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
Trump returns to National Prayer Breakfast as faith takes center stage in second term
Republican who said Sen Cassidy ‘sucks,’ gets Trump endorsement after ditching Senate bid for House run
Teachers union leaders spent thousands at swanky resorts
Bodycam shows NYPD officer shooting man with knife as Mamdani calls for no criminal charges
Georgia GOP Rep Barry Loudermilk to retire, adding to wave of House exits
More than 200 people evaluated in Tennessee after carbon monoxide leak infiltrates university facility
FBI arrests 55 in massive drug ring with alleged China supplier flooding US streets with fentanyl
Hochul primary challenger picks democratic socialist, once arrested for harassment, as running mate
DC Democrats Turn Their Backs on the Clintons: ‘They Bring Nothing But Baggage’
Massive student immigration protest turns violent in downtown LA; dispersal order issued: police
Government lawyer who told judge ‘this job sucks’ sent back to DHS
Democrats say Clintons’ agreement to testify undercuts subpoena push, won’t bring new Epstein answers
Baltimore’s progressive mayor calls reporter ‘racist’ in heated exchange over luxury taxpayer vehicle
Joseph Gordon-Levitt slams Big Tech for sextortion, threats to children while calling for key internet reform
New York subway hearing erupts as MTA boss snaps ‘shut up’ amid grilling over guards letting fare jumpers walk
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.
