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.”
Sheriff in Nancy Guthrie Investigation Hit With Eye-Watering 9-Figure Lawsuit Over Another Dept. Disaster
Todd Blanche’s Nomination Takes Major Step Forward After Clearing Senate Judiciary Committee Vote
Is this Trump’s last ‘last chance’? Ceaseless string of broken ceasefires fuels doubt over Iran deal
Reporter’s Notebook: Inside the Senate showdown over Trump’s push to scrap August recess
Arizona man allegedly paralyzed by Nancy Guthrie sheriff’s deputies after alleged swatting call demands $176M
Illegal immigrant suspect charged in crash that killed police officer and his girlfriend
Left’s latest socialist darling dragged over ‘whiteness’ comments pulling in her own family: ‘Weirdo racism’
Top media outlets fail to disclose who is bankrolling their AI reporters
Watch: Oxford Debate on Islam Goes Off Rails When Man Threatens to Show Pic of Mohammed – Terror and Dead Silence Descend, Then the Fight Starts
Watch: Camera Catches Animated Meeting Between Sophie Cunningham and Trans Activist Coach of Opposing Team
Senate committee advances Todd Blanche’s attorney general nomination
WATCH: GOP senator unloads on ‘creature of Washington’ challenger in critical Senate showdown
Historian blasts Smithsonian’s activism shift after first visit in over a decade: ‘Completely different place’
Midterm Countdown: Republicans get a glimmer of hope
Washington man arrested on arson charge tied to devastating Spokane wildfire
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:
.@nytimes scooping me again. I was sitting on this information for six hours. Can confirm this reporting. https://t.co/SLgwuKeAO4
— Jim LaPorta (@JimLaPorta) June 21, 2019
Sheriff in Nancy Guthrie Investigation Hit With Eye-Watering 9-Figure Lawsuit Over Another Dept. Disaster
Todd Blanche’s Nomination Takes Major Step Forward After Clearing Senate Judiciary Committee Vote
Is this Trump’s last ‘last chance’? Ceaseless string of broken ceasefires fuels doubt over Iran deal
Reporter’s Notebook: Inside the Senate showdown over Trump’s push to scrap August recess
Arizona man allegedly paralyzed by Nancy Guthrie sheriff’s deputies after alleged swatting call demands $176M
Illegal immigrant suspect charged in crash that killed police officer and his girlfriend
Left’s latest socialist darling dragged over ‘whiteness’ comments pulling in her own family: ‘Weirdo racism’
Top media outlets fail to disclose who is bankrolling their AI reporters
Watch: Oxford Debate on Islam Goes Off Rails When Man Threatens to Show Pic of Mohammed – Terror and Dead Silence Descend, Then the Fight Starts
Watch: Camera Catches Animated Meeting Between Sophie Cunningham and Trans Activist Coach of Opposing Team
Senate committee advances Todd Blanche’s attorney general nomination
WATCH: GOP senator unloads on ‘creature of Washington’ challenger in critical Senate showdown
Historian blasts Smithsonian’s activism shift after first visit in over a decade: ‘Completely different place’
Midterm Countdown: Republicans get a glimmer of hope
Washington man arrested on arson charge tied to devastating Spokane wildfire
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.
