Ron Paul demonstrated a dangerous lack of insight into the risk of small boats vs. big military ships. In the Fox debate he suggested that it was ridiculous to believe these little boats were a threat.

Was he on vacation in October, 2000 when the USS Cole was attacked by suicide bombers in a small boat?

17 soldiers were killed because a little boat was allowed to get too close to a big ship. (Click here)

Iran, and any other country thinking about playing chicken with US military, needs to believe that the United States will not tolerate threatening behavior. This time, the Iranians were lucky that the officers in charge chose not to attack the boats that engaged in threatening behavior.

They should understand that the next time, they may not be so lucky...