U.S. aircraft carrier group barred from Strait of Hormuz saves group of Iranians captured by pirates

[tabatha]

WASHINGTON — The same U.S. aircraft carrier group that Iran warned not to return to the Gulf has rescued 13 Iranians held hostage for weeks by pirates in the Arabian Sea, the Pentagon said on Friday.

The rescue operation took place on Thursday, when forces with the USS John C. Stennis carrier strike group received a distress call from the master of the Al Molai, an Iranian-flagged fishing vessel, who said he was being held captive by pirates.

The U.S. forces also detected a suspected pirate skiff alongside the Al Molai. The pirates had apparently been using the vessel as a “mother ship” to conduct operations.

“The Al Molai had been taken over by pirates for roughly the last 40-45 days,” Josh Schminky, a Navy criminal investigative service agent aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd, said in a statement.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/01/06/u-s-aircraft-carrier-group-barred-from-strait-of-hormuz-saves-group-of-iranians-captured-by-pirates/

[Laelth]

1. Very good. The Navy did the right thing.

This should help to normalize our relations with Iran (if we let it).

-Laelth

[tech3149]

2. unfortunately,there are too many geniuses in the power elite that don't want that.

I get really tired of the whole demonizing of Iran. Even people like Thom Hartmann buy into the "Iran as threat" song and dance. Could Iran be a threat? Might be possible, however minor. I can't commit to whether they are or are not trying to develop nuclear weapons. Even if they are, so what? Israel, India, and Pakistan already have more than enough if Iran poses a regional threat.
I think the best thing we could do is normalize relations with Iran. Reinstate diplomatic relations, reopen an embassy. The youth of Iran, and that is the majority, want to be a part of the rest of the world. Quit the stupid economic sanctions that only hurt the average Iranian and empower the rightfully paranoid nutjobs that run the country.

It's time we as a nation learned that the best way to be a true world citizen is to stop pissing in other peoples sandbox.

[greytdemocrat]

3. Wow!

You been talking to Ron Paul???

Iran COULD be a threat?? Stunning.

[Laelth]

4. I fully agree, tech3149. n/t

-Laelth

[newfie11]

5. thank you

I totally agree.

[madrchsod]

6. the problem is the religious mafia that run iran do not want to normalize relations.

they know creating an enemy is the best way to control people.

just think about how well that has worked in the usa.

[exboyfil]

7. You mean the same Iranians

who just stormed the UK embassy? Not to mention the U.S. embassy from the 1970s.

I do agree with your sentiment about pulling back and staying out of other's regional conflicts, but an embassy??? I am not ready to go that far.