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.”
Southern Poverty Law Center pleads not guilty as CEO vows to fight fraud case
Bipartisan lawmakers want to strip Big Tech’s legal immunity that can shield social media companies
Breaking: US Launches Strikes on Two Iranian Targets
Israeli Military Investigating After Soldier’s Picture with Mary Statue Draws Outrage from Catholic Officials
FIRST ON FOX: Top Republicans take abortion pill fight to Supreme Court, citing coercion and safety risks
Starmer fears Reform UK, Green Party gains in British election blitz
Lawyer handling key Trump litigation to depart DOJ later this month
Substitute teacher whose sobbing mugshot went viral reaches plea deal in sex case involving student
Six underage girls recovered in sweeping operation targeting notorious trafficking corridor
Man accused of Ilhan Omar liquid attack pleads guilty, may face 14-month sentence
Four States Are Now Monitoring Potential Hantavirus Cases
Examining the Self-Imposed Ignorance of Those Afflicted with TDS
Results vs resistance: Collins and Platner draw battle lines in Maine Senate race
Tennessee passes new map as Democratic politicians protest with airhorns
Left-wing local leader torched after griping about American flags, pushing ‘more relatable’ replacement
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
Southern Poverty Law Center pleads not guilty as CEO vows to fight fraud case
Bipartisan lawmakers want to strip Big Tech’s legal immunity that can shield social media companies
Breaking: US Launches Strikes on Two Iranian Targets
Israeli Military Investigating After Soldier’s Picture with Mary Statue Draws Outrage from Catholic Officials
FIRST ON FOX: Top Republicans take abortion pill fight to Supreme Court, citing coercion and safety risks
Starmer fears Reform UK, Green Party gains in British election blitz
Lawyer handling key Trump litigation to depart DOJ later this month
Substitute teacher whose sobbing mugshot went viral reaches plea deal in sex case involving student
Six underage girls recovered in sweeping operation targeting notorious trafficking corridor
Man accused of Ilhan Omar liquid attack pleads guilty, may face 14-month sentence
Four States Are Now Monitoring Potential Hantavirus Cases
Examining the Self-Imposed Ignorance of Those Afflicted with TDS
Results vs resistance: Collins and Platner draw battle lines in Maine Senate race
Tennessee passes new map as Democratic politicians protest with airhorns
Left-wing local leader torched after griping about American flags, pushing ‘more relatable’ replacement
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.
