# New Attacks on Oil Tankers **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 13, 2019, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-attacks-on-oil-tankers/835470 "2019-06-13T13:17:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2019, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-attacks-on-oil-tankers/835470/141 "2019-06-15T14:02:23Z")
After the 2003 WMD propaganda to justify the Iraq war, nobody is going to take America’s word for anything - especially with the liars and warmongers now in office. But the bottom line is that if the Trump administration really wants to start a war with Iran, they’ll find an excuse. Let’s hope sanity prevails. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2019, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-attacks-on-oil-tankers/835470/142 "2019-06-15T14:13:15Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I’m heartened to see that you’re at least open to the possibility that Iranians perpetrated the tanker attacks. I’m disappointed that you think the US sanctions might have “forced” Iran to start blowing holes in tankers. If Iran did this, they were not “forced to”, by the US nor anyone else. Oy vey. Of course, I too am open to the possibility. This is more of the same. I’m saying don’t rush to judgment, you think I am saying the Iranians are innocent. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2019, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-attacks-on-oil-tankers/835470/143 "2019-06-15T14:20:33Z")
Anyone who didn’t publicly declare within hours of the attack that Iran was responsible, and who instead wanted to see some evidence, must have therefore believed it impossible. Or something. ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2019, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-attacks-on-oil-tankers/835470/144 "2019-06-15T15:25:46Z")
It would be interesting to come back to this thread in a week or a month, and see what information has been posted here turns out to be accurate, and what turns out to be inaccurate. It would really suck to do so if the US and Iran were embroiled in a war in that week or month. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2019, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-attacks-on-oil-tankers/835470/145 "2019-06-15T15:57:08Z")
Have we gotten to the bottom, so to speak, of whether or not one of the ships sank? ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2019, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-attacks-on-oil-tankers/835470/146 "2019-06-15T16:04:10Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Have we gotten to the bottom, so to speak, of whether or not one of the ships sank? Neither sank. The _Kokuka Courageous_ is [being towed](https://twitter.com/mercoglianos/status/1139914230084358144) to Fujariah in the U.A.E., and the _Front Altair_ is being towed to Oman. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2019, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-attacks-on-oil-tankers/835470/147 "2019-06-15T16:16:14Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > Neither sank. … :eek: My faith in premature absolute declarations has been shaken. I’ll have a drink now and just rest a bit. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2019, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-attacks-on-oil-tankers/835470/148 "2019-06-15T16:16:31Z")
Is the crew of the Front Altair on their way to Oman as well? ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2019, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-attacks-on-oil-tankers/835470/149 "2019-06-15T16:22:29Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Is the crew of the Front Altair on their way to Oman as well? I’m not sure where they’ll be headed, but the ship’s owners, Frontline Management, say they will [be repatriated “soonest” (sic)](https://www.france24.com/en/20190615-front-altair-leaves-iran-waters-after-gulf-oman-attacks): > [@](#): > > “The 23 crew members of the ‘Front Altair’ remain safe and well, with plans being made for their repatriation soonest,” Frontline Management said. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2019, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-attacks-on-oil-tankers/835470/150 "2019-06-15T16:38:50Z")
Thanks for the link. Sounds like they should be flying to Dubai soon. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2019, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-attacks-on-oil-tankers/835470/151 "2019-06-15T20:26:56Z")
[They’re fine and in Dubai](https://apnews.com/eeb48bea01bc437f8f08455dbde31460). > [@](#): > > A passing ship rescued the mariners, who later were turned over to Iranian officials. Iran took the mariners to Jask, then later Bandar Abbas before putting them on the flight Saturday night. Its crew was comprised of 11 Russians, 11 Filipinos and one Georgian. Now tell everyone how this is suspicious and clearly indicates that Iran brainwashed them all and/or replaced them with clones. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2019, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-attacks-on-oil-tankers/835470/152 "2019-06-15T21:36:15Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > I’m not sure where they’ll be headed, but the ship’s owners, Frontline Management, say they will [be repatriated “soonest” (sic)](https://www.france24.com/en/20190615-front-altair-leaves-iran-waters-after-gulf-oman-attacks): There’s no need for the [sic], that’s a perfectly fine idiomatic usage of “soonest” ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2019, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-attacks-on-oil-tankers/835470/153 "2019-06-15T21:59:13Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > There’s no need for the [sic], that’s a perfectly fine idiomatic usage of “soonest” I thought maybe it had been put through Google Translate, and had originally said “as soon as possible” in Norwegian. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2019, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-attacks-on-oil-tankers/835470/154 "2019-06-15T21:59:28Z")
> [@GreenWyvern](#): > > After the 2003 WMD propaganda to justify the Iraq war, nobody is going to take America’s word for anything - especially with the liars and warmongers now in office. > > But the bottom line is that if the Trump administration really wants to start a war with Iran, they’ll find an excuse. Let’s hope sanity prevails. Are you talking about the same Saddam Hussein Iraq that used WMD’s on Iran and then on his own people? The same one making the claim they weren’t working on nuclear weapons but was then caught with mobile calutrons? Hussein had a history of using WMD’s and lied about his nuclear weapons program. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2019, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-attacks-on-oil-tankers/835470/155 "2019-06-15T23:42:31Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Are you talking about the same Saddam Hussein Iraq that used WMD’s on Iran and then on his own people? The same one making the claim they weren’t working on nuclear weapons but was then caught with mobile calutrons? > > Hussein had a history of using WMD’s and lied about his nuclear weapons program. Yes, those were some of the arguments that the US couldn’t possibly have been lying about WMDs in Iraq. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. The fact is that no one is going to trust America’s solemn testimony on shit like this for a generation, minimum. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2019, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-attacks-on-oil-tankers/835470/156 "2019-06-16T00:13:53Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Yes, those were some of the arguments that the US couldn’t possibly have been lying about WMDs in Iraq. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. > > The fact is that no one is going to trust America’s solemn testimony on shit like this for a generation, minimum. What are you talking about? [Saddam used WMD’s on his own people as well as in the war with Iran.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqi_chemical_weapons_program) It is the reason we created the northern and southern no-fly zones. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2019, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-attacks-on-oil-tankers/835470/157 "2019-06-16T00:29:32Z")
I’m talking about justification for the invasion of Iraq. You seem to be talking about how Saddam did bad stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2019, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-attacks-on-oil-tankers/835470/158 "2019-06-16T17:37:04Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I’m talking about justification for the invasion of Iraq. You seem to be talking about how Saddam did bad stuff. As Saddam WAS Iraq’s war machine with a track record of using WMD’S and the US was enforcing the no-fly zones in Iraq because he was using them on his own people. I’m not sure what your point is? We were enforcing the no-fly zones because of the use of WMD’s on Iraqi civilians. This left the US as the primary defender in the region from Iraq so the Iraq/Kuwait War was still on on-going event with no apparent end. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2019, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-attacks-on-oil-tankers/835470/159 "2019-06-16T17:41:23Z")
Cool an Iraq war debate. Over in the Pit they’re rehashing the Trayvon Martin killing. You know what we need? A Joe Paterno thread! ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2019, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-attacks-on-oil-tankers/835470/160 "2019-06-16T17:46:37Z")
So moving on, we’re still left with a region where “somebody” doesn’t like tankers in the Gulf of Hormuz. Has there been a government who threatened to shut that region down? Yes. Iran. Is there a government who actively supports terrorists? Yes. Iran. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-attacks-on-oil-tankers/835470.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-attacks-on-oil-tankers/835470.md?page=9)