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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Army Secretary Dan Driscoll Resigns After Internal Disagreements
Ex-House Freedom Caucus chair says GOP isn’t ‘a conservative party anymore,’ but Democrats are ‘worse’
FLASHBACK: Mamdani torched for recycling 9/11 tributes after years of near-identical posts
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Top election schemes roiling key midterm races as both parties accuse rivals of trickery
Watch: Markwayne Mullin Goes Off on Reporter Who Tried to Downplay the Danger of Illegal Alien Truckers
Democrats’ generational battle erupts as 80-year-old senator faces younger challenger
Georgia cop kills beloved pet donkey in his own pasture as heartbroken owner demands justice: ‘We miss him’
Lindsay Clancy’s future could rest with ‘prosecution doctors’ as case echoes infamous Maine killings: expert
Get right out of town
WATCH: Maryland carjacking suspect plows toward cops as they open fire
Suspected DUI driver leads cops on wild chase before dramatic takedown on popular California beach
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Tensions erupt in House hearing as GOP advances anti-socialism resolution while Dems rage: ‘Silly season’
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.
