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
Newsom claims Trump administration blocked his Davos speaking engagement
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Fed’s Cook doubles down on her role after SCOTUS wraps
Mayor Frey shares highly produced video speaking on Latino radio station: ‘You’re brave and you’re tough’
Qatar and Turkey join ‘Board of Peace’ despite Israeli protest, highlighting Trump’s autocratic approach
Breaking: Trump Announces ‘Framework’ of a Greenland Deal Has Been Reached with NATO Chief
600,000 residents flee Ukraine’s capital over destruction of energy infrastructure: Kyiv mayor
Luigi Mangione case: If stalking and assault aren’t ‘crimes of violence,’ death penalty vanishes
Oklahoma man charged with threatening to kill ICE agents, MAGA Republicans online
Supreme Court worried letting Trump fire Lisa Cook jeopardizes Fed independence
‘Patrick Bateman meets Sparkle Beach Ken’ turns Davos into the Gavin Newsom show
Federal judge blocks lawmakers’ effort to force DOJ release of Epstein files
Kavanaugh warns Trump case could ‘shatter’ Federal Reserve independence in Supreme Court hearing
Watch: Scott Bessent Unleashes on Gavin Newsom at Davos, Gives Him a Painful New Nickname
CNN Panelist Issues Retraction and Apology After Going Too Far in On-Air Trump Attack
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.
