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
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Artemis II pilot Victor Glover’s daughter steals spotlight in viral tribute: ‘First daughter of the moon’
Yale Athletics Scandal: Admin Allegedly Forced Official to Retire to Make Room for Top Hire’s Lesbian Lover
Misconduct allegations dog Swalwell as Dem rivals seize opening in California governor’s race
Florida woman who posed as nurse and treated more than 4,400 patients without a license avoids jail time
Watch: Gov’t Exposed Spending £150k to Help 2 Foreign Child Molesters Fight Their Rap – We’re Committing Cultural Suicide
Democrats reject measure targeting dark money and AIPAC at spring meeting
Mamdani ripped after conceding key campaign pledge won’t happen this year
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Putting Iran in Perspective: Have Americans Lost the Stomach to Fight Those Who Want Us Dead?
House Dem leaders open door to 25th Amendment after rank-and-file push for Trump’s removal
Rutte jokes about calling Trump ‘daddy’ rather than commenting on future of NATO
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche seeks death penalty for three MS-13 gang members
Rogue Dem bucks party on Trump war powers, calls Iran ‘47-year-old war crime’
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.
