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.”
El-Sayed booked for major Islamic convention alongside clerics with radical pasts
Progressives notch victory in race to replace Swalwell following sexual assault scandal
Derek Chauvin’s Attorney Makes ‘Bombshell’ Motion to Dismiss, Alleging ‘Fraudulent’ Conduct by Tim Walz and Keith Ellison
Democrats who ‘never voted Republican’ back Rogers over El-Sayed in razor-close race
Angel Dad takes major new role after daughter’s killing sparks sweeping illegal alien crackdown
Police identify suspect accused of terrorizing Philadelphia women while wearing creepy Chucky-style mask
NBA Vet Hoping to Join WNBA as First ‘Trans’ Player Says He’s Coming for Caitlin Clark’s Biggest Hater, Angel Reese
Philadelphia woman says she used stage combat training to fight off masked man chasing residents
Oil flows and Iranian economic woes give White House much-needed PR reprieve around war
Bass and Raman clash over homelessness, public safety, and Hollywood in heated Los Angeles mayoral debate
Key Democratic Senate Candidate’s Campaign Descends Into ‘Complete Chaos’
FBI raids Eric Swalwell’s property, seizes devices at airport in sexual misconduct investigation
Sherrill escalates Trump fight over voter fiasco day after Mullin praises NJ cooperation
ActBlue co-founder pleads Fifth Amendment in closed-door House GOP grilling
Ocasio-Cortez endorses Massachusetts Senate incumbent Ed Markey
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
El-Sayed booked for major Islamic convention alongside clerics with radical pasts
Progressives notch victory in race to replace Swalwell following sexual assault scandal
Derek Chauvin’s Attorney Makes ‘Bombshell’ Motion to Dismiss, Alleging ‘Fraudulent’ Conduct by Tim Walz and Keith Ellison
Democrats who ‘never voted Republican’ back Rogers over El-Sayed in razor-close race
Angel Dad takes major new role after daughter’s killing sparks sweeping illegal alien crackdown
Police identify suspect accused of terrorizing Philadelphia women while wearing creepy Chucky-style mask
NBA Vet Hoping to Join WNBA as First ‘Trans’ Player Says He’s Coming for Caitlin Clark’s Biggest Hater, Angel Reese
Philadelphia woman says she used stage combat training to fight off masked man chasing residents
Oil flows and Iranian economic woes give White House much-needed PR reprieve around war
Bass and Raman clash over homelessness, public safety, and Hollywood in heated Los Angeles mayoral debate
Key Democratic Senate Candidate’s Campaign Descends Into ‘Complete Chaos’
FBI raids Eric Swalwell’s property, seizes devices at airport in sexual misconduct investigation
Sherrill escalates Trump fight over voter fiasco day after Mullin praises NJ cooperation
ActBlue co-founder pleads Fifth Amendment in closed-door House GOP grilling
Ocasio-Cortez endorses Massachusetts Senate incumbent Ed Markey
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.
