This is a report of a genuine radio conversation between Galicians and North Americans. It was taken from
the frequencies of the Spanish Maritime Emergency channel 106, on the Galician coast "Costa Finisterre" on 16 October 1997.
It was only released to the media by the Spanish military authorities in March 2005.
All Spanish newspapers published the story and all of Spain is laughing itself silly.

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Galician: (Noise in background) ....... This is A-853 calling you. Please alter your course to 15 degrees South to avoid a collision. You are sailing directly towards us - distance 25 nautical miles.

American: (Noise in background)......We advise you to alter course to 15 degrees North to avoid a collison.

Galician: Answer Negative. We repeat: alter your course 15 degrees to South to avoid a collision.

American (another American voice): This is the Captain of a ship of the Navy of the United States of America speaking to you.
We insist that you alter your course immediately to 15 degrees North to avoid a collision.

Galician: We see this as not possible nor useful. We recommend that you alter course to 15 degrees South to avoid a collision.

American: (angry commanding tone): THIS IS CAPTAIN RICHARD JAMES HOWARD, COMMANDER OF THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER "USS LINCOLN" OF THE NAVY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE SECOND LARGEST WARSHIP OF THE NORTH AMERICAN FLEET. WE ARE ACCOMPANIED BY TWO ARMOURED CRUISERS, SIX DESTROYERS, 4 U-BOATS AND OTHER SHIPS THAT CAN SUPPORT US AT ANY TIME.
WE ARE ON THE SHORTEST ROUTE TO THE PERSIAN GULF TO PREPARE FOR A MILITARY MANOUEVER THAT COULD LEAD TO AN OFFENSIVE OPERATION AGAINST IRAQ.
...... I ORDER YOU TO ALTER YOUR COURSE TO 15 DEGREES NORTH!!!!
IF YOU DO NOT COMPLY WE SHALL FIND OURSELVES FORCED TO TAKE WHATEVER ACTION IS NECESSARY TO GUARANTEE THE SECURITY OF THIS AIRCRAFT CARRIER AND ENTIRE STRIKE FORCE.
YOU ARE AN ALLIED STATE, MEMBER OF NATO AND THEREFORE OF THIS MILITARY FORCE....
PLEASE OBEY WITHOUT DELAY AND GET OUT OF OUR WAY!!!!!!!

Galician: This is Juan Manuel Salas Alcántara. We are two people. With us is our dog and food, two beers and a man from the Canaries who has already asleep. We have the support of the transmitter Cadena Dial of la Coruna and the Maritime Emergency Channel 106.
We are going nowhere since we are speaking to you from the land. We are in lighthouse A-853 Finister, on the Galician Coast. We have no (Expletive Deleted)..ing idea of where we rank in the Spanish Lighthouse Service.
And you can take whatever steps you consider necessary and which you find sexy to guarantee the safety of your
(Expletive Deleted)...ing aircraft carrier, but you are about to split open your ship on the coastal reefs of Galicia, and on these grounds we urge you, and wish once more to issue a heartfelt plea that it is the best, the healthiest and cleverest move for you and your people, to alter your course to 15 degrees South to avoid a collision.
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