Iran: Operation Vietnam + Iraq

Opinion
by Brendan Kolk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Opinions expressed by St. Charles County W.O.R.L.D.S. website columnists do not necessarily reflect views held by this website.

January 16, 2008

 Maybe it’s just me, but I’m starting to feel a sense of déjà vu, the feeling that this has all happened before, in regards to American reports of situations overseas.

On Jan. 7, Pentagon officials reported that ships from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard provoked three U.S. Navy ships. Iran and the U.S. have been on uneasy terms due to Iran’s reported continuation of research into nuclear arms.

Pentagon officials called it, “the most serious provocation of this sort that we’ve seen yet.”

“We urge the Iranians to refrain from such provocative actions that could lead to a dangerous incident in the future,” White House spokesman Tony Fratto said.

But let’s rewind to two months ago. On Dec. 3, U.S. intelligence found that Iran had halted development of atomic weapons. This actually stays on par with what Iran has been saying the entire time about its nuclear program: it’s intent is a peaceful source of energy, not a weapon.

So now we jump back to Jan. 2008, when the Iranian Revolutionary Guard is causing provocation to the U.S. Navy.

Sounds to me like the U.S. may be drawing the same blueprint as some past engagements.

In 1964, the USS Maddox was stationed off the coast of North Vietnam. On Aug. 2 of that year, it was reported attacked by torpedo boats. On Aug. 5, it was reported that more Vietnamese ships were headed toward the Maddox. This second incident was what essentially brought the United States into Vietnam.

However, there’s one key component to this story: There was no second attack. It has been confirmed from several military operatives that the U.S. was chasing false radar images.

So, let’s look at this in a “cause and effect” type-manner.
      Cause: False report of an attack. Effect: Vietnam War.

All right, now let’s move ahead to 2003. President Bush states that Iraq has Weapons of Mass destruction. This proclamation, along with a nation just wanting to go to war with someone after Sept. 11, was what lead America into it’s on-going campaign in Iraq.

What’s the problem here? No Weapons of Mass Destruction. The Iraqi Survey Group discovered that Iraq had ceased its WMD programs in 1991, just as Iraq had been saying before the war.

Let’s break this down again, “cause and effect” style.
      Cause: False report of WMDs. Effect: War in Iraq.

How does this all tie back into Iran?

Here’s the U.S., once again in its position of political power, insisting that Iran cease its nuclear weapons program (just like Iraq, only change nukes to WMDs). Iran claims that it only does nuclear research for peaceful purposes, and recent intelligence reports have confirmed that (just like Iraq again).

So Iran has nothing to gain by provoking the U.S. Navy right now. There is no motive here; Iran is complying with what the U.S. has told them to do.

Now we have, seemingly out of nowhere, a reportedly unprovoked attack on three U.S. ships (similar to the Vietnamese in the ‘60’s).

Right now, however, the status quo stays. Iran was given an international wrist slap for their reported aggression. No harm, no foul.

What worries me is the statement from Tony Fratto.

“We urge the Iranians to refrain from such provocative actions that could lead to a dangerous incident in the future.”

The last six words are all that actually concern me.

“A dangerous incident in the future.”

Seems the White House is ready jump on the next provocative action that Iran reportedly does.

I hope it won’t be false radar images, or cataclysmic reports of weapons that were out of production for 12 years.

 

 

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