US Made Covert Plan to Retrieve Iran Drone (but feared to upset Iran)

Wall Street Journal ^ | 7 December 2011 | Julian E. Barnes

[JOHN ADAMS]

U.S. officials considered conducting a covert mission inside Iran to retrieve or destroy a stealth drone that crashed late last week, but ultimately concluded such a secret operation wasn't worth the risk of provoking a more explosive clash with Tehran, a U.S. official said.

See entire article for further detail.

[JOHN ADAMS]

My impulse is that this is a remarkable failure of will by our country, and that a President who wasn't a coward would have done what needed to be done to get this thing back or destroy it. But I don't have the knowledge or experience to understand precisely what would have been involved in doing that. Comments from FreeRepublic readers gratefully appreciated.

[Blado]

U.S. officials considered conducting a covert mission inside Iran to retrieve or destroy a JIMMY CARTER that crashed late last week, but ultimately concluded such a secret operation wasn’t worth the risk of provoking a more explosive clash with Tehran, a U.S. official said.

[Redleg Duke]

This is Jugears’ “Desert One”.

[G Larry]

At a minimum, they should have blown it up with a Hellfire missile.

Now the Russians will have the technology, as I’m sure they’ve already paid Iran for the wreckage.

Thanks to our Idiot-in-Chief!

[Sooth2222]

I'm not sure how one more mysterious explosion in Iran would cause a deterioration of relations with Tehran. I suspect that the Golfer-In-Chief must have had something to do with quashing this idea.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

They could have commissioned a couple of Israelis to get the job done.

[rightwingextremist1776]

A B-2 with a couple of laser guided 2000 lb bombs would have done the trick with none the wiser. The problem is not with the military’s ability to fulfill the mission but the lack of a nut sack by the “won” calling the shots.

[Diogenesis]

The undocumented one always supports the mullahs
against America.
today, SSDD.
the failure to retrieve is an attempt
by the undocumented impostor for
plausible deniability for the
Obama-planned transfer of USA assets to the mullahs.

[EGPWS]

...as I’m sure they’ve already paid Iran for the wreckage.

With deadly technology.

[Rummyfan]

What, no self-destruct function?

[DManA]

Ir never crossed anyone’s minds that these things could crash?

[bert]

It is likely there is no technology in the wreck worth fighting over. We already know that the design did not include the really secret stealth stuff.

The good stuff is where the computer flying the plane is stored. Radio controlled planes are available for $79 at walmart

[MichaelP]

Obama is an effing COWARD!

Mike

[GoldenPup]

So send in stealth aircraft and blow the damn thing up!! Use nukes, if necessary.

OR...we could send over the "bower and scraper" in chief to grovel to the mullahs and plead and whine for them to give it back!!

[McGruff]

Maybe we wanted them to capture it. And take it back to their secret bunker. And to connect up the computer to their network...Nah.

[Army Air Corps]

Ping.

[mcshot]

Yes, it seems obvious that the craft lacked a self destruct feature. Why is beyond me other then to share of our technology as already pointed out.

[Melchior]

I oncee thought that this is a set-up to make the Iranian Mullahs even more nervous. However, with the stupid admission that it was ours, and the follow-up that it was a joint military-CIA drone, it is obvious that once again we are dealing with the usual f-up. If the USA was unwilling to deny its provenance and then did not have the guts to retrieve it, they should have destroyed it. And if they didn’t destroy it the Congress (certainly not the feckless Senate) should demand an explanation from both the Pentagon, the CIA and the White House.

[arkady_renko]

Dear John,

Perhaps it didn’t crash? Perhaps it was a gift for a favor to be announced at a future time. After I leave office.

Signed,

BO

[Moonman62]

At a minimum, they should have blown it up with a Hellfire missile.

If Iran hasn't released a picture of their trophy yet, that's probably what we did.