Threatening voice from Iran incident may be famous heckler.
The recent controversy over an incident in the Strait of Hormuz involving five Iranian speedboats was punctuated by an allegation that an Iranian voice warned a U.S. ship, “I am coming to you. You will explode in a few minutes.” But the voice “may have come from a locally famous heckler well known to Navy crews.” The Navy Times reports:
In recent years, American ships operating in the Middle East have had to contend with a mysterious but profane voice widely known as the “Filipino Monkey,” likely more than one person, who listens in on ship-to-ship radio traffic and then jumps on the net shouting insults and epithets.
Rick Hoffman, a retired captain who commanded the cruiser Hue City and spent many of his 17 years at sea in the Gulf was subject to the renegade radio talker repeatedly, often without pause during the so-called “Tanker Wars” of the late 1980s.
“For 25 years there’s been this mythical guy out there who, hour after hour, shouts obscenities and threats,” he said. “He could be tied up pierside somewhere or he could be on the bridge of a merchant ship.” […]
“He used to go all night long. The guy is crazy,” he said. “But who knows how many Filipino Monkeys there are? Could it have been a spurious transmission? Absolutely.”
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This happens on CB radios all the time.
January 11th, 2008 at 11:17 pm#1 - but on a CB radio it isn’t usually used as the possible basis for attacking another country.
January 11th, 2008 at 11:28 pm#1 - but on a CB radio it isn’t usually used as the possible basis for attacking another country.
Comment by Dreary Urbanite
You saying truck drivers are smarter than politicians? =)
January 11th, 2008 at 11:44 pm#2. This was dubbed over the video…so it wasn’t an attack. The Pentagon stated yesterday the audio may not even match the video, remember? And it happens all the time according the the expert that spent 17 years in the Gulf.
January 11th, 2008 at 11:45 pmWorld War III was almost caused by a Middle Eastern Borat.
-GSD
January 11th, 2008 at 11:49 pm#1 - but on a CB radio it isn’t usually used as the possible basis for attacking another country.
Comment by Dreary Urbanite — January 11, 2008 @ 11:28 pm
We shoulda seen this coming, what with GWB’s 70’s Revival of an administration and its lust for war.
January 12th, 2008 at 12:04 am#4 - I believe that they admitted that the audio may not match the video rather than stated it.
January 12th, 2008 at 12:07 amAre they going to apologize with Iran now?
Or with the Filipino Monkey for the ridiculous nickname?
January 12th, 2008 at 12:10 amThe US Navy got spooked by a batshit insane troll?
January 12th, 2008 at 12:29 am1) Geography may not be my strong suit, but aren’t the Phillipines a little bit away from there ? (And I’m assuming the “bridge to bridge” channels are the standard VHF and UHF channels meaning that maximum range is around 25 miles - as and HF channels would be propogated erratically over a very wide distance).
2) Can I safely assume that “Phillipino Monkey” doesn’t necessarily endear itself with the Phillipine community and comes across as intentionally dehumanizing ?
January 12th, 2008 at 12:37 amThe US Navy got spooked by a batshit insane troll?
Comment by Zooey
Ok, I put some money on Seixon. Who’s in?
January 12th, 2008 at 12:41 amOk, I put some money on Seixon. Who’s in?
Comment by Juan C. — January 12, 2008 @ 12:41 am
I’m in. $2 :D
January 12th, 2008 at 12:45 amThe USA has lost any international credibility. The video is a fake! There was no threats! Once more we get the War Criminals in this administration acting the same way we expect them to do… The same Modus Operandi! “Weapons of Mass Destruction”, “Iranian Nuclear Weapons”, “World War III”, “Mushroom Clouds”… lies! Lies and more Lies! Do they realize what damage all these lies actually do to their own country??? WATCH “WAR ON DEMOCRACY” by John Pilger in YOUTUBE!!!!!
January 12th, 2008 at 12:48 amBreaker breaker 19, Big fish? This is little dipper, come on back now.
January 12th, 2008 at 12:50 amWorld War III was almost caused by a Middle Eastern Borat.
-GSD
Comment by GSD — January 11, 2008 @ 11:49 pm
NO… WORLD WAR III ALMOST CAUSED BY A ‘BORAT TYPE OF PRESIDENT’…
January 12th, 2008 at 12:50 amTHAT IS : THE FICTITIOUS PRESIDENT IN THE WH!
January 12th, 2008 at 12:51 amSounds like Mr. P is busy.
January 12th, 2008 at 12:57 amor it could be bigfoot. he’s as crazy as they come. he hates the USA.
could be any of our unAmerican trolls.
January 12th, 2008 at 1:08 am#4 - I believe that they admitted that the audio may not match the video rather than stated it.
Comment by Dreary Urbanite — January 12, 2008 @ 12:07 am
Oh, that’s right, stating would imply there might have been a factual basis behind it. Admitting is more like it…you are right.
January 12th, 2008 at 1:20 amAm I missing something? Why would the “Phillipino monkey” be in that part of the world. That seems odd. Not saying it couldn’t have been some sort of troll. The Pentagon itself said it could have come from land.
January 12th, 2008 at 1:34 amOk, apparantly the “Fillipino monkey” is in the Middle East. Weird. A misnomer, I would think.
January 12th, 2008 at 1:38 amIt appears that even those over at Michelle Malkin’s blog are pretty skeptical of this audio (except the kneejerk warmongers, of course). The place looks almost non-wingnutlike. I am not familiar with the blog. Do they not moderate against those who disagree with them?
January 12th, 2008 at 1:46 amExcellent background on the Filipino monkey (apparently he/they got their name because they targeted Iranian/Philipino communications during the Iran/Iraq war).
http://editor-at-large.blogspot.com/ 2008/ 01/ filipino-monkey-is-back.html
January 12th, 2008 at 1:55 amIt appears the Pentagon should eliminate any Naval personnel from the internets before they try to float this kind of crap.
January 12th, 2008 at 1:57 amI am coming at you!
Boo!
The Islamo-liberal-fascists are under my bed! Where’s my depends?
-GSD
January 12th, 2008 at 2:00 amBartlebee, the commander was apparantly not afraid enough to fire. That tells me that he did not believe the audio was legit.
January 12th, 2008 at 2:14 amReally, you’ve got to respect Captain Hoffman for his perseverance, in the middle of a war, battling all those years against his arch-rival renegade nemesis, the Filipino Monkey. There are only three words to describe this kind of heroism: Medal of Freedom.
January 12th, 2008 at 2:22 amalright, think progress has clearly succumbed to…..very poor journalistic standards…..
“may be famous heckler”?
no sources. no facts. just thoughts.
thanks, guys! this really helps.
January 12th, 2008 at 2:29 amUh, darladoon, read the Navy Times article.
January 12th, 2008 at 2:34 amIs that so hard to do?
January 12th, 2008 at 2:34 amI think it probably did, Bart. Stuff likes this happens all the time. The USSR and the US did this for 40 years. I am not convinced it wasn’t leaked to get a rise out of an ignorant population though (and it probably happened months or years ago).
January 12th, 2008 at 2:40 amYou know what I find extremely funny (not in a good way) about this? This would normally be top secret considering the video AND the audio was taken aboard a US Navy warcraft. And yet…we are seeing it. Fortunately, if this is an attempt to ramp up hostilities toward Iran it isn’t working.
January 12th, 2008 at 2:54 amIf this was anything else the Bush administration would be pitching a fit over this leak.
January 12th, 2008 at 2:57 amUnless it was the Plame leak of course.
January 12th, 2008 at 2:57 amComment by O. Bigfoot — January 12, 2008 @ 3:24 am
are you sure?
January 12th, 2008 at 3:26 amIs it possible that it was Ariel Sharon? The mind is a powerful thing!
January 12th, 2008 at 3:34 amIsn’t there a Jeep chat room in search of a someone to talk about Jeeps somewhere?
January 12th, 2008 at 3:47 amComment by O. Bigfoot — January 12, 2008 @ 3:43 am
biggie, you’re funny when you try to be funny.
do it again.
January 12th, 2008 at 3:59 amNah…just wildly speculatin’.
Liberal blogs thrive on wild speculation, so I just thought I’d throw in a bone.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — January 12, 2008 @ 3:35 am
“throw in a bone”
?
biggie?
past your bed time fella.
January 12th, 2008 at 4:01 amDidn’t you know you can have more than one window open at a time?
Comment by O. Bigfoot — January 12, 2008 @ 4:01 am
It’s best if you are striving to air things out.
January 12th, 2008 at 4:07 amWhile the government was not sure where the voice was coming from….Fox network took this story to use it in the GOP presidential debate to muster support for war against Iran by questioning the candidates about what they will do.
All of the GOP candidates ,except of Ron Paul..,showed how quick and happy they will pull the trigger and start a big war.
FOX , as a news company must have the knolwedge about the government statements came regarding the authenticity of audio voice…but they went anyway to use this story and ‘war with Iran’ to be made the issue of the night..
January 12th, 2008 at 6:29 amEveryone was way too eager to go with this incident as a hostile act - the Repugnicans at the debate (except for Paul) were ready to start firing; even Huckleberry was going to show them the gates of hell. Trigger-happy war-mongers that they are.
January 12th, 2008 at 7:16 amEven the windshield cowboy, Bush, called the act provocative.
Was this a trial run on a redux of the Gulf of Tonkin?
Methinks the “Filipino Monkey” was one of the audience participants in the famous FEMA news conference a few months ago.
January 12th, 2008 at 7:26 amIt makes sense to me that Iran (or any adversary) would send boats to approach the Navy ships….to probe our defenses and gain Intelligence about US reaction. As was previously stated, The Soviet and American Navies did this to each other for decades .
After the USS Cole incident, I Would HOPE that our Navy has done EXTENSIVE planning and training to prevent another tragedy involving Suicide Boat Bombs.
Iran has NO REASON to provoke an American retaliation.
January 12th, 2008 at 7:44 amFrom Lawrence Korb on last night’s NewsHour:
referring to our New Sunni allies in Iraq…
It’s really a question of motivation. Are they motivated to support the central government?
These Sunni tribes, we could have had this arrangement with them TWO YEARS AGO . We turned it down because they wouldn’t pledge loyalty to the central government. We took it this time, even though they didn’t pledge loyalty. We’re creating a long-term problem for that government, and possibly ourselves..
I know this is off topic…but it really p*sses me off. How many car bomb and IED attacks could have been avoided in those TWO YEARS. Lethal Incompetence!
January 12th, 2008 at 8:11 amBeware of an Imminent False Flag!
As Republican candidates are increasingly repudiated by the american people, these GOPhers are getting extremely “desperate”.
The ONLY way this race for President can be hacked (again!) is if the Republican candidate gains traction. The ONLY way a Repuke candidate CAN possibly gain traction is if a) there is an attack on Isreal or the US and b) We pull a “false flag operation” (again??).
The “perfect storm” in the hacker’s world is a close race where polls indicate a near 50% support for each candidate. THIS IS WHAT’S BEHIND THIS RECENT BOGUS VIDEO AND VOICEOVER.
Let’s look at the facts: Suddenly this very suspicious and poorly edited video surfaces with some barely audible/ominous voiceover (which was amateurish at best) the day before the NH Primaries where Independent voters were still uncertain between Hillary/Obama and McCain. Enter a puff piece to instill american bravado and ape-like chest thumping in the persona of John McCain (very simian creature himself, indeed!). Click on the american sense of “Fear” once again and, voila! like magic McCain’s numbers soar!
How can we be such a maleable people? How can we permit these charlatans to continue to pull our strings? We are cognizant that “all we have to fear IS fear itself” yet we fall prey to the very amateurish and bogus string-pulling of this evil GOP??
We have only had the sheer “illusion” of a government for the past 7 years….a government who has fallen down on each and every job, position, and detail they’ve been charged with performing from 911 to Katrina, from the war in Iraq to our economy and yet….and yet….hope springs eternal. I suppose that quality is what keeps a human being going and which these frauds definitely count on….I guess “american incredulity” based on some propagandized, inclulated version of what a true patriot looks like, has brainwashed even our own logic? Or is it more insidious than that?
Could it be that the mainstream media is complicit in the continued brainwashing and disinformation campaign which they are waging, as a war, against the common sense of every american? There used to be laws prohibiting this - laws where facts were facts and only the facts were reported by the media. Those days are long gone as fascism replaces our democracy.
A vote for any Republican is a vote for a continuation of the destruction of this once-great country of ours. What we cannot permit and that which is anticipated, no actually imminent is the bogus threat, the “false flag”, the GOP version of manipulation that has been and will continue to transpire as this election nears.
A vote for a Republiscum is a vote to allow the real enemies within off the proverbial “hook” for their crimes. A vote for a Republican will mean that in a very brief time we will not even “recognize” the United States of America.
January 12th, 2008 at 8:41 am#11 and #21, very large numbers of Fillipinos work in the Gulf as guest workers.
In fact, the backbones of the economies of the Gulf Arab states are made up of foreign workers. You don’t the tiny numbers or super-rich emirs that are native to the area actually work for a living, do you?
Palestinians used to make up the bulk of the indentured/exploited working class in these countries for a long time, but they made the mistake of welcoming Iraq into Kuwait. After that, they were ditched in favor of Fillipinos and others from further afield with no skin in the game when it comes to local politics.
January 12th, 2008 at 8:41 amPhillipino sailors make up a huge percentage of merchant marine crews.
January 12th, 2008 at 9:51 amPerhaps the largest single demographic.
One can easily imagine their sport with Imperial Cruisers.
This situation is just getting more idiotic by the day. We have been bombing, killing and maiming Iraqis since Bush the Old started this in 1990. 17 years of us dictating what another country should do through force of arms. 17 years. And people are surprised why there are people in the Middle East that burn our flags in the street. You have to be as dumb as a petrified turd to be surprised.
January 12th, 2008 at 9:53 amSo we stumbled toward war because of a PRANK CALLER? WTF???
January 12th, 2008 at 10:02 amMuch to do about nothing…right after Hillary wins N.H. A bushco cheap shot.
January 12th, 2008 at 10:07 amI’m quite sure the captain’s of these ships have been told to be on the lookout for a “Wag the Dog” incident and they tried to make this one into it. What I can’t understand is why these people would cooperate with orders like that. They have to be illegal and the captains have to know what will happen if one is make to stick. Do they really want to participate in starting World War III? How would you like that on your conscience?
January 12th, 2008 at 10:09 amMeanwhile Bush is meeting with the billionaire potentate that his father returned to the throne in Kuwait.
Later Bush will wag his finger and lecture Palestine, Lebanon and Iran about the benefits of democracy.
You can’t write this stuff any funnier.
-GSD
January 12th, 2008 at 10:10 amI think it was Tarbash, the Egyptian magician from the Jerky Boys.
-G
January 12th, 2008 at 10:19 amLater Bush will wag his finger and lecture Palestine, Lebanon and Iran about the benefits of democracy.
You can’t write this stuff any funnier.
-GSD
yeah, like he did FDR over the way he handled WWII……meanwhile…
We will never know if George Bush gave any thought to his grandfather’s role in the creation of the Nazi camps while he toured a memorial to the horror they produced. One of his biggest flaws is his instinctive reflex to deflect responsibility for his own failings, so it is unlikely he’d see any connection between himself, the family fortune that paved his way to power and the portion of it that came from profits from his grandfather’s business dealings with Hitler’s government.
January 12th, 2008 at 10:25 amwell, since that particular ruse has backfired, even failed, there’s
always the old standby… just days after hearing otherwise…:
U.S.: Iranian bombs rise in Iraq
CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait (CNN) — Attacks against U.S. troops in Iraq with bombs believed linked to Iran — known as explosively formed penetrators (EFPs) — have risen sharply in January after several months of decline, according to the top U.S. commander in Iraq.
Iraqi and U.S. officials indicated just a month ago that Iran was using its influence to improve security in Iraq by restraining cross-border weapons flow and militia activity. The U.S. military had said in recent months that the number of EFP attacks had gone down.
Gen. David Petraeus disclosed the reversal to reporters after a meeting with President Bush who was visiting troops in Kuwait.
“In this year, EFPs have gone up, actually, over the last 10 days by a factor of two or three, and frankly we’re trying to determine why that might be,” Petraeus said.
[…]
http://edition.cnn.com/ 2008/ WORLD/ meast/ 01/ 12/ iran.iraq/
how many clues do you need, betrayus? …
January 12th, 2008 at 10:27 amkaty, the ratchet turns another full crank.
The US will be dropping bombs on Iran before March.
That’s what Bush’s tour is about, telling all of his close dictators and potentates to gird themselves for WWIII.
-GSD
January 12th, 2008 at 10:31 amI’m not sure GSD isn’t right….
remember how they built a false case for wmd before iraq…..
January 12th, 2008 at 10:34 amBush is now paying, giving American cash dollars to Saddam’s old henchmen and is running around saying the problem in Iraq is Iran and Syria.
While Iran and Syria may not be the most helpful places, the US position in Iraq is hardly the result of only Iran and Syria.
Yet that is the mantra and the drumbeat. EFP’s. Harassing speedboats. Qods forces.
You’ll be hearing about them alot.
-GSD
January 12th, 2008 at 10:42 ami put NOTHING past these criminals…
and NOTHING they do surprises me anymore… well, THAT started
January 12th, 2008 at 10:43 amat least 5 years ago…
oh, and surely you’ve heard this latest:
Iraq parliament passes law to rehire Baathists
Sat Jan 12, 2008 1:04pm GMT
By Mussab Al-Khairalla
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq’s parliament passed a law on Saturday to ease restrictions on mostly Sunni Arab members of Saddam Hussein’s Baath party returning to public life, one of the main political benchmarks set by the United States.
Washington has been pressing Iraq’s Shi’ite Islamist-led government to pass the law in an effort to draw the minority Sunni Arab community that held sway under Saddam closer into the political process.
[…]
http://uk.reuters.com/ article/ worldNews/ idUKL1218093220080112
“stir it up”…
January 12th, 2008 at 10:45 ambusy busy busy, for a saturday…
Bush: No Guarantee on Troop Reduction in Iraq
By Michael Abramowitz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, January 12, 2008; 9:19 AM
CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait, Jan. 12 — President Bush explored the possibility of further troop reductions in Iraq with his top commander on Saturday, but he announced no decisions while forecasting that the U.S. military presence there would outlast his presidency. [duh]
Bush offered an upbeat assessment of where Iraq stands a year after he sent reinforcements to stem spiraling violence, and he said the U.S. military is “on track” to achieve its plan of reducing troop strength there from 20 to 15 combat brigades by the middle of the summer. That would make for roughly 130,000 troops in all, about the same as when Bush announced the “surge” last January.
[…]
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ wp-dyn/ content/ article/ 2008/ 01/ 12/ AR2008011201121.html?hpid=moreheadlines
they really DO think we are stupid…
i fear there are too few of us… the NOT stupid…
January 12th, 2008 at 10:50 amSounds like the Smirking Chimp has a crazy Filipino cousin.
January 12th, 2008 at 11:00 amIt could have been Sheik Yerbouty…
January 12th, 2008 at 11:27 amReports that it was carried out on order of Halfadollah and Hassan Been Sobah.
-GSD
January 12th, 2008 at 11:31 amIf the operator of a rogue radio station has the handle ‘Martian Monkey’.
January 12th, 2008 at 11:42 amThat doesn’t mean he is broadcasting from the red planet.
You know this is beyond parody…
This story is now batshit crazy insane…
January 12th, 2008 at 12:31 pmAnd people are surprised why there are people in the Middle East that burn our flags in the street. You have to be as dumb as a petrified turd to be surprised.
Comment by dlet
NAIL.ON.HEAD.
I missed your posts.
January 12th, 2008 at 12:34 pmLOLOL!!! So the heckler is a Filipino Monkey with an Ahnold Schwantzenholder voice! Man, we are truly on Bizarro World
And BTW, Ron Paul was correct on this on, even though his economic policies are a bit kooky.
January 12th, 2008 at 12:49 pmI love to see the WeeWee Fascists at FreeRepublic when their own military admits mistakes. Read below, and Gaze in the Face of The Gorgon:
http://www.freerepublic.com/ focus/ news/ 1952508/ posts?page=25
January 12th, 2008 at 1:02 pmIs Don Rickles retired yet?
January 12th, 2008 at 2:36 pmMitch McConnell’s close backing of President Bush on immigration and the Iraq war is costing him support among Kentucky Republicans. He’s grasping for whatever straw he can find.
January 12th, 2008 at 2:56 pmHow would you like that on your conscience?
Comment by bilbobaggins — January 12, 2008 @ 10:09 am
Perhaps they don’t have a conscience. Your question about how they’d feel about starting WWIII reminded me of Gen. Paul Tibbets, the pilot of the Enola Gay, and his feelings of no regrets for killing tens of thousands of innocent people. I looked up and read an interview with him from 2002. The subject of 9/11 and terrorists came up, and he said they all should be killed and that we needed to just forget about taking them to court. Funny that one of the individuals who fought for our freedoms, including our judicial system, would so quickly set aside the idea of innocent until proven guilty. From the interview it appears he would have no problem dropping nukes on locations where terrorists are located, and to hell with civilian casualties. It’s his claim that it’s just tough luck that innocent people were in the way.
January 12th, 2008 at 3:56 pmBoats=Voice=Boxes in water, what is it……..?
January 12th, 2008 at 3:58 pm“Phillipino Monkey†been operating for a while. Critical frequency for navigation safety. Radio transmissions easy to triangulate and locate. Who has been allowing/perpetrating this dangerous crap — and why?
January 12th, 2008 at 5:42 pm91. andhowe:
I was also wondering, surely the military ships have all sorts of fancy RDF gear.
In cases such as allegedly occured, does the navy routinely verify that the radio signal is coming from the appropriate direction ? That is, if they get a signal saying “I’m at 235 degreess from you” would they act on it at that time or would they first require RDF to show the signal was coming from 235 ?
January 13th, 2008 at 12:02 am