time he likely would not have received such orders.
Many countries surround those waters. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that the U.S. boat was escorted into Iranian waters.
