LETS CELEBRATE AND LETS REMEMBER THE HEROIC ACTIONS OF THE CREW
ON USS VINCENNES!!!! LETS GIVE THEM EVEN MORE MEDALS!!!

Quote: No apologies for downing Flight 655 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:06:20 By Tamara Ebrahimpour, Press TV, Tehran An Airbus A300 Iran Air Flight 655 was shot down by the US Navy's guided missile cruiser USS Vincennes on Sunday July 3, 1988, killing all 290 passengers, including 66 children, and crewmembers onboard. The civilian airliner, carrying passengers from Iran, Italy, the UAE, India, Pakistan and the former Yugoslavia, was en route from Iran's southern city of Bandar Abbas to Dubai when it was hit by two SM-2MR surface-to-air missiles launched from the warship commanded by Captain William C. Rogers III. Following the tragic incident, ranked seventh among the deadliest airliner fatalities, unapologetic US officials said their naval officers had mistaken the Iranian Airbus A300 for an F-14 Tomcat fighter. An F-14 Tomcat fighter They went on to claim that the Vincennes crew had been under a simultaneous psychological condition called 'scenario fulfillment', and had therefore confused their training scenario with reality and responded accordingly. Iran declared the incident an international crime, saying that even if the warship crew had mistaken the Airbus for an F-14 the tragedy was the result of the US Navy's negligence and reckless behavior. Iran further argued that the aircraft was flying within the Iranian airspace and did not have an attack profile, and as the warship crew were fully trained to handle 'simultaneous attacks' by enemy aircrafts they could have handled the situation in a manner that would not claim civilian lives. When the matter was taken to the United Nations Security Council in July 1988, the then US Vice President George H.W. Bush defended the Vincennes crew's action and said that given the situation the officers in question had acted appropriately. USS Vincennes Eventually, the UN Security Council Resolution 616 was passed, which expressed "deep distress" over the downing, "profound regret" for the loss of life, and stressed the need to end the Iraq-Iran war. In August 1988, George H.W. Bush was quoted by Newsweek as saying, "I'll never apologize for the United States of America. Ever, I don't care what the facts are." The Vincennes crew received combat-action ribbons. Lieutenant Commander Scott Lustig, air-warfare coordinator on the Vincennes, was awarded with the Commendation Medal for 'heroic achievement', noting his 'ability to maintain his poise and confidence under fire'. The US government refused to claim responsibility for the incident and to apologize to the Iranian nation for the appalling act which brought unspeakable pain and grief to countless families.

http://www.presstv.com/Detail.aspx?id=62190§ionid=3510304



-----------------------------------------------------------------

"Iranian is by Virtue, Not by Blood"





????? ????? ??
???? ?? ??

May the late Captain William C. Rogers III of USS Vincennes
rest in peace for downing almost 300 enemy combatants in
one press of the button!



-----------------------------------------------------------------

"Iranian is by Virtue, Not by Blood"





????? ????? ??
???? ?? ??

Ehm... question, those doves are within flying range of land right?

*************************************************************

so thats the fag that did it huh.

May he rest in hell and grave be peed on

RIP

What I think is a bigger disgrace that the US g'vt not apologizing for this, is that the crew actually accepted medals for that. You should expect the president to be a moron about this, but the crew should have shown some sense of shame. If I had made a mistake like that, and they tried to give me a medal there is no way I could take it and live with myself.

.

Facts:

This was a terrorist attack on civilians and not an accident

254 Iranian dead
13 UAE dead
10 Indians dead
6 Pakistani dead 6
6 Yugoslavian dead
1 Italian dead


The U.S. government issued notes of regret for the loss of human life and in 1996 paid reparations to settle a suit brought in the International Court of Justice regarding the incident but It never admitted wrongdoing, or apologized for the incident.



An independent investigation by the ICAO concluded that the US was at fault by cultivating an unstable battle scenario with no regard for civilian air traffic

The men of the Vincennes were all awarded combat-action ribbons. Lustig, the air-warfare coordinator, received the navy's Commendation Medal for "heroic achievement," noting his "ability to maintain his poise and confidence under fire" that enabled him to "quickly and precisely complete the firing procedure







____________________________________________

"Disclaimer: Please add a hint of sarcasm while reading any thing I post"

http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/przion1.htm

Simply a disgrace all around. Incompetence, arrogance, hubris and finally dishonour. Read "Sea of Lies".

May the victims Rest in Peace.

[IMG][/IMG]

I think it was on purpose. US was itching for a war with Iran and maybe if Iran had responded they would have had a perfect excuse. Explains giving that piece of sh1t medals.

A genuine tragedy. May those who were lost rest in peace and those who suffered find comfort and solace.




Provost

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.

Calvin Coolidge, President of the United States 1924-1929

A tragedy!


Mobile airpower

"The enemy dies relaxed," observed a Lockheed Martin manager.

**** happens!

If the Iraniabnbs had answered any of the warnings from the AEGIS Cruiser they wouldn't have brought this tragedy upon themselves.
The same goes for operating fighter squadrons on an airfield with civilian passenger planes.

-----------------------

Darkwand u disgrace for a human! Ur post doesnt even
deserve a reply javla hor javel!

290 souls (men, women, children, fathers, mothers,
sons and daughters).... In IRAN TERRITORIAL WATERS,
DURING A FLIGH ROUTE THAT HAD BEEN STANDARDS SINCE
BEFORE THE REVOLUTION!

-----------------------------------------------------------------

"Iranian is by Virtue, Not by Blood"





????? ????? ??
???? ?? ??

May they all rest in peace.

---

Türkiye'nin Artýk Ruhu Var!

@Provost

>>May those who were lost rest in peace and those who suffered find comfort and solace.

You know in similar situations I am sure you have said something along the lines that "May thoise responsible....blah blah"

I am sure you just happened to forget to add your customery part and it hasd nothing to do with the fact that those responsible were American, aint that so ?

@Darkweand

>>If the Iraniabnbs had answered any of the warnings from the AEGIS Cruiser they wouldn't have brought this tragedy upon themselves.

 

I hate to point the obvious as It shows how stupid and uninformed you are but you do know that the cruiser ONLY (re fooking read) ONLY sent warning on military band. You also do know that the airplane was in constant contact with 3 traffic controllers at the same time, do you not? You do also know that civilian airplanes DO FOOKING NOT listen to military bands especially when they are climbing to cruise altitude and in touch with 3 controllers, don’t you? Ah ok, maybe you should first actually know what you are talking about.

 

You also know that right at the fooking beginning USA insisted there were 7 warnings issued, it also stated the first warning was given (on military band), at 7 miles and the airplane was shot at about 3 miles. Now if you actually sat down and calculated it you would find that repeating something along the lines “Unidentified airplane heading XXX, altitude YYY you are approaching a military ship … blah bla” for 7 times takes much longer than the time required for the fooking plane to travel those miles . You know I knew this within 10 minutes since CNN started CRAAAAPPPP talking and shoving shyt down throats of good people such as yourself . I immediately figured out there is more than 1 ship. After about a year it was revealed that there were actually 2 ships in the area and the second ship refused to fire and the 7 warnings came from 2 ships .

You did know all of that right ?

"**** happens! If the Iraniabnbs had answered any of the warnings from the AEGIS Cruiser they wouldn't have brought this tragedy upon themselves "


The Iranian civilian aircraft was in a legitimate international air corridor ! The Aegis has the capability to track the aircraft's flight and you have two more US ships in the area which indentified the aircraft as civilian ! The US captain was more aggressive than necessary and his shooting of aircraft was highly irresponsible !


Even though the Americans did paid compensation to the victims without apologising(why pay money if you havent done anything wrong ?) in return for the Iranians not pressing the case in ICJ, the crew of the american warship should not have been awarded medals for their actions !


May all the civilians killed in the incident rest in peace !

===========================================
Preamble to Indian Constitution :

WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:
JUSTICE, social, economic and political;
LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;
EQUALITY of status and of opportunity;
and to promote among them all
FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation;
IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.

I agree.

Evil AmeriKKKan c*nts.

We should all look up to the brave, noble Iranians, who CERTAINLY have apologized for flouting International law in attacking embassies, or equipping and training terrorist groups to commit mass murder against people who have committed no crime against them. Oh, wait.....

At least the US govt has expressed some regret over this incident and paid reparations. Iran? LOL!

Self-righteous Iranians can go f**k themselves.

No you go and FCUK yourself u islandfreak azz FCKUK piece of $HIT!

Iran is a dictatorship that punishes its own citizens, and that
doesnt even enjoy nearly 50% of its populations support let alone
majority of it.

IRANIAN GOVERNMENT and the AMERICAN GOVERNMENT cant be held to same
standards u MISSFREAK AZZ FCUK! u understand?

I would never dissrespect falle brits let alone KILLED BRITISH CIVLICANS
like those of the London bombings. Why dont u go an inbreed in ur
family u FCUK!?

-----------------------------------------------------------------

"Iranian is by Virtue, Not by Blood"





????? ????? ??
???? ?? ??

Ooh, a moderator making family insults. Gonna give yourself a warning now? LMFAO.

You are right about 1 thing though:

IRANIAN GOVERNMENT and the AMERICAN GOVERNMENT cant be held to same
standards u MISSFREAK AZZ FCUK!

That's true, Americans are better. I guess, thats why you live there isn't it.

They have expressed regret and paid settlements while Iranians not only crow about past terrorist acts, but are actively involved in funding and training terrorists in Lebanon and Iraq to this day.

Maybe when Iran owns up to its own crimes and apologizes to those who suffered (and continue to suffer) for its murderous intentions, they can expect a response, but for now what they can expect is a big fat middle finger.

PS: Your pathetic insults don't faze me. Go f**k your donkey, instead of babbling your one-sided half-witted BS.

Phoenikz show me proof that Iran blew up any thing or supported any terrorist group. I was going to tell you go **** yourself you worthless pile of human crap. However I am not going to tell you all those things.


Now politly go and insert that worthless empty trash can that you call "brain" in to your anal cavity.


Good day sir.






____________________________________________

"Disclaimer: Please add a hint of sarcasm while reading any thing I post"

http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/przion1.htm

Phoenix is halvie bastard..

how come he justified the murder of hundreds civilians is beyond my imaginations ?? only ppls with mentaly ill justified that

---------------------------------------------

phoenix go suck your bfs cock and shut up.

I remember one time i was in 10th grade and this irish-scottish descent kid was mentioning the incident and said the word "that was good". I socked his face so fast and hard he fell off his chair and we were sent to the principals office.

From then on he never spoke **** like that.

Hmm, that was the moment when Khomeini decided to stop the war, Iran can fight Iraq but not USA. Shortly after Iran signed cease of fire and war ended. Ofcourse some other earlier actions of US Navy helped making such decision...

R.I.P.


Iran Air Flight filed according to ICAO regulations.AC was cruising on a pre-defined and well known Hi-Lo-Hi route.There is always a possibility for a fighter AC to use the same route,but how come a war ship equipped with state of the art sensors couldnt able to identify an airliner from a fighter AC.



-----------------------------------------------------------------


"The greatest happiness is to scatter your enemy, to drive him before you, to see his cities reduced to ashes, to see those who love him shrouded in tears, and to gather into your bosom his wives and daughters."

Genghis Khan

Proud MONGOL !

ROFLMFAo.

All I'm hearing here is:
"Waaaaah, waaaaaah, we demand apologies and settlements and this and that and even though our government has done (and is still doing) much worse things we can't be held to the same standard because we are a dictatorship and we are oppressed and we are Muslim and everyone knows Muslims don't do such things and these people don't represent us and this is sacred duty of Muslims to fight the invader and kill the infidels and if you can't accept that you are an intolerant xenophobic racist and and and....."

One big cryfest for the biggest moaners and self-proclaimed victims in the world - Muslims in general and Middle Easterners in particular.

Get over it, no one cares.

Maybe if Iran, for just once in its miserable existence played the bigger man, and apologized for all the terrorism it's participated in and cut ties to all terrorist organizations, the world at large might, just might, find it in them to feel sorry for Iran and all the purported "wrongs" committed against Iran.

Right now, no one gives 2 sh1ts what c0ckbreaths with double standards like the above posters think.

You know in similar situations I am sure you have said something along the lines that "May thoise responsible....blah blah"

You are correct, as usual, Fariborz.

I am sure you just happened to forget to add your customery part and it hasd nothing to do with the fact that those responsible were American, aint that so ?

Actually, no, in this case I was simply in a hurry. To make you happy, I’ll do it now:

May those who are responsible, on both sides, be brought to justice and receive the punishment they deserve.

Better?




Provost

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.

Calvin Coolidge, President of the United States 1924-1929

Wow, this topic sure turned into a $hit storm fast...

RIP to the dead though... innocent people, regardless of the actions of their government, are still innocent people...

AMEN...


and please read "Sea of Lies" if you have not already done so.



[IMG][/IMG]

A tragic event...

I don't want to go into too much detail about the event itself. Accidents do happen and I hope that's all this was.

However, the subsequent actions of the US government appear to be grossly disrespectful.

Not to apologise is bad enough, but to issue medals????

Unbelievable...

RIP

The same goes for operating fighter squadrons on an airfield with civilian passenger planes.

India does the same in its Bagdogra airbase, airforce combat jets n domestic aircraft in the same airport. Wats so illegal abt tat?


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lachit Barphukan- The brave Ahom general that repelled the Mughal invaders and protected Assamese integrity.

Kanaklata- The brave soul, who was martyred at the age of 16, in the Indian freedom movement.

JAI AAI ASSAM; HAIL MOTHER ASSAM!!!

Quote: Ooh, a moderator making family insults. Gonna give yourself a warning now? LMFAO.

Ohh plz do laugh ur azz off, its on me, I insist.


You insulted my whole family when u wrote this u piece of family inbread
fcuk face!

Quote: At least the US govt has expressed some regret over this incident and paid reparations. Iran? LOL! Self-righteous Iranians can go f**k themselves

Every year at this time my family moarns because we lost one, and here
comes yellow toothed island fcuk face inread $hit head who was probably
molested by his own father (if u ever had one) n tries to go "intellectual"
on me.

Quote: That's true, Americans are better. I guess, thats why you live there isn't it.

??? LOL ??? I dont get it? what r u trying to prove here? YES I do live in the US (not
the mutant island where u were $****ted out to the world from).
Compared to Iran Is US a more free country? YES. Is US a country with more oppertunities? YES.
Am I more than happy to be here? YES!
So fcuk face pull ur head out of ur arse and understand that not all "non" anglo-saxons in
the west are one type who "dont wanna be where they are", even if u had that experience
with maybe indians and pakistanis in UK, I still bet u there are proud british citizens
who are originally from such countries, so dont be so clos minded u fcuk.

Quote: Maybe when Iran owns up to its own crimes and apologizes to those who suffered (and continue to suffer) for its murderous intentions, they can expect a response, but for now what they can expect is a big fat middle finger.

Yeah yeah... blah bla... whenever the queen of england bends over to indians, pakistanis,
nepalese, south africans etc etc to pay back for years of murder n torture, then we can
talk. So plz dont open that mouth it smells $hit n double standards all over here.

Quote: PS: Your pathetic insults don't faze me. Go f**k your donkey, instead of babbling your one-sided half-witted BS.

Once again u think Im one of those ppl who reject the country I live in and that I am a
hardcore "fanatic" muslim who hates the west. Azzhole Im a proud American, more western
than u probably are, more succesdul than u definately are. So why the donkey remark?
Just b/c I have middle easter heritage? lol. wow u surely are smart n clever.

Quote: All I'm hearing here is: "Waaaaah, waaaaaah, we demand apologies and settlements and this and that and even though our government has done (and is still doing) much worse things we can't be held to the same standard because we are a dictatorship and we are oppressed and we are Muslim and everyone knows Muslims don't do such things and these people don't represent us and this is sacred duty of Muslims to fight the invader and kill the infidels and if you can't accept that you are an intolerant xenophobic racist and and and....." One big cryfest for the biggest moaners and self-proclaimed victims in the world - Muslims in general and Middle Easterners in particular.

Once again I see myself as one with the ppl of the US, I dont consider myself as muslim
(not that anything would be wrong with it) and still ur fcuking walnut brain groups us
all together. Thats freaking awesome tho.

Coz meantime u stereotype ppl like me... fellow Iranian-Americans like me are slowly climbing
higher n higher up in theamerican pyramid here. Years ago there werent even any iranians
in politics now we have beverly hills mayor, state capitol representatives etc.
On other terms we have always dominated the high end sectors such as medicin and law. And
today we are seriously engaging entertainment industry, Lionsgate vice president and
majority share holder is a fellow Iranian-American. Needless do I need to mention ebay?
Google? and the roles Iranian-Americans played there?

Now why am I saying all these things? To brag? lol hardly! Just to let u know that
when low life molested fcuks like u generalize all of us, we are making progress in
ways u n the likes of u only can dream of, and thats when u are sitting in ur island still
trying ot figure out how to use a toothbrush we will kindly step on u n crush u
like the roach u are (in life achievement).


So in conclusion I am not a fanatic running around burning the american flag n shouting
death to american, I rather salute the flag. But I do not hesitate to oppose the government
of this great nation by protest whenever they commit misstakes.
Its a goverment by the ppl for the ppl. And ppl are prone to misstakes.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

"Iranian is by Virtue, Not by Blood"





????? ????? ??
???? ?? ??

Quote: In August 1988, George H.W. Bush was quoted by Newsweek as saying, "I'll never apologize for the United States of America. Ever, I don't care what the facts are."

What a brave man.

Quote: The same goes for operating fighter squadrons on an airfield with civilian passenger planes.

What's so bad about that? The US does it too. When I was training down with US troops in Camp Blanding, our plane landed at an airport in Jacksonville... the air strips were mixed with civilian planes, and F-16's from the Florida Air National Guard...

Not only is it alright, it is also cost effective...

"If the Iraniabnbs had answered any of the warnings from the AEGIS Cruiser they wouldn't have brought this tragedy upon themselves.
The same goes for operating fighter squadrons on an airfield with civilian passenger planes."

Kind of hard to answer warnings being issued on military channels when you are a civilian airliner.

Quote: Kind of hard to answer warnings being issued on military channels when you are a civilian airliner.

You are wrong,no matter which frequency you're using every military radio operator like in those ships knows the certain frequencies they are using.For instance if they were flying in iran airspace they re most probably switched to that certain channel which is very well know for the area(lets just say 110.10 for Tehran Control not ATC).

But there is a slight chance of this incident could be an accident,cause you know US also shoot down allied(U.K AFAIK)Tornado's in 1991 accidentally(by Patriot missiles).US can not file NOTAMs for Iranian ATCs in order to prevent those incidents but let alone there is no reasonable explanation to shoot down an airliner inside another country's airspace.

-----------------------------------------------------------------


"The greatest happiness is to scatter your enemy, to drive him before you, to see his cities reduced to ashes, to see those who love him shrouded in tears, and to gather into your bosom his wives and daughters."

Genghis Khan

Proud MONGOL !

You insulted my whole family when u wrote this u piece of family inbread
fcuk face!

If you climbed off your boyfriend's d1ck for long enough to read the page, you'll find I did no such thing.

Insulting families is a hallmark of those with no class...................those like you for instance.



Every year at this time my family moarns because we lost one,

Good for you. Hope you remember those who mourn for their lost ones who were killed (and who will be killed) by your nation's atrocities and supporting of terrorist activities as well.

For instance, Iran is in a large part responsible for at least half the civilian casualties in Iraq. Alot more mourners there than in your family.

And unlike you bunch of whiners, they get no expressions of regret or settlements either.



Compared to Iran Is US a more free country? YES. Is US a country with more oppertunities? YES.
Am I more than happy to be here? YES!
So fcuk face pull ur head out of ur arse and understand that not all "non" anglo-saxons in
the west are one type who "dont wanna be where they are", even if u had that experience
with maybe indians and pakistanis in UK, I still bet u there are proud british citizens
who are originally from such countries, so dont be so clos minded u fcuk.

Then practiced what you preach and learn a little gratefulness you demanding piece of sh1t.


Yeah yeah... blah bla... whenever the queen of england bends over to indians, pakistanis,
nepalese, south africans etc etc to pay back for years of murder n torture, then we can
talk.

LOL.

Do you see us whining for apologies from third-world sh1tholes such as your nation? No.

We invade, bomb or sanction them until they come grovelling on hands and knees to offer us an apology. See Iraq, Libya, Serbia, etc.


Once again u think Im one of those ppl who reject the country I live in and that I am a
hardcore "fanatic" muslim who hates the west.

Not really, I just think you're an ignorant hypocritical idiot. 1 side is always wrong, the other is even worse, but hey, they are undemocratic and should not be held to the same standards, so you'll let it pass right.

Do I see you opening threads to commemorate or condemn Iranian atrocities? Do you f**k.


more succesdul than u definately are.



Yeah, I'm sure - so "succesdul" you feel the need to brag about it on the INTERNET - ie, not very "succesdul" at all. LMFAO. Maybe you should learn to brush up on your reading comprehension and spelling if you want to turn it around. Oh, and try not to type in text-speak so much, eh? It makes you look like what you are, a barely-educated buffoon.


Coz meantime u stereotype ppl like me... fellow Iranian-Americans like me are slowly climbing
higher n higher up in theamerican pyramid here. Years ago there werent even any iranians
in politics now we have beverly hills mayor, state capitol representatives etc.
On other terms we have always dominated the high end sectors such as medicin and law. And
today we are seriously engaging entertainment industry, Lionsgate vice president and
majority share holder is a fellow Iranian-American. Needless do I need to mention ebay?
Google? and the roles Iranian-Americans played there?

No one sees what THAT has to do with this topic.


Now why am I saying all these things? To brag? lol hardly! Just to let u know that
when low life molested fcuks like u generalize all of us, we are making progress in
ways u n the likes of u only can dream of, and thats when u are sitting in ur island still
trying ot figure out how to use a toothbrush we will kindly step on u n crush u
like the roach u are (in life achievement).

Oooh, I'm terrified!

Why don't you try dragging your OWN nation out of the third-world sh1thole first before dreaming of "crushing" the UK. Now wouldn't THAT be an achievement! LOL!


But I do not hesitate to oppose the government
of this great nation by protest whenever they commit misstakes.
Its a goverment by the ppl for the ppl. And ppl are prone to misstakes.

Hey, we actually agree here. Does America commit mistakes? For sure. Does the UK make mistakes? It has, and will still make mistakes in the future (hopefully fewer than before).

But not Iran, oh dear no, not the glorious Islamic Republic of Iran. When they kill people, it's no mistake, it's INTENTIONAL. That's why they don't need to apologize for it!

Deliberately done, just like destroyed passenger train in Serbia in 1999.

Every year at this time my family moarns because we lost one, and here
comes yellow toothed island fcuk face inread $hit head who was probably
molested by his own father (if u ever had one) n tries to go "intellectual"
on me.

Must b cool to b a mod eh? U get away even if u give family/personal insults.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lachit Barphukan- The brave Ahom general that repelled the Mughal invaders and protected Assamese integrity.

Kanaklata- The brave soul, who was martyred at the age of 16, in the Indian freedom movement.

JAI AAI ASSAM; HAIL MOTHER ASSAM!!!

Historical Amnesia: The Shoot Down of Iran Air Flight 655
by SASAN FAYAZMANESH (source: Counter Punch)
Monday, July 14, 2008

In a daily press briefing on July 2, 2008, the following set of questions and answers took place between an unidentified reporter and Department of State Spokesman Sean McCormack [1]:

QUESTION: Tomorrow marks the 20 years since the U.S. Navy warship Vincennes gunned down the IR655 civilian airliner, killing all 300 people on board, 71 of whom were children. And while the United States Government settled the incident in the International Court of Justice in 1996 at $61.1 million in compensation to the families, they, till this day, refuse to apologize –

MR. MCCORMACK: Mm-hmm.

QUESTION: – as requested by the Iranian Government. And actually, officials in the Iranian Government said today that they’re planning on a commemoration tomorrow and it would, you know, show a sign of diplomatic reconciliation if the United States apologized for this incident.

MR. MCCORMACK: Mm-hmm.

QUESTION: Do you think it sends a positive message if, on the 20th anniversary of this incident, the United States Government apologized for (inaudible)?

MR. MCCORMACK: You know, to be honest with you, I’ll have to look back and see the history of what we have said about this – about the issue. I honestly don’t know. Look, nobody wants to see – everybody mourns innocent life lost. But in terms of our official U.S. Government response to it, I can’t – I have to confess to you, I don’t know the history of it. I’d be happy to post you an answer over to your question.

QUESTION: Well, do you think it show – do you think it would show a positive message as – in the midst of all this war talk --

MR. MCCORMACK: Like I said, you know, you’ve asked the question. I’ve been trying to be – I’ve tried to be very up front with you. I don’t know the history. There’s obviously a long history to this issue. Let me understand the history to that issue before I provide you a response.
Yeah.

Mm-hmm. Could this be true? Could the spokesman for the State Department not know anything about the role that the US played in the Iran-Iraq war in general and Iranian Air Flight 655 in particular? Is it possible that the entire US Department of State is ignorant of that history? Is it conceivable that the current US policy towards Iran is being made by a host of ignoramuses? This is, indeed, a frightening prospect. At a time when the world is continuously rattled by the prospect of a US-Israeli attack on Iran and the resulting uncertainty in the oil market, escalating energy prices, possibility of a worldwide economic stagnation and spiraling inflation, it is terrifying to think that those who are beating the war drums are suffering from historical amnesia. The frightening prospect is not helped at all by the correction that appeared on the website of the US Department of State shortly after the above set of questions and answers took place. The correction read [2]:

Iran Air Flight 655 (Taken Question)

Question: Does the State Department have anything to say on the 20th anniversary of the accidental downing of an Iran Air flight?

Answer: The accidental shooting down of Iran Air Flight 655 was a terrible human tragedy, and U.S. officials at the time expressed our deep regret over the tragic loss of life. We would certainly renew our expression of sympathy and condolences to the families of the deceased who perished in the tragedy.

The “terrible human tragedy” was not exactly “accidental,” at least not from the perspective of many Iranians. Nor did the United States “at the time” express its “deep regret over the tragic loss of life.” Since even after some research the US policy makers could not get their facts staright, it might be helpful to refresh their memories about Iran Air Flight 655.

The shooting down of Iran Air Flight 655 by the cruiser U.S.S. Vincennes marked the end of an eight war between Iran and Iraq, a war that in all probability started with the help of the US government and was certainly prolonged by the US and Israel as part of the policy of dual containment of Iran and Iraq. As I have explained elsewhere, in the eight year war the Reagan Administration tried to prevent Iran from winning the war against Saddam Hussein by providing him with intelligence, extension of credit and, indirectly, weapons.[3] The US also established full diplomatic relations with Hussein’s government, lifted trade sanctions against Iraq, and imposed economic sanctions against Iran. In addition, the US closed its eyes to the use of chemical weapons by Iraq in the war, and, indeed, supplied Saddam Hussein with chemical compounds that had multiple uses, including making poison gas.

In 1984 the US policy of helping Saddam Hussein in the war took on a new dimension. The United States started to escort the tankers carrying Iraq’s and its allies’ oil, particularly those of Kuwait, safely through the Persian Gulf but allowed Iraq to hit at will tankers carrying Iranian oil. Soon afterwards, the US also offered to re-flag Iraqi allies’ tankers. This situation continued until early 1986, when Iranian forces started to score military victories by capturing the Iraqi Faw peninsula. Iraq increased the intensity of its tanker war on Iran and Iran retaliated. Kuwait asked the UN Security Council in late 1986 for protection of its tankers in the Gulf. Shortly afterwards, the US started to re-flag Kuwaiti tankers with the American flag. This was the beginning of the US directly entering an undeclared war against Iran at the behest of Saddam Hussein.

In the undeclared war that followed the US started to attack Iranian ships. For example, The Washington Post reported on September 23, 1987, that two days earlier American helicopters had attacked an Iranian vessel on the pretext that it was laying mines. As a result of the attack, the report went on to say, a number of Iranian sailors were killed, injured, or missing. A day after the attack, according to the same report, US Navy commandos boarded and captured the Iranian ship, and then fired warning shots at an Iranian hovercraft that came toward the disabled vessel. A few days later, the US Navy blew up and sank the ship (Sunday Mail, September 27, 1987). The US actions were viewed not only by Iran but also by the US Congress as something akin to declaration of war against Iran by the Reagan Administration. On September 25, 1987, the COURIER-MAIL reported that the “Iranian President, Mr Khamenei, said yesterday he feared United States actions in the Persian Gulf would lead to an American invasion of his country.” The report further quoted Khamenei as saying that the “presence of the US in the Gulf is a sign of war. . . . All these battleships and the great armada there are not for defence, they are for invasion.” On September 23, 1987, The Washington Post reported that the US Congress had asked “for constraints on U.S. tanker-escort operations” and that some were considering invoking the “1973 War Powers Resolution,” which requires congressional approval for sustained US combat operations.

Engaging Iran at the behest of Saddam Hussein continued throughout the rest of 1987 and 1988. For example, on October 9, 1987, the Guardian reported the sinking of three Iranian gunboats by the US on the pretext that they had “hostile intent,” and on April 19, 1988, The Washington Post reported the sinking or crippling of six more Iranian ships by the US. Also in this period the US started to attack Iranian oil platforms. For example, according to the COURIER-MAIL of October 21, 1987, the US attacked two Iranian oil platforms two days earlier “in response to that country’s missile attacks on tankers flying the US flag.” According to the same source, “Mr Reagan was asked if the attack meant the two nations were at war”, and he responded by saying “No, we’re not going to have a war with Iran, they’re not that stupid.” Similarly, the Journal of Commerce reported on April 19, 1988 that a day earlier the US Navy destroyed two offshore Iranian oil platforms. In this same period (1987–8) the US also started to engage the Iranian air force. For example, according to the Financial Times of September 23, 1987, on August 8 of the same year “a carrier-borne F-14 Tomcat fighter unleashed two missiles at an Iranian jet spotted on its radar which had flown too close for comfort to an unarmed US surveillance aircraft.” Similarly, the Journal of Commerce reported on April 19, 1988, that a “U.S. warship fired missiles at two approaching Iranian jet fighters, but the fighters reversed course.”

By early 1988 it was clear that Iran could not win a war against the combined forces of Saddam Hussein and the US. Even the gains by Iranian forces in the eight-year war were now being lost. The coordinated and jointly planned actions between the US and Iraq in April of 1988, for example, resulted in Saddam Hussein’s government retaking the Faw peninsula. On April 19, 1988, The Washington Post reported the US attack on Iranian ships and oil platform. It also reported that, according to Iran, the retaking of Faw by the Iraqi forces was supported by US helicopters.

The time had come for Iran to take the bullet and accept a humiliating ceasefire offered by the US-dominated United Nations, the same institution that after eight years of war, and despite all evidence to the contrary, could not still determine which party was guilty of starting it.

The last major event that brought about the final capitulation of Iran occurred on July 3, 1988. On that day the American warship Vincennes shot down Iran Air Flight 655 over the Persian Gulf, killing all 290 passengers on board. True to its pattern of denying any role in the Iran-Iraq war, at first the United States government tried to deny culpability in the downing of the civilian airliner. On July 3 AP reported that the “Pentagon said U.S. Navy forces in the gulf sank two Iranian patrol boats and downed an F-14 f