Amid the buzz surrounding tomorrow's New Hampshire primary, a reminder of the serious stakes at issue: a provocation by the Iranian Navy in the Straits of Hormuz:

The three U.S. warships — cruiser USS Port Royal, destroyer USS Hopper and frigate USS Ingraham — were headed into the Persian Gulf through the Straits of Hormuz on what the U.S. Navy called a routine passage inside international waters when they were approached by five small high-speed vessels believed to be from Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy.

The Iranians "maneuvered aggressively" in the direction of the U.S. ships, said Vice Adm. Kevin Cosgriff, the commander of U.S. 5th Fleet, which patrols the Gulf and is based at nearby Bahrain. The U.S. ship commanders took a series of steps toward firing on the boats, which approached to within 500 yards, but the Iranians suddenly fled back toward their shore, Cosgriff said.

The Iranians sent a radio message that appeared to threaten a suicide attack.

Apparently this is the latest in a series of such provocations by the Iranians in international waters. The Iranians may or may not be afraid of President Bush; I don't suppose anyone thinks they would be afraid of President Obama.

Posted by John at 6:18 PM  |    |