Latest Breaking News
In reply to the discussion: Iranian boat fired missile at US drone prior to tanker attack, US official says [View all]Ford_Prefect
(7,895 posts)He said they took incoming fire before the explosion.
The Reaper is a very well armed, remotely piloted attack aircraft which is well capable of attacking ground and sea targets. They are not easily tracked by radar since they are smaller than a typical single-engine aircraft. Being piloted remotely there are no radio conversations to be overhead, either. Just sayin'...
I feel it is far more likely this was a provocation provided courtesy of our friends the Neo-Cons, or an agent of their friends, or an interested party stirring mischief. Iran would not attack a Japanese flagged ship while Abe was meeting with them. They want to trade with Japan and can gain nothing by such actions.
So what we have is something that neither walks like a duck nor quacks like one.
However, Pompeo claims there is Intel that confirms Iran as the fowl in question. A man who has previously disputed with Intel agencies on other issues now insists they have proof which we MUST believe without question. The last time I recall the same voices saying this we were told to believe that WMD were still in Iraq and pointed at the USA. I also note that neither the proof nor the source of that proof has been made public.
Kennedy had U-2 photos of missile installations in Cuba to make his case. Yet with all the US military patrol aircraft, ship, and land-based radar, satellite and Awacs monitoring of the area in question, which is among the busiest commercial sea lanes, we have no record of any kind at all. That dog don't hunt.