Iran called Trump's bluff

The shootdown of the RQ-4 surveillance drone did not happen in a vacuum. Other events preceded this event, including Trump's foolish mistakes and his high risk attempts to provoke Iran.

After foolishly withdrawing from the nuclear deal with Tehran struck by the Obama administration, which permanently barred Iran from making a nuclear weapon, Trump ratcheted up sanctions — including, in April, a move to shut down Iran’s remaining oil exports.

The only peaceful avenue that Trump offered out of this economic vise was the acceptance of a dozen draconian U.S. dictates that would completely reverse its foreign policy, essentially calling for regime change.

On May 5th, Trump ordered a battleship-carrier strike group (CBG), led by the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln, and a bomber task force, including B-52s, deployed off Iran’s coast.

Five days later, on May 10th, the Pentagon announced a second display of force: the U.S.S. Arlington and a battery of Patriot missile systems would join the Abraham Lincoln. The Arlington carries U.S. Marines and an array of aircraft, landing craft, and weapons systems to support an amphibious assault.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Advisor John Bolton are both war hawks when it comes to Iran, and both have called for regime change. To say their statements have been provocative is an understatement. Iran assumes the two are speaking for Trump, despite Trump's statements to the contrary. Trump's penchant for wanting it both ways is well known to the Iranian leadership. Since actions speak louder than words. They take such rhetoric with a grain of salt.

The surveillance capability of the RQ-4 drone include high-resolution radar and long-range sensors with long loiter times over target areas. It can survey as much as 40,000 square miles (100,000 km2) of terrain a day, an area the size of South Korea.

The Pentagon says the Global Hawk was a little more than 20 miles off the coast of Iran. It does not matter if it was 50 miles. The drone's mission was to spy on Iranian facilities, and that is what it was doing when Iran shot it down.

Iran's territorial waters extend out twelve miles from the coast. That is a distance of eight miles between the territorial limit and the point of attack according to the Pentagon. At such a small distance, miscalculations can easily be made.

Also, it can be argued that Iran has a legitimate gripe when it comes to the U.S. spying on their territory. Would Trump be in an understanding mood if Iran was spying on the U.S. 20 to 25 miles off the coast of New York?

"I think that someone under the command of that country made a big mistake,” Trump said.

Possibly someone under the command of the Pentagon may have made a mistake when he ordered that RQ-4 up to provide surveillance of Iran.

Trump does not want to believe the Iranian government did this. “I find it hard to believe it was intentional.”

It was intentional, and the Iranian government is crowing about it. Perhaps, Trump is finally comprehending the repercussions of his decisions.

 

According to the military, the drone was in international airspace.

 

War with Iran would be an act of treason against the American people and our diplomatic and economic interests

 

I don't believe we can convict the Ayatollahs of treason against our government.

 

Leftists will complain if Trump responds to Iranian aggression.

And leftists will complain if he does nothing.

This is why we don’t listen to leftists.

 

treason? how so?

 

Maps tell the whole story. We are talking about very small distances separating opposing forces.





In view of the tensions between the two sides, why in the world did that American commander order up that RQ-4? In my view that was a horrible decision and others will pay for that commander's mistake. If this leads to a war, that would be catastrophic.

 

Reply from a typical Trump fan.

Easy to see where Trump gets his followers. Geez!

 

Most likely so they can track the Iranians to prevent them from attacking more ships. Which also probably why Iran shot it down.

The distance across the straight is a bit over twenty miles. It appears that the point where it was shot down is closer to UAE than Iran. International airspace is usually considered twelve miles beyond the shores. Since it was closer to UAE than Iran, it would not have been in Iranian airspace. The navigational accuracy of that drone is most likely less than ten feet using GPS.

 

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted Wednesday: “Trump does not want war with Iran.”

Trump withdrew the U.S. from the nuclear deal with Tehran

In an interview with Time, Trump described what kind of provocation he believes would justify military action. "I would certainly go [to war] over nuclear weapons."

Trump ratcheted up sanctions — including, in April, a move to shut down Iran’s remaining oil exports.

Trump offered up a dozen draconian U.S. dictates that would completely reverse Iran's foreign policy, essentially calling for regime change.

On May 5th, Trump ordered a battleship-carrier strike group (CBG), led by the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln, and a bomber task force, including B-52s, deployed off Iran’s coast.

Five days later, on May 10th, Trump ordered a second display of force: the U.S.S. Arlington and a battery of Patriot missile systems would join the Abraham Lincoln.

Trump does not want war with Iran.

 

According to your logic, if the police add more policemen to their force and go to a high crime area, they are doing it so there will be more crime.

We are more likely to prevent a war by having overwhelming force than not having enough force.

 

Aside from being smarter than literally everyone in the military, any other inside information to offer?

 

According to some informed people the drone was inside the Iranian airspace.The Pentagon guys were just arrogant.They believed that the Iranians were incapable of detecting that drone flying in a stealth mode.Everyday you learn something.This was an expensive lesson.

 

It is not a stealth aircraft. I suspect that the Pentagon would know this.

 

Well this is just sad another thread full of leftist angst sad guesses having little to do with anything other than Trump hate. Id bet dollars to donuts that had Trump said the Drone was in Iranian airspace Sandy et al would still be saying he was lying. It is increasingly becoming like dealing with frustrated three year olds.

 

Gulf of Tonkin sound familiar?

 

I thought you had a military background? There is no such thing in the world as a "battleship-carrier strike group". No nation on Earth, including the U.S. has battleships in service.

good lord.

 

I would say invaluable lesson

 

Of course,it goes without saying.Iranians aren"t mugs like starved and ill equipped Iraqi army were.Anyone thinking that the war against Iran would be a walk in the park is completely deluded.The war is winnable but at super high cost for ordinary folks.We shouldn"t be fighting Bibi's wars.

 

And according to some "Informed People" Santa took over control of the drone from his mobile radio sleigh platform.

 

I just heard on the radio Chuck U Schummer opining his fear that the President might "bumble" us into war with Iran. So helpful a comment.

https://www.msnbc.com/mtp-daily/wat...n-may-bumble-into-a-war-with-iran-62359621923

 

Or the USS Maine?

 

A war with Trump at the lead would be a disaster. Trump is no leader.

 

All evidence to the contrary.
I think Trump is a better leader than any other living US politician of which I know. I do think war with Iran would be a bad thing. And I want out of the other mid east wars ASAP.

 

I would make one not so minor correction to this good post. Bolton and Pompeo are not hawks, both are warmongers itching for a fight. Any fight will do, just so we get to see American bombs exploding on our flat screen TV's. I guess Trump feels playing good cop - bad cop on an international stage is just more theater to make him out to be a hero.

It's obvious how this will end. The bad cops will lose when fearless leader announces his inspired deal (that nobody will ever see) that staves off a war and saves the day. Drum roll please.