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.”
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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
NASA races to build moon base as US challenges China in new space race
Soros-backed group among liberal orgs pumping eye-popping cash into Virginia gerrymandering effort
Texas Man Lashes Out in Stabbing Attack After Hearing Bible Conversation
Blue State Senator Admits How Democrats Prioritize Illegals in Resurfaced Clip
House GOP rams through new DHS funding plan with shutdown far from over
Trump administration locks out Greg Bovino from all social media accounts
Schumer’s prized 2026 recruits won’t commit to keeping him as Senate leader
Spanberger denies ‘deal’ with swing-district Democrat as gerrymandering claims abound statewide
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
Pima County deputy accused of kidnapping woman in custody, fired from department investigating Guthrie case
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.
