Iranian sailors chase off pirates attacking U.S. ship

[bayonetbrant]

There's been considerable cooperation between US and Iranian navies and sailors regarding open-ocean pirates, and considering the current political climate between the two countries, it's nice to see cooperation at the tactical level against a common foe, regardless of the political machinations higher-up.

I don't think that cooperative behavior among guys at the tactical level is indicative of any thaw in the positions of those in power, given their repeated and continual public statements of mutual non-admiration.

Will such ad-hoc naval cooperation lead to any sort of future political cooperation?  I'm sure it won't directly, but history has demonstrated that repeated exposure to relatively free liberal* western democracy inevitably turns a tide in authoritarian regimes over time.  Just not overnight.  We can only hope.




* "liberal" in the classical sense of "liberty" as opposed to the current quasi-insulting political epithet heard on talk radio

[0kult13]

There's been considerable cooperation between US and Iranian navies and sailors regarding open-ocean pirates, and considering the current political climate between the two countries, it's nice to see cooperation at the tactical level against a common foe, regardless of the political machinations higher-up.

I don't think that cooperative behavior among guys at the tactical level is indicative of any thaw in the positions of those in power, given their repeated and continual public statements of mutual non-admiration.

Will such ad-hoc naval cooperation lead to any sort of future political cooperation?  I'm sure it won't directly, but history has demonstrated that repeated exposure to relatively free liberal* western democracy inevitably turns a tide in authoritarian regimes over time.  Just not overnight.  We can only hope.




* "liberal" in the classical sense of "liberty" as opposed to the current quasi-insulting political epithet heard on talk radio

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