Will Navy Ships Really Open Fire on Harassing Iranian Gunboats? It Depends, Officials Say

[rangerrebew]

Will Navy Ships Really Open Fire on Harassing Iranian Gunboats? It Depends, Officials Say
 
22 Apr 2020
Military.com | By Richard Sisk

Top Pentagon officials Wednesday applauded President Donald Trump's call to "shoot down and destroy" harassing Iranian gunboats but said decisions to open fire would still be left to the judgment calls of ship commanders.

"I would have to be the captain of the ship in order to make that determination" on whether to respond with lethal force, said Air Force Gen. John Hyten, vice commander of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "It depends on the situation and what the captain sees."

At a Pentagon briefing, both Hyten and Deputy Secretary of Defense David Norquist indicated that they viewed Trump's tough talk as an enhanced warning to Iran to avoid encounters with Navy ships that could quickly escalate into open conflict.

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/04/22/will-navy-ships-really-open-fire-harassing-iranian-gunboats-it-depends-officials-say.html

[rangerrebew]

Hyten: Pentagon orders are needed to execute Trump’s call for Navy to shoot at harassing Iranian boats

https://www.stripes.com/news/middle-east/hyten-pentagon-orders-are-needed-to-execute-trump-s-call-for-navy-to-shoot-at-harassing-iranian-boats-1.627064

[Fishrrman]

Wipe one or two of those Iranian gunboat swarms out-of-the-water, and that oughta take care of 'em...

[Cyber Liberty]

Hyten: Pentagon orders are needed to execute Trump’s call for Navy to shoot at harassing Iranian boats

https://www.stripes.com/news/middle-east/hyten-pentagon-orders-are-needed-to-execute-trump-s-call-for-navy-to-shoot-at-harassing-iranian-boats-1.627064

The brass must have their say.  If the Pentagon delays an action long enough for the sailors to be overrun by an enemy it's going to be Hell to pay for whichever full-splat Colonel held up the decision.