Count Coup
The natives on the great plains of North America had a curious tradition which seemingly defies logic; a strange, primal demonstration of bravery and defiance.
Warriors would try, either openly or covertly, to approach and to touch an enemy warrior, either with a hand or a stick, then escape without harm. The touch was non-violent but the intention was defiance and a demonstration of a lack of fear. There was significant risk of injury or death should the one being touched react violently... as often happened. The point was to demonstrate you could get close enough to harm another warrior and deliberately did not harm him.
The touch was considered provocative and, some suggest, stole away the other’s fighting spirit and mocked him. Indeed, another form of this tradition was to actually steal something material from an enemy; usually a preferred weapon or anything uniquely identifiable.
The French, in witnessing this tradition, called it “count coup” or, literally translated, “counting strikes”. Many of you may have heard the expression "counting coup" before and not have realized what that entailed.
Demonstrations of bravery were very important in primitive cultures for establishing one’s status within the tribe. A warrior who was successful at counting coup against his enemies was well regarded in his tribe and often rewarded by adding feathers to his headdress or notches to his walking staff.
So what does all of this have to do with modern life and geo-political situations? Well, read this BBC news story and you tell me... do you think these guys gained a few feathers or notches?
-Mac
Iran boats 'threatened US ships'
Five Iranian speedboats harassed three US navy ships at the weekend, approaching them and radioing a threat to blow them up, US officials say.
The incident happened in the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil shipping route. The US said their ships were about to open fire when the Iranian boats withdrew.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called the Iranian action "provocative and dangerous".
Iran played down the event, describing it as an "ordinary occurrence".
"This... happens for the two sides every once in a while and, after the identification of the two sides, the issue is resolved," foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said.
Official media also reported the US statement about Iran's allegedly threatening behaviour with scepticism, implying that Washington was exaggerating the incident.
'Serious provocation'
The speedboats, believed to belong to Iran's Revolutionary Guards, came within about 200m of the US vessels, Pentagon officials said.
"I am coming at you. You will explode in a couple of minutes," the Iranians said in a radio transmission, according to US officials.
The Iranian boats were operating at "distances and speeds that showed reckless, dangerous and potentially hostile intent," said Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman.
He said at least some of the boats were visibly armed. At one point the speedboats dropped floating "box-like objects", the US navy commander in the region, Vice Adm Kevin Cosgriff said.
US sailors assumed battle stations and the captain on one of the ships was about to order an attack when the Iranian boats turned away, US officials said.
The confrontation, which occurred at about 0400 local time on Sunday or late on Saturday in Washington, lasted about 20 minutes, according to the US.
The Pentagon has insisted that the three US vessels - identified as navy cruiser USS Port Royal, destroyer USS Hopper and frigate USS Ingraham - were in international waters.
[....]
Warriors would try, either openly or covertly, to approach and to touch an enemy warrior, either with a hand or a stick, then escape without harm. The touch was non-violent but the intention was defiance and a demonstration of a lack of fear. There was significant risk of injury or death should the one being touched react violently... as often happened. The point was to demonstrate you could get close enough to harm another warrior and deliberately did not harm him.
The touch was considered provocative and, some suggest, stole away the other’s fighting spirit and mocked him. Indeed, another form of this tradition was to actually steal something material from an enemy; usually a preferred weapon or anything uniquely identifiable.
The French, in witnessing this tradition, called it “count coup” or, literally translated, “counting strikes”. Many of you may have heard the expression "counting coup" before and not have realized what that entailed.
Demonstrations of bravery were very important in primitive cultures for establishing one’s status within the tribe. A warrior who was successful at counting coup against his enemies was well regarded in his tribe and often rewarded by adding feathers to his headdress or notches to his walking staff.
So what does all of this have to do with modern life and geo-political situations? Well, read this BBC news story and you tell me... do you think these guys gained a few feathers or notches?
-Mac
Iran boats 'threatened US ships'
Five Iranian speedboats harassed three US navy ships at the weekend, approaching them and radioing a threat to blow them up, US officials say.
The incident happened in the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil shipping route. The US said their ships were about to open fire when the Iranian boats withdrew.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called the Iranian action "provocative and dangerous".
Iran played down the event, describing it as an "ordinary occurrence".
"This... happens for the two sides every once in a while and, after the identification of the two sides, the issue is resolved," foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said.
Official media also reported the US statement about Iran's allegedly threatening behaviour with scepticism, implying that Washington was exaggerating the incident.
'Serious provocation'
The speedboats, believed to belong to Iran's Revolutionary Guards, came within about 200m of the US vessels, Pentagon officials said.
"I am coming at you. You will explode in a couple of minutes," the Iranians said in a radio transmission, according to US officials.
The Iranian boats were operating at "distances and speeds that showed reckless, dangerous and potentially hostile intent," said Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman.
He said at least some of the boats were visibly armed. At one point the speedboats dropped floating "box-like objects", the US navy commander in the region, Vice Adm Kevin Cosgriff said.
US sailors assumed battle stations and the captain on one of the ships was about to order an attack when the Iranian boats turned away, US officials said.
The confrontation, which occurred at about 0400 local time on Sunday or late on Saturday in Washington, lasted about 20 minutes, according to the US.
The Pentagon has insisted that the three US vessels - identified as navy cruiser USS Port Royal, destroyer USS Hopper and frigate USS Ingraham - were in international waters.
[....]
Labels: count coup, Iran, US
posted by Mac at 10:14 PM
5 Comments:
Fred Kaplan @ Slate had this:
I am told that, at one point, the Iranian boats came within the security zone of at least one of the American warships—that is, close enough that, under the U.S. Navy's rules of engagement, the ship's captain could have been well within reason to fire a warning shot. The Pentagon's videotape reveals that at least one of the ships sounded the warning horn—but nobody took a shot.
Linky Link
Good article. Thanks for the link!
Well I am sure you read the last comment by the US officials that they doubt if the "I am coming to you" notice was really from the Iranian ships or was only a joke made by some one through a radio signals.
However the two questions remain to answer are:
1-Where the fuck those American navies doing in the strait of Hormuz. Imagin what happen if some Iranian navy come into Panama canal. What is the US reaction?
2-US is a superpower now. Lets call it the boss of the world. what all this way of rulling the world will bring us anyway. More war and clash, racism, terror, hatedness.....
US claims that want to create democracy in Iraq and Afghanistan. However its allied in the Middle East (Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Israil) are themselves among the regimes that have been always associated with militarization and opression of either their people or other miniorities. Is this war on terror a joke or another excuse for ensuring the future supply of energy for the developed countries.
The answer is up to you.
Global democracy
1- Why do American go anywhere? I don't suppose you noticed that America has a little conflict going in Iraq? Did you happen to notice that Iraq has a tiny bit of a coastline on the Persian Gulf, right between Iran and Kuwait.
2- Do you suspect the world would be any less violent if the Americans weren't playing world police?
The US might be wanting democracy in Iraq but Afghanistan is being guided by the UN sponsored NATO mission.
Tell me... do you think the world would be better off with Saddam still in power? I don't like the fact that Dubya waded into Iraq but from a slightly different perspective. Daddy Bush should have concluded business there when he had Saddam the first time so a second trip wasn't necessary.
So you tell me who created Saddam in the first place, also Alqaeda and Taliban were good guys when American needed them against Soviets and now they are evil.
Imagine that how many people who have lost their family members in these wars can become the potential future terrorists. This will never stop. If democracy was possible by war that would be great but I hope you are not brainwashed by the American Fox news stuff.
Do u know Americans actually want to have conflict in the Middle East. Guess how much weapons Uncle Bush just sold to Saudi Arabia. 4 billions and I even heard up to 15 billions now and Nicholas Sarkosy is going to sell nuclear technology to Bahrain and Saudis too. Isn't here some thing wrong? And were those highjackers coming from? Iraq or Afghanistan? no they were from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, two Americans allies!!!
Why Americans are so hostile toward Iran? Because since 30 years ago they don't want to see one independent country in the region. They like puppets such as Parviz Musharraf and Malek Abdollah and Mobarak. They did a military coup in 1945 to overthrown the democratic government of Mosaddegh and return the dictator (Shah) back to Iran. How do you expect Iran trust US while they only see these countries as a market for their goods and suppliers of oil?
Get over yourself Mac and don't let these American and Zionist brainwashing machines full u.
Global democracy
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