US confirms drone was shot down by Iranian missile

[jolldan]

A US military surveillance drone has been shot down by Iranian forces while flying over the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said the drone had violated Iranian airspace. But US military said it had been over international waters.

IRGC commander-in-chief Maj-Gen Hossein Salami said the downing of the drone sent a "clear message to America" that Iran's borders were its "red line".

It comes at a time of escalating tension between the US and Iran.

On Monday, the US defence department said it was deploying 1,000 extra troops to the region in response to "hostile behaviour" by Iranian forces. It has already sent an aircraft carrier strike group and B-52 bombers.

The US has also accused Iran of attacking two oil tankers with mines last Thursday just outside the Strait of Hormuz, in the Gulf of Oman. Iran rejects the allegation.

It was the second time in a month tankers have been attacked close in the region, through which a fifth of the world's oil passes each day.

Tensions were further fuelled on Monday when Iran announced its stockpile of low-enriched uranium would next week exceed limits it agreed with world powers under a landmark nuclear deal in 2015.

Iran stepped up its production in response to tightening economic sanctions from the US, which unilaterally withdrew from the deal last year.

What happened on Thursday?

The IRGC said its air force shot down a US "spy" drone in the early hours of Thursday after the unmanned aircraft violated Iranian airspace near Kuhmobarak in the southern province of Hormozgan.

The drone was identified by the IRGC as a RQ-4 Global Hawk, but the US military official told Reuters news agency the drone was a US Navy MQ-4C Triton, a maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft based on the RQ-4B Global Hawk.

Later, in a speech carried live on Iranian state TV, Gen Salami warned the US that it needed to respect Iran's territorial integrity and national security.

"The downing of the American drone was a clear message to America, and the message is this: those who defend the borders of the Islamic nation of Iran will react in a total and decisive way to any intrusions by foreign elements on our land. Our borders are our red line."

He added: "Iran is not seeking war with any country, but we are fully prepared to defend Iran."

Iran's foreign ministry warned of the consequences of "provocative measures".

 

[jolldan]

 

[moviedoors]

Gulf of Tonkin called: wants it's false flag back.

 

[Sithborg]

Iran is claiming they shot down the drone. The issue is, fairly certain that they sent it to provoke Iran.

I really don't want another war. But Bolton, Pompeo, Israel, and Saudi Arabia are going to do their best to make it happen.

 

[Schlosser85]

Donald himself was seemingly trying to walk it back at his press conference with Trudeau. He said he finds it hard to believe it was a deliberate act and said it was probably "a single person making a stupid mistake".

 

[Hobgoblin]

I just try to remind myself that war with North Korea seemed almost inevitable a few years ago. Then again, no shots were being fired when we were saber rattling with Kim Jong Un.

 

[Sithborg]

North Korea isn't Iran.

You don't have warhawks eager to payback an incident from the 70's like Bolton. Or religious nutjobs who think it is important for the return of jesus like Pompeo. Or have opportunistic rivals who have the US president in their back pocket like Israel or Saudi Arabia.

 

[Lighthouse]

Donald himself was seemingly trying to walk it back at his press conference with Trudeau. He said he finds it hard to believe it was a deliberate act and said it was probably "a single person making a stupid mistake".

I think even someone as stupid as Donald Trump knows that going to war would be incredibly unpopular and his approval ratings would tank even more. He ran on non-intervention, and as much as Republican war hawks want it, I think he's going to resist it.

 

[moviedoors]

I think even someone as stupid as Donald Trump knows that going to war would be incredibly unpopular and his approval ratings would tank even more. He ran on non-intervention, and as much as Republican war hawks want it, I think he's going to resist it.

Maybe things are different post-Dubya, but historically speaking, wartime presidents do rather well don't they?

 

[Donner]

Maybe things are different post-Dubya, but historically speaking, wartime presidents do rather well don't they?

That's what I thought. Start a war and then campaign as being the only person who can win it.

 

[moviedoors]

And you know what? I bet people said the same kinda **** after Nixon and Vietnam. I mean, Nixon literally kept the conflict aflame to inflate his numbers for re-election. Everyone was appropriately horrified after-the-fact, and then the cycle started all over again.

Yeah, now that's I've chewed on it, I suspect it won't be different this time either. Iraq was near 20 years ago. That's plenty of time to forget.

 

[Marvolo]

Maybe things are different post-Dubya, but historically speaking, wartime presidents do rather well don't they?

That's what I thought. Start a war and then campaign as being the only person who can win it.

Typically yes. But we are in a situation like post-Vietnam. Americans dont really want the cost of war. And out troops have been so repeatedly abused in Afghanistan and Iraq that a war with Iran may not be popular with the troops and their family.

Also consider this. Iran has missiles, proper defense systems, and an air force, army and navy. Going to war with Iran would not be like going to war with Iraq and Afghanistan and Al Qaeda. Itd be like waging total war against Germany or Japan. America hasnt fought a war like that since WW2. The death toll and cost on both sides would make Iraq and Afghanistan look like a parking lot scuffle. Americans these days arent going to want to pay that price.
.
Unfortunately, the election is next year. If Trump does start a war in Iran the cost might not be high enough by next november to turn his base against him. And his base routinely votes against their own interests so they may continue to support him even when he is getting 10,000+ americans killed and costing america billions in military resources.

 

[jolldan]

US-Iran: Trump 'pulls back after approving military strikes'

President Donald Trump approved retaliatory military strikes against Iran on Thursday before changing his mind, US media report.

The New York Times, citing senior White House officials, says strikes were planned against a "handful" of targets.

They say the operation was allegedly under way "in its early stages" when Mr Trump stood the US military down. The White House has so far made no comment.

This comes after Iran shot down a US spy drone.

Tehran says the unmanned US aircraft entered Iranian airspace early on Thursday morning. The US maintains it was shot down in international airspace.

What do the US media reports say?

The New York Times first published details of the apparent planned strikes late on Thursday night in Washington.

As late as 19:00 local time (23:00 GMT), it said, US military and diplomatic officials still expected the strikes on agreed targets, including Iranian radar and missile batteries, to take place.

"Planes were in the air and ships were in position, but no missiles had been fired when word came to stand down," the newspaper reported, citing an unnamed senior administration official.

 

[Schlosser85]

And you know what? I bet people said the same kinda **** after Nixon and Vietnam. I mean, Nixon literally kept the conflict aflame to inflate his numbers for re-election. Everyone was appropriately horrified after-the-fact, and then the cycle started all over again.

Yeah, now that's I've chewed on it, I suspect it won't be different this time either. Iraq was near 20 years ago. That's plenty of time to forget.

Nixon also sabotaged Lyndon Johnson’s peace talks.

 

[Sithborg]

Trump confirmed the NYT story in tweets this morning.

 

[samsnee]

He wants credit for calling off a strike he approved.

 

[Sithborg]

I am fairly disturbed by how disappointed CNN seems about the lack of war.

 

[DeadPresident]

I think even someone as stupid as Donald Trump knows that going to war would be incredibly unpopular and his approval ratings would tank even more. He ran on non-intervention, and as much as Republican war hawks want it, I think he's going to resist it.

It’s generally the opposite, war artificially boosts an economy and attracts votes for a sitting president.

 

[Hobgoblin]

I am fairly disturbed by how disappointed CNN seems about the lack of war.

I felt the same way after the news about Sandy Hook broke. I felt like Blitzer was trying to hype up the body count to make it the worst shooting, as if it were a competition.

 

[moviedoors]

I am fairly disturbed by how disappointed CNN seems about the lack of war.

Disturbing, and not a bit surprising.

 

[jolldan]

I think someone needs to have a word with the Iranian leader as well and tell him the phrase don't poke the bear.



Doesn't sound good from either side.

 

[Teelie]

Iran wants to get into a pissing contest with a guy who likes pissing. Yes, this will end well.

 

[Hobgoblin]

We can let cooler heads pre...wait, never mind.

 

[Sithborg]

I mean, Iran's statements are for internal politics. And quite frankly, Trump already blinked.

 

[Hobgoblin]

"Attack on anything American" is pretty open ended. That could include any action by Iran against more or less anything. Leaves a lot of room for error, which we really don't need.