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Op-Ed: Iran situation goes from bad to worse

Global Hawk drones. Photo: Northrop Grumman

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Iran shot down an American drone on Thursday, supposedly over international waters, which the United States deemed an “unprovoked attack” in the Strait of Hormuz. It’s a further escalation of rising conflict between these countries.

In the aftermath, an American reprisal airstrike against Iranian missile defense systems was first approved, then canceled, by President Trump. Too many leaks from Washington insiders show the Iranians the opposite of what the U.S. hopes to project. Rather than demonstrating restraint, this waffling on a response tells Tehran the U.S. is fragmented and weak.

And the use of the sophisticated but aging BAMS-D RQ-4A Global Hawk drones against “a near-peer adversary” is setting the stage for American drones to be shot down with alarming regularity.

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Comments

Join our community. To comment on this article please join/login. Here's a sample of the comments on this post.

  • Daniel

    That idea, has crossed my mind.

  • Daniel

    Very well written article. Agreed, that the deep state, and their opposition to this President at all cost, with all of their leaks, has been harmful to the country. It would make no sense at all, if the Iranians used the S-300 for a big, super slow easy target like the global duck.

  • Wilson G

    I have to wonder if the "We almost fucked your shit up" stance is a calculated attempt to warn the Iranians that we're serious but at the same time tell the world that we're trying to avoid conflict. And... also not look like a warhawk to the public in this country which is a bit weary of war at this point.

  • HoldingII

    Given Trumps track record of leaking information to see what turns up from it, I'd practically guarantee it was on purpose. Trump would struggle greatly come next election if he put us back into M.E. conflict, and he knows it. The anti war campaigning is a lot of what got him elected, the last thing he wants is a protracted war with Iran.

  • Brett S

    Putin is just LOVING this. A clear threat has been posed to the oil market which would swing profit his way again, and our nose is being tweaked in the process. The only problem with supporting Pandoras box is that who is to say the Iranians wouldn't do damage to Russian interests when they get backed against the wall. We are showing mild restraint when they want a fight. If they can't punch us, they may have to aim for someone within their reach and that introduces a wild card. The Iranians are struggling to remain pertinent as they pump their chest in hopes of sanctions being raised. Another article here suggested they are following pages from the Russian book of state craft in recent years, and on this I agree: both are exploring the Grey area right up to the edge of armed conflict. I think we have a feel for Ivan after many years. I don't trust that we can predict Ali Irani with so many direct ties to terrorists. They want our attention and could very well escalate to a point of international response. Imagine, for example, what would happen if an oil tanker sailed into port near a population center and popped? Dirty bomb area denial? An actual fissile event? Does Ali have restraint against these acts?