Sections

Foreign Policy

Trump: 10 minutes away from war with Iran

(U.S. Air Force photo Tech. Sgt. Samantha Mathison/Released)

by ·

The New York Times and Newsweek have both reported that President Trump ordered retaliatory strikes against Iran for their downing of a Global Hawk drone over international airspace in the Persian Gulf. Trump confirmed this via Twitter, writing:

We were cocked & loaded to retaliate last night on 3 different sights [sic] when I asked, how many will die. 150 people, sir, was the answer from a General. 10 minutes before the strike I stopped it, not proportionate to shooting down an unmanned drone. I am in no hurry, our Military is rebuilt, new, and ready to go, by far the best in the world. Sanctions are biting & more added last night. Iran can NEVER have Nuclear Weapons, not against the USA, and not against the WORLD!

On one hand, it is interesting that the strike was 10 minutes from occurring, with U.S. aircraft already in the air before the president fully understood the nature of the strikes he had authorized and called them off. The president’s National Security Council appears to have been in favor of the strikes, including Pompeo, Bolton, and Haspel. Trump’s rationale for calling off the attack makes sense, as we’ve lost drones before without taking lethal action against those who shot down or destroyed them.

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO CONTINUE READING.

Your subscription is important and supports our editorial integrity. Advertisers are sometimes afraid of being associated with controversial news topics, and your subscription is vital to ensuring we can continue to publish the courageous news we are known and respected for.

Get Insider Access and Expert Analysis Today

SUBSCRIBE NOW

or Log In

BECAUSE, FACTS DON'T TAKE SIDES

Your Subscription Supports Honest News Efforts

TRY 4 WEEKS FOR $1.99

Comments

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

  • Daniel

    No surprise from me. Or anyone else that’s been paying attention to Trump. Dude doesn’t want a war, but he will kill every last one of them, in order to safeguard the country. And if it comes to war, he will take advantage of our advantages, and kill the shit out them, rather using green our guys as sacrificial pawns, so Mrs Muhammad can vote.

  • CT Yank

    Trump is one cool customer. The whole reason why they are goading us to retaliate is oil futures will skyrocket and give Iran, VZ and by extension Putin, Cuba and the Chinks the ability to finance their rogue regimes through oil profits. As the US floods the market with domestically produced oil which squeezes them into economic submission, Trump and the US should expect the shenanigans to continue.

  • Alan t

    Truth

  • Mason

    What is his threshold? 5, 10, 80 people? Regardless glad he called it off. Good for him. No more eternal war.