In memory of the 290 innocent Iranians murdered by the crew of the USS Vincennes on 3 July 1988. Following the massacre, the USA refused to apologize, the entire crew received Combat Action Ribbons “for completion of their tours in a combat zone”. The air-warfare coordinator on duty received the Navy Commendation Medal, while the Vincennes’ captain, William C. Rogers III, was awarded the Legion of Merit “for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service as commanding officer … from April 1987 to May 1989.” (source) Three years after the incident, Admiral William J. Crowe admitted on American television show Nightline that the USS Vincennes was inside Iranian territorial waters when it launched the missiles (source).
Saker Message:
Add the 298 victims of MH17 to that.
I remember the incident well.
Iran, for dearing to reject being the pawn of the US and Israel, have suffered greatly, but has remain unbowed.
The list of crimes perpetrated against Iran by Israel and it’s Western lackeys and a few compliant Arab countries is very very long.
When you hear Iranians refer to America as the Great Satan or they chant death to America at Friday Prayers, now you have an idea of why.
The “embodiment of global arrogance” is how the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei describes them.
The strategic convergence that is emerging between Iran and Russia makes Tel-a-Viv, Riyadh and Washington very fearful indeed.
When they saw those Russian heavy bombers at the Hamadan Airbase they started freaking out……
‘George H. W. Bush, the vice president of the United States at the time commented on a separate occasion, speaking to a group of Republican ethnic leaders (7 Aug 1988) said: “I will never apologize for the United States — I don’t care what the facts are… I’m not an apologize-for-America kind of guy.”‘
As Wikipedia is at pains to emphasize, Bush said that (several times) before the Vincennes atrocity. But it seems clear, from the words that he chose, that he would have applied it to the Vincennes atrocity too. “I will never apologize for the United States – I don’t care what the facts are…”
That may be the classic modern example of “adding insult to injury”.
Pindos are quite good a murdering defenseless civilians, especially murdering children. They have enthusiastically engaged in this cowardly behaviour from the beginning of their history with little or no remorse. In fact, the butchers were usually cheered on by the general population in the american past, just as they are now. Few, if any, saw justice at the gallows.
Awarded “Legion of Merit”?
This is currently a somewhat dubious honour within the US Military. It is awarded to permanent non-combat Pentagon staff to allow them to “punch the ticket” for non-combatant promotion.
Give credit where credit is due. Awarding “Legion of Merit” for a combat engagement is a coded insult. Gold, Silver, and Bronze Star unworthy = Give “Legion of Merit” because the civilians demand an award.
Do not underestimate those who serve. They are aware of the failings of sham leaders like Obama.
Andres Bacevich agrees. I think more and more the poor schmucks who enlist for economic reasons are understanding that they’re being had. I think they realize for whom they are killing the family of a similarly miserable schmuck on the other side of the world.
I don’t consider marriage parties, innocent bystanders, hospital personnel and patients, or ‘enemy’ combattants who try to defend what’s theirs (including their own lifes) “similarly miserable schmucks” as the crapule who signed up. Furthermore there’s no denying that some of the schmuck perpetrators are obviously loving the misery they are inflicting…