Iran says it's 'completely ready for war' after US official confirms it shot down American drone
In a major provocation, Iran shot down an unarmed and unmanned U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton drone while it was flying in international airspace over the Strait of Hormuz Thursday, a U.S. official told ABC News.
The incident is sure to trigger serious discussions within the Trump administration about how to respond to a direct attack on a U.S. military asset that goes beyond recent attacks in the Middle East that the U.S. has blamed on Iran.
Gulf crisis: US confirms drone was shot down by Iranian missile
A US military surveillance drone has been shot down by Iranian forces while flying over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said the drone had violated Iranian airspace. But US military said it had been over international waters. IRGC commander-in-chief Maj-Gen Hossein Salami said the downing of the drone sent a "clear message to America" that Iran's borders were its "red line".
It comes at a time of escalating tension between the US and Iran. On Monday, the US defence department said it was deploying 1,000 extra troops to the region in response to "hostile behaviour" by Iranian forces. The US has also accused Iran of attacking two oil tankers with mines last Thursday just outside the Strait of Hormuz, in the Gulf of Oman. Iran rejects the allegation.
Previously: Two Oil Tankers Attacked, US Blames Iran
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Corelli's A on Thursday June 20 2019, @02:50PM (8 children)
Yawn. It looks like a stupid pretense for a stupid war. Banging the drums because a piece of equipment got destroyed? At least the Maine had dead sailors, even if it was purely accidental.
(Score: 2, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 20 2019, @03:28PM
The Maine was before the time of any human still alive, USS Liberty however...
(Score: 2, Funny) by fustakrakich on Thursday June 20 2019, @03:33PM
At least the Maine had dead sailors, even if it was purely accidental.
No, no, Iran did that one too.
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Hartree on Thursday June 20 2019, @05:16PM (1 child)
The role of the media is apparent in both. For the Maine, Hearst and Pulitzer hyped (to the point of falsehood. Fake news, anyone?) the incident as it would increase newspaper sales.
The media has given Trump incredible coverage volume because his outrageous style gives them eyeballs on websites, TV screens and traditional print. "Channel T is all Trump all day forever!" Whether it's fawning or damning, it's all Trump.
We also have the phenomenon of fake news ( on both sides of the spectrum) today, too.
Add to this, we have the phenomenon of secular sainthood. Just look at some of the comments in this post. Whether it's the Trumpistas or the Obama acolytes they respond instantly when something less than glowing is said about their hero and nearly as quickly when something positive is said about their Satan substitute.
(Score: 0, Offtopic) by realDonaldTrump on Friday June 21 2019, @05:43AM
Jimmy Fallon is now whimpering to all that he did the famous hair show" with me (where he seriously messed up my hair), & that he would have now done it differently because it is said to have "humanized" me -- he is taking heat. He called & said “monster ratings.” Be a man Jimmy!
(Score: 5, Informative) by AnonTechie on Thursday June 20 2019, @08:29PM (2 children)
Remember: Iran Air Flight 655
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_Air_Flight_655 [wikipedia.org]
Albert Einstein - "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Friday June 21 2019, @12:54AM
Shhhh! We don't want to hear TRUTHS here!
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 0, Troll) by realDonaldTrump on Friday June 21 2019, @05:50AM
Airplanes are becoming far too complex to fly. Pilots are no longer needed, but rather computer scientists from MIT. I see it all the time in many products. Always seeking to go one unnecessary step further, when often old and simpler is far better. Split second decisions are needed, and the complexity creates danger. All of this for great cost yet very little gain. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want Albert Einstein to be my pilot. I want great flying professionals that are allowed to EASILY AND QUICKLY take control of a plane!!!
(Score: 2) by loonycyborg on Friday June 21 2019, @07:05AM
They really like to overthrow governments in middle eastern countries. Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan. All were were overthrown and controlled, just to make oil contracts a bit more advantageous. For US each extra dollar of revenue is worth at least 10 lives of locals. They encourage anarchy to keep control to themselves. They have all the incentives to weaken those countries. Middle east is cradle of civilization, and it always has a potential to get their power and primacy back. Unless its governments are overthrown and control is transferred to "Islamists" who never have read Quran and even don't know how to pray properly. If they overthrow government in Iran who will come to power this time? Satanists?