Iran shot down a US drone in the Gulf of Oman. The location is disputed. Iran claims the drone was over Iranian territory. The US claims the drone was in international air space.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard says Iran has no intention of going to war with any country but is ready according to the Wall Street Journal.
Less than a week after the U.S. accused Iran of attacking tankers, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said its air force brought down an American surveillance drone in a southern coastal region along the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC said the drone had violated its airspace and crashed into Iranian waters.
“This was an unprovoked attack on a U.S. surveillance asset in international airspace,” said Navy Capt. Bill Urban, spokesman for U.S. Central Command.
The drone was a RQ-4A Global Hawk that provides real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions over vast ocean and coastal regions, said Capt. Urban. Manufactured by U.S.-based Northrop Grumman Corp. , the RQ-4A Global Hawk can fly for over 30 hours at a time and has a wingspan of about 130 feet—slightly wider than a Boeing 737 jet. Its price tag is $130 million, not counting research and development costs.
President Trump said Thursday that Iran may have shot the U.S. drone down unintentionally, adding that it was probably someone “loose and stupid” behind the action.
“I find it hard to believe that it was intentional,” Mr. Trump said.
On a possible response to the incident, Mr. Trump reiterated that “Iran made a big mistake,” but said that “you’ll find out” how he intends to respond. Mr. Trump didn’t rule out the possibility of future talks with Iran’s leadership, adding: “we’ll see what happens.”
Crash Sight
The Drone reportedly crashed in Iranian waters. But it is not clear where it was struck or where it landed.
Call it “close enough” to be attacked, most likely purposely.
If a country wants war, it can get war.
Unprovoked Attack?
Fox News has this headline: US Navy drone shot down by Iranian missile over Strait of Hormuz in ‘unprovoked attack’.
Flying military drones over another country’s airspace is certainly a provocation.
I suggest the US provoked a response, even if the drone was in international airspace.
Is 200 feet close enough? 20? One foot inside?
Location Claims
CNN has additional coverage including UN statements and additional maps.
A spokesman for UN Secretary General António Guterres issued this statement: “The Secretary-General is very concerned about developments in the Gulf region, including the reported downing of a United States drone by Iran. He appeals to all sides to exercise maximum restraint and avoid any action that can escalate the already tense situation. The Secretary-General stresses that the world cannot afford a major confrontation in the Gulf region.”
Department of Defense Claim
Talking Down the Incident
For now, Trump appears to be talking down the incident, even suggesting he is open to meeting with Iran.
Nancy Pelosi commented “I don’t think the President wants to go to war”.
“I think it’s a dangerous situation,” said Pelosi in today’s press conference when talking about Iran. “The high-tension wires are up in the region. We have to be strong and strategic about how we protect our interests. We also cannot be reckless in what we do.”
However, she doesn’t believe President Trump wants to go to war, she said.
“There’s no appetite for going to war in our country,” Pelosi said. “I don’t think the President wants to go to war.”
No Appetite for War
Pelosi is undoubtedly correct in her assertion that the US public has no appetite for war. However, the public does not call the shots.
If the war hawks want to provoke a war and Trump is willing to go along, there will be another destabilizing war.
Mike “Mish” Shedlock
So far Trump is playing it steady and cautious. Most Americans don’t want another war that we can’t afford anyway.
Everyone who knows anything about spy drones like RQ-4A (Global Hawk) should know that it is important where it looks not where it flies. The shut-down RQ-4A was spying on Iran.
Nothing happens until much closer to the election.
Reports are coming out that Trump ordered a military strike on Iran tonight, then changed his mind at the last minute:
Looks like this is actually going to happen. Either Trump was complicit with the warmongers all along, or they’ve figured out how to manipulate him into anything. He’s right on the cusp of starting a war, just one more false flag or any manufactured provocation should push him over the edge.
A testimony to American policy strategy. In the afternoon you’re thinking cruise missiles, but after supper you’re thinking, maybe not.
I rather suspect that intelligence told him it’s too late, and now Iran has an operational nuke
Time to invade Iraq.
And bomb walls in Mexico.
And, of course, to rack up some more debt, print some more money, ban something, mandate something else, and enact some more draconian “laws……”
As well as to cheer on Dear Leader for doing it all “to protect us…..”
For our own good.
Lead on. Set an example for the army. Good luck
“I suggest the US provoked a response, even if the drone was in international airspace.”
By your standard, we should be shooting down Russian jets in our airspace. Your position will only lead to war even if you think you are anti-war.
One possible take from the recent aggressive stance of Iran is that the nuke they have been working on is finally ready, and they want to provoke the US into something so they can test it. An alternative take is that there is too much instability at home, so they want to provoke the US to give them reason for a harsh crackdown and consolidation at home.
An alternative take is Israel made it look like Iran shot down the drone. Israel tried to pull Obama into conflict with Iran. Why should they stop now.
Interesting theory, but how did Israel get into Iran to fire the missile, and why didn’t Iran say anything about it?
The US is agitating for war with Iran (with huge encouragement from Saudi Arabia and Israel), not the other way around. Iran saw what happened to their neighbors the last 20 years, any aggressiveness is meant to dissuade a potential US attack.
Trump is too much of a pussy like every bully that gets exposed. He is really no better than Obama on the international front.
So much winning.
If Iran flew a spy plane a few miles off the coast of say, Norfolk, I’m sure we would be OK with it.
Of course! That goes without saying. Even if we weren’t, we would never consider something as barbaric as shooting down drones over our own territory.
Except for the unprovoking spy planes off the coast, the June 5 fires and attacks in Iranian port cities have garnered almost no attention.
Bring back the draft! link to truthdig.com
Any military conflict with Iran would spell the end of the Q psyop. They’ve been loudly (obnoxiously, even) screaming to everyone that there will be no war with Iran. Trump’s “peaceful” label goes up in smoke when the first strikes occur.
Of course there was our sponsorship of a failed coup in Venezuela a few weeks ago, plus the continuation of military action in seven other countries (Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Somalia, and Niger). Having close neocon advisors like Pompeo, Bolton, and Abrams doesn’t exactly imply peaceful intentions either.
People should have noticed last week’s oil tanker incident that was immediately pinned on Iran with no evidence. There are powerful factions in the US, along with Saudi Arabia and Israel, that are desperate to start a war with Iran. This is Trump’s big test that will show whether or not he’ll play ball.
What are the long-term objectives of the Iranian regime? Is it survival or is it a hope that the world melts down in Armageddon so they can meet the 12th Imam who lives in a hole in the ground?
Let’s not confuse the Iranian population with the leadership. Unlike Saudi Arabi, they are generally moderates and pro-west.
The US had a good deal with Iran. Obama’s only significant accomplishment and Trump blew it up.
” even suggesting he [Trump] is open to meeting with Iran.” Trump has been saying that all along. Iran has not responded to the offer. Note that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard has claimed responsibility; the same people that kidnapped the staff at the US-Iran embassy in violation of international law. Truly a group that could be described as a loose cannon.
The IRGc has a place in the constitution which was only drafted after the revolution. They played an important role in the war against Iraq/Sadam, earning them their cred, but their role has shifted since. Saying it is the same lot as the students who kidnapped the people in the embassy is disingenuous, inflammatory, and false. Talking about international law, I don’t see you complaining about US meddling in Iran for 30 years prior to the revolution. Of course American embassy (“Den of spies”) personnel were regarded by those students as spies and representatives of the “old regime”. They were all released unharmed in the end, so their lot was a lot better than those imprisoned, tortured, and executed by the Shah and his CIA trainers/advisers.
You only forgot to mention that the torturers of the regime took refuge at their long time collaborators: the US embassy.
It would be much better to let them develop a nuclear bomb considering how moderate they are.
You forgot your “sarc” tag, hmk. Some people might think you are serious.
okay duly noted