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.”
Defeated Virginia Republicans regroup for last chance fight to save House majority
DOJ charges 2 Chinese nationals who allegedly ran overseas cryptocurrency scam center targeting Americans
Lindsey Graham expects Trump’s Iran blockade to go ‘global’
Google engineer stole AI secrets for China, Senate hears in explosive testimony
Pat Fallon launches bid for House Oversight Committee chairman as James Comer’s term limit nears
Suspect accused of hurling chainsaw at deputies during chaotic stolen car chase caught on video
Trump Gives Navy a Shoot-on-Sight Order a Day After Firing its Leader
Watch: Dem Congressional Candidate Accidentally Exposes the Horrors of IVF with Her Pro-Abortion Argument
Memphis dog-walker makes haunting discovery: Bones of 3 children
Overnight ‘Vote-a-Rama’ Ends with Senate Approving ICE Funding Resolution
Ron DeSantis Accepts Hakeem Jeffries’ Challenge, Prepares to Fight Back Against Democrats’ Virginia Power Grab
GOP congressman wants to add Arlington and Alexandria back to DC
Trump admin loosens regulations on state-licensed medical marijuana
Key House committee schedules hearing with embattled ActBlue CEO: ‘Needs to come clean’
Gallego investigated for ‘sexual slur’ in 2013, officials ‘unable to corroborate’
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
Defeated Virginia Republicans regroup for last chance fight to save House majority
DOJ charges 2 Chinese nationals who allegedly ran overseas cryptocurrency scam center targeting Americans
Lindsey Graham expects Trump’s Iran blockade to go ‘global’
Google engineer stole AI secrets for China, Senate hears in explosive testimony
Pat Fallon launches bid for House Oversight Committee chairman as James Comer’s term limit nears
Suspect accused of hurling chainsaw at deputies during chaotic stolen car chase caught on video
Trump Gives Navy a Shoot-on-Sight Order a Day After Firing its Leader
Watch: Dem Congressional Candidate Accidentally Exposes the Horrors of IVF with Her Pro-Abortion Argument
Memphis dog-walker makes haunting discovery: Bones of 3 children
Overnight ‘Vote-a-Rama’ Ends with Senate Approving ICE Funding Resolution
Ron DeSantis Accepts Hakeem Jeffries’ Challenge, Prepares to Fight Back Against Democrats’ Virginia Power Grab
GOP congressman wants to add Arlington and Alexandria back to DC
Trump admin loosens regulations on state-licensed medical marijuana
Key House committee schedules hearing with embattled ActBlue CEO: ‘Needs to come clean’
Gallego investigated for ‘sexual slur’ in 2013, officials ‘unable to corroborate’
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.
