Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
FNC
October 7, 2008
Special Report With Brit Hume (FNC), 6:00 PM
BRIT HUME: We have two incidents involving Iran to tell you about. One is a Fox News exclusive and illustrates just how perilous one of the world’s most important waterways can be. The other was big news for a while today and turned out to be much ado about nothing much.
National security correspondent Jennifer Griffin is live at the Pentagon with details. Hi, Jennifer.
JENNIFER GRIFFIN: Hi, Brit. Well, the first incident that you referred to occurred when state-run news agency in Iran reported this morning that a plane, a U.S. military plane carrying eight people had been forced to land in Iran. The story quickly unraveled in the White House and the Pentagon. Both said very quickly that they had no planes or personnel that had been forced to land in Iran. It turned out in the end that this was a Hungarian aid plane on its way to Afghanistan.
The second incident that you referred to occurred on September 6th in the Gulf of Oman. The USS Peleliu was transiting en route on the Strait of Hormuz when it encountered an Iranian P3 surveillance plane overhead. According to the U.S. Navy, this is a nonthreatening outdated plane. Nonetheless U.S. Sea Knight helicopters were flying cover for the Peleliu when the Iranian P3 got within a few miles of the ship.
The Peleliu established bridge-to-bridge contact with the P3 and sent this message: “Unknown aircraft at 2,000 feet. This is a coalition warship operation in international waters. We request you remain clear.” The Iranian surveillance plane then responded: “Good morning, coalition warship. How do you feel?” – mocking the coalition ship.
A few hours later in the Strait of Hormuz, where 40 percent of the world’s oil passes every day, again the Peleliu was contacted – this time by an Iranian Revolutionary Guard ship which demanded the Peleliu’s coordinates. Five hours later, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard again initiated contact: “Your helicopters have breached Iranian airspace. You’ve broken international rules. Your breach has been reported to the Iranian government. You are required to land your helicopters.” The USS Peleliu responded: “No challenges are intended to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Iran.” The Iranians then said: “Last warning. Your helicopters are in jeopardy.”
All of this suggesting from the tone of these radio intercepts that those helicopters could, in fact, be shot down at any time by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. The U.S. Navy did not respond. They did not bring the helicopters down. They stayed in the international waters where they were traveling, but all of it demonstrates, Brit, just how tense those waters are and how much diplomacy is expected of U.S. sailors on a daily basis in the Strait of Hormuz. Brit?
HUME: Well, Jennifer, thanks very much.
October 7, 2008
Special Report With Brit Hume (FNC), 6:00 PM
BRIT HUME: We have two incidents involving Iran to tell you about. One is a Fox News exclusive and illustrates just how perilous one of the world’s most important waterways can be. The other was big news for a while today and turned out to be much ado about nothing much.
National security correspondent Jennifer Griffin is live at the Pentagon with details. Hi, Jennifer.
JENNIFER GRIFFIN: Hi, Brit. Well, the first incident that you referred to occurred when state-run news agency in Iran reported this morning that a plane, a U.S. military plane carrying eight people had been forced to land in Iran. The story quickly unraveled in the White House and the Pentagon. Both said very quickly that they had no planes or personnel that had been forced to land in Iran. It turned out in the end that this was a Hungarian aid plane on its way to Afghanistan.
The second incident that you referred to occurred on September 6th in the Gulf of Oman. The USS Peleliu was transiting en route on the Strait of Hormuz when it encountered an Iranian P3 surveillance plane overhead. According to the U.S. Navy, this is a nonthreatening outdated plane. Nonetheless U.S. Sea Knight helicopters were flying cover for the Peleliu when the Iranian P3 got within a few miles of the ship.
The Peleliu established bridge-to-bridge contact with the P3 and sent this message: “Unknown aircraft at 2,000 feet. This is a coalition warship operation in international waters. We request you remain clear.” The Iranian surveillance plane then responded: “Good morning, coalition warship. How do you feel?” – mocking the coalition ship.
A few hours later in the Strait of Hormuz, where 40 percent of the world’s oil passes every day, again the Peleliu was contacted – this time by an Iranian Revolutionary Guard ship which demanded the Peleliu’s coordinates. Five hours later, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard again initiated contact: “Your helicopters have breached Iranian airspace. You’ve broken international rules. Your breach has been reported to the Iranian government. You are required to land your helicopters.” The USS Peleliu responded: “No challenges are intended to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Iran.” The Iranians then said: “Last warning. Your helicopters are in jeopardy.”
All of this suggesting from the tone of these radio intercepts that those helicopters could, in fact, be shot down at any time by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. The U.S. Navy did not respond. They did not bring the helicopters down. They stayed in the international waters where they were traveling, but all of it demonstrates, Brit, just how tense those waters are and how much diplomacy is expected of U.S. sailors on a daily basis in the Strait of Hormuz. Brit?
HUME: Well, Jennifer, thanks very much.