International News Opinons

Trump Ordered, Then Canceled Air and Naval Strikes Against Iran

The New York Times reported Thursday evening that President Donald Trump ordered air and naval strikes against Iranian targets in response to the shooting down of a U.S. Navy drone earlier that day, but canceled them “abruptly.”

The Times reported:

President Trump approved military strikes against Iran in retaliation for downing an American surveillance drone, but pulled back from launching them on Thursday night after a day of escalating tensions.


The operation was underway in its early stages when it was called off, a senior administration official said. Planes were in the air and ships were in position, but no missiles had been fired when word came to stand down, the official said.

It was not clear whether Mr. Trump simply changed his mind on the strikes or whether the administration altered course because of logistics or strategy. It was also not clear whether the attacks might still go forward.

The Times added a curious detail: “No government officials asked The New York Times to withhold the article.”


House Republicans pass rival DHS plan, setting up Senate fight as shutdown set to become longest in history
Fulton County makes case for return of 2020 ballots seized by FBI
At least 2 students killed, several injured in school bus crash in Tennessee: ‘A parent’s worst nightmare’
Trump touts progress in Iran talks and success in Venezuela, says ‘Cuba is next’
Watchdog blasts BBC, CNN, NYT for applying ‘war crime’ label almost exclusively to US, Israel in Iran conflict
LA United School District scandal leads to charges as $22M scheme allegedly drained funds meant for students
Leftist Bob Costas Admits Men Have No Business in Women’s Sports: ‘Common Sense Is Not Transphobic’
Utah’s Republican Governor Signs Bill Protecting Gunmakers from Frivolous Lawsuits
White House slams ‘trash reporting’ over claims ICE chief hospitalized for stress, yelled at by Trump admin
Breaking: Tiger Woods Involved in Rollover Crash in Florida
WATCH: Trump goes viral for illustrating how to cut government waste with his favorite White House pen
Fox News Campus Radicals Newsletter: Alleged fake diplomas, Black-only programs, illegal alien groping scandal
Rubio Accuses Zelenskyy of Telling a Significant Lie About US Security Guarantees: ‘He Knows That’s Not True’
Driver passed out as self-driving car kept moving—police find more than a medical emergency inside
Popular Black Comedian Wears Whiteface to Mock Erika Kirk and Every Conservative Woman in America
See also  Atlanta airport asks travelers to arrive four hours early as ICE comes to help

Trump’s critics accused him of “cold feet.” But the fact that the administration did not try to stop the story also suggests it could have been leaked deliberately. Indeed, at least one other reporter claimed he had received similar information:


House Republicans pass rival DHS plan, setting up Senate fight as shutdown set to become longest in history
Fulton County makes case for return of 2020 ballots seized by FBI
At least 2 students killed, several injured in school bus crash in Tennessee: ‘A parent’s worst nightmare’
Trump touts progress in Iran talks and success in Venezuela, says ‘Cuba is next’
Watchdog blasts BBC, CNN, NYT for applying ‘war crime’ label almost exclusively to US, Israel in Iran conflict
LA United School District scandal leads to charges as $22M scheme allegedly drained funds meant for students
Leftist Bob Costas Admits Men Have No Business in Women’s Sports: ‘Common Sense Is Not Transphobic’
Utah’s Republican Governor Signs Bill Protecting Gunmakers from Frivolous Lawsuits
White House slams ‘trash reporting’ over claims ICE chief hospitalized for stress, yelled at by Trump admin
Breaking: Tiger Woods Involved in Rollover Crash in Florida
WATCH: Trump goes viral for illustrating how to cut government waste with his favorite White House pen
Fox News Campus Radicals Newsletter: Alleged fake diplomas, Black-only programs, illegal alien groping scandal
Rubio Accuses Zelenskyy of Telling a Significant Lie About US Security Guarantees: ‘He Knows That’s Not True’
Driver passed out as self-driving car kept moving—police find more than a medical emergency inside
Popular Black Comedian Wears Whiteface to Mock Erika Kirk and Every Conservative Woman in America
See also  Fox News poll gives Trump highest disapproval rating across both his terms

Trump tweeted Thursday morning that “Iran made a very big mistake!”, but later suggested that the “mistake” may have simply been an accident. In the double meaning of the word “mistake,” he preserved both the threat of retaliation and the possibility of a diplomatic solution.

Regardless, Iran will know how close it was to being attacked, and still is.

Story cited here.

Share this article:
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter