Iranian Troops engage US Soldiers in Iraq

NuggzTheNinja · 03-24-2007, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Exclusive: Iranians Had Showdown With U.S. Forces
By Anna Mulrine-US News and World Report

Posted 3/23/07

As the British government demanded the immediate release of 15 of its sailors whose boats were seized by Iranian naval vessels in the Persian Gulf on Friday, U.S. News has learned that this is not the first showdown that coalition forces have had with the Iranian military.

According to a U.S. Army report out of Iraq obtained by U.S. News, American troops, acting as advisers for Iraqi border guards, were recently surrounded and attacked by a larger unit of Iranian soldiers, well within the border of Iraq.

The report highlights the details: A platoon of Iranian soldiers on the Iraqi side of the border fired rocket-propelled grenades and used small arms against a joint patrol of U.S. and Iraqi soldiers east of Balad Ruz. Four Iraqi Army soldiers, one interpreter, and one Iraqi border policeman remain unaccounted for after the September incident in eastern Diyala, 75 miles east of Baghdad.

During a joint border patrol, both American and Iraqi soldiers saw two Iranian soldiers run from Iraq back across the Iranian border as they approached. The patrol then came upon a single Iranian soldier, on the Iraqi side of the border, who did not flee.

While the joint U.S.-Iraqi patrol was speaking with the soldier, according to the report, the patrol was "approached by a platoon-size element of Iranian soldiers." An Iranian border captain then told the U.S. and Iraqi soldiers that "if they tried to leave their location, the Iranians would fire upon them." During this conversation with the Iranian captain, Iranian forces began firing and continued when U.S. troops tried to withdraw.

Iraqi and American forces returned fire "to break contact and left the area to report the incident," the report noted. "The Iranian forces continued to fire indirect fire well into Iraq as Coalition Force soldiers withdrew; for reasons unknown at this time, the Iraqi Army forces remained behind."

No American soldiers were wounded in the incident.

It is possible that Iranians thought they were in Iranian territory, according to U.S. military officials. Such border confusions and disputes happen routinely.

In the British naval incident on Friday, Iran claimed it seized the vessels because they were in its territorial waters. U.S. military officials tell U.S. News that the Iranian forces very likely belong to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, which tend to be far more aggressive than regular Iranian naval forces, which U.S. military officials routinely describe as "extremely professional."

Iranian and Iraqi forces continue to clash in Iraq. U.S. special operations forces have been tasked with nabbing Iranian members of the Revolutionary Guards' al-Quds Brigade, the foreign operations arm of the Iranian military, which also supports Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Palestinian territories.

U.S. forces grabbed six Iranians with alleged ties to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards in the northern Iraqi city of Arbil in January, reportedly using stun bombs, seizing computers, and taking down an Iranian flag from the raided building's roof. Iran said the building was a consulate and the men were diplomats?and continues to demand their release. One of Iraq's most powerful Shiite politicians condemned the raid, calling it an attack on Iraq's sovereignty.

American forces may soon be getting further insight into recent Iranian attacks. Earlier this month, a former Iranian deputy defense minister who once commanded the Revolutionary Guards?and is thought to have considerable knowledge of Iran's national security network?left the country and is said to be cooperating with western intelligence agencies, sharing information on links between Iran and Hezbollah in south Lebanon, for example. Iranian officials said the official, Ali Rez Asgari, was kidnapped by western agents.

Shortly afterward, Iran threatened to retaliate in Europe for the supposed kidnapping, what it claims to be the most recent in a series of abductions in the past three months. According to the British Sunday Times, in the Revolutionary Guards' weekly newspaper this week, a columnist believed to have close ties to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wrote: "We've got the ability to capture a nice bunch of blue-eyed, blond-haired officers and feed them to our fighting cocks. Iran has enough people who can reach the heart of Europe and kidnap Americans and Israelis."

Waiting for the straw that breaks the camel's back...

Lex Luthor · 03-24-2007, 05:06 PM

I just don't get it...

Why would Iran blatantly try to bait the U.S. like this...?

Didn't they see what happened with Iraq and Afghanistan...

Sclorch · 03-24-2007, 05:08 PM

It would be suicide, Iran is not stupid, just propaganda don't buy this ****.

NuggzTheNinja · 03-24-2007, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lex Luthor

I just don't get it...

Why would Iran blatantly try to bait the U.S. like this...?

Didn't they see what happened with Iraq and Afghanistan...

Probably a confusion over border issues. On the ground it's tough to figure out exactly where the border is.

NuggzTheNinja · 03-24-2007, 05:14 PM

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Originally Posted by Sclorch

It would be suicide, Iran is not stupid, just propaganda don't buy this ****.

Sure, the captured British soldiers is just propaganda too.

Lex Luthor · 03-24-2007, 05:18 PM

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Originally Posted by NuggzTheNinja

Probably a confusion over border issues. On the ground it's tough to figure out exactly where the border is.

But the knowing American media it will probably be spun into an act of war.

And Ahmadinejad certainly doesn't help the situation.

NuggzTheNinja · 03-24-2007, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lex Luthor

But the knowing American media it will probably be spun into an act of war.

And Ahmadinejad certainly doesn't help the situation.

Well it is an act of war. Ignorance is no cop out for an armed engagement. Especially not taken in context of the recent abduction of British troops in Iraq.

efini84 · 03-24-2007, 05:44 PM

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Originally Posted by NuggzTheNinja

Sure, the captured British soldiers is just propaganda too.

you say that as though you know for a FACT that the brits didn't cross into iranian waters....

it's like a countdown to that single gulf-of-tonkin-esque event that will touch of yet another war over there.

NuggzTheNinja · 03-24-2007, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by efini84

you say that as though you know for a FACT that the brits didn't cross into iranian waters....

it's like a countdown to that single gulf-of-tonkin-esque event that will touch of yet another war over there.

FWIW, in speaking to someone who used to work in Iraq in that same area, and is familiar with anti-smuggling operations in the area, I was told that these guys were definately in Iraqi waters.

Sclorch · 03-24-2007, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NuggzTheNinja

FWIW, in speaking to someone who used to work in Iraq in that same area, and is familiar with anti-smuggling operations in the area, I was told that these guys were definately in Iraqi waters.

^ hes a jew don't believe him he lies (half-serious)

NuggzTheNinja · 03-24-2007, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sclorch

^ hes a jew don't believe him he lies (half-serious)

Out to prove that white supremacists have the maturity of a 5 year old?

Sclorch · 03-24-2007, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NuggzTheNinja

Out to prove that white supremacists have the maturity of a 5 year old?

i guess you missed the (half-serious) part
its ok buddy maybe next time huh?

swagtime911 · 03-24-2007, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sclorch

^ hes a jew don't believe him he lies (half-serious)

Your an idiot (all the way serious).

Sclorch · 03-24-2007, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swagtime911

Your an idiot (all the way serious).

you can take nuggz cock out of your ass now k thnx

swagtime911 · 03-24-2007, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sclorch

you can take nuggz cock out of your ass now k thnx

Man I love you gay jew hating people....here is neg to help you with your day.

efini84 · 03-24-2007, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NuggzTheNinja

FWIW, in speaking to someone who used to work in Iraq in that same area, and is familiar with anti-smuggling operations in the area, I was told that these guys were definately in Iraqi waters.

FWIW, my uncle's friend's neighbor's father-in-law's half-brother who used to be an operations officer at the cia and a operative for MI6 and had a fling with a rather rough broad from the KGB said that the brits were most certainly encroaching on iranian waters.

point being: it's he said she said. without precise satellite photos/gps/etc, we'll never know for sure. and since we'll never know for sure, both "sides" will use this "event" as fuel to make that fire of propaganda burn bright

jmonty · 03-24-2007, 08:20 PM

hello WWIII.

MagneticMilkshake · 03-24-2007, 08:25 PM

Instead of shooting, maybe Iran could ask us if we could please get off their border. If we are in their country we will get out. If we are not we will tell them that we are not in their boundaries. Its so simple.

NuggzTheNinja · 03-24-2007, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSUHockey

Instead of shooting, maybe Iran could ask us if we could please get off their border. If we are in their country we will get out. If we are not we will tell them that we are not in their boundaries. Its so simple.

Not really that simple. Their goals with this stunt have nothing to do with face value.

Lloyd Braun · 03-24-2007, 08:32 PM

I am totally perplexed by Iranians. Either the current Iranian political leadership is exceptionally smart and betting that the US being as overstretched as it is gives Iran a free-hand for whatever hegemonic goals it may have or they are being exceptionally stupid in baiting the world's most ferocious fighting force into a confrontation.

Whatever they are doing they are treading the line really close on this one.

The Experiment · 03-24-2007, 08:35 PM

They are just trying to see how much they can get away with before an actual declaration of war.

Iran's events might be inspired by the decision to allow North Korea to re-enter the Banco Delta Asia, despite counterfeiting money. They figured if North Korea can make the US and UN blink first, that Iran can get away with these kinds of things.

jmonty · 03-24-2007, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by efini84

you say that as though you know for a FACT that the brits didn't cross into iranian waters....

it's like a countdown to that single gulf-of-tonkin-esque event that will touch of yet another war over there.

the brits had top of the line gps navigation that is accurate to the foot. or for them, fraction of a meter. what are the odds they were the ones mistaken?

NuggzTheNinja · 03-24-2007, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmonty

the brits had top of the line gps navigation that is accurate to the foot. or for them, fraction of a meter. what are the odds they were the ones mistaken?

Did you get the memo? Muslims are never wrong. They invented chemistry, the wheel, and the internet, all in the 15th century!

jmonty · 03-24-2007, 08:45 PM

i wonder who invented BS.

NuggzTheNinja · 03-24-2007, 08:46 PM

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Originally Posted by jmonty

i wonder who invented BS.

A statue of the inventor.

guym · 03-24-2007, 10:08 PM

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Originally Posted by Sclorch

you can take nuggz cock out of your ass now k thnx

Red suits you.

deeyala · 03-25-2007, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSUHockey

Instead of shooting, maybe Iran could ask us if we could please get off their border. If we are in their country we will get out. If we are not we will tell them that we are not in their boundaries. Its so simple.

Can Iraqis do the same?

efini84 · 03-25-2007, 04:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmonty

the brits had top of the line gps navigation that is accurate to the foot. or for them, fraction of a meter. what are the odds they were the ones mistaken?

right, and i'm sure iran will say they had "top of the line gps nav" as well...

i'm agnostic on the issue. until someone produces absolute 100% undeniable proof as to who crossed over what line, i'm remaining on the sidelines, skeptical of the whole debacle.