Posted on 06/20/2019 1:44:22 AM PDT by Jyotishi
Image caption: One US official identified the drone as a US Navy MQ-4C Triton
A US military drone has been shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile while in international airspace over the Strait of Hormuz, US officials say.
Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said it shot down the drone over Iranian airspace, near Kuhmobarak in the southern province of Hormozgan.
IRGC commander Maj-Gen Hossein Salami said the incident sent "a clear message to America", state media said.
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 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.
Video caption The BBC's Mark Lowen reports: "It has sparked huge international tension"
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
The U.S. doesn't have all those military bases in Europe to defend Europe against Russia. We have those bases there to defend Europe against Germany.
LOL!
No. I'm a nationalist. "International law?" LOL.
Let me know when the U.S. Navy blockades Boston harbor to enforce our embargo on Russian gas imports.
In the meantime ... please clap.
I take it "Stuxnet " means cyber attack?
That's different and not a bad idea.
“Someone is pushing us to war.”
Here is the interesting thing. I just checked the price of oil at oilprice.com. It hasn’t budged. Recall what would have happened in the past if the rhetoric had heated this hot. The price of oil would have shot up. In days it would have been over $100. Instead, after the mining and the attacks of four other tankers, it went up $3 to $61 per barrel. This is down from about $73 late last year.
There are a couple of reasons, China, despite blustering to the contrary, is in recession and has reduced consumption. But the biggie is that thanks to fracking, the US (drillbabydrill) is now oil independent.
Thus, the president has options. Instead of immediately heading into conflict Trump is “building a coalition.” The people hit by closing the strait are only other Muslim countries.
But the controlling factor, in my opinion, is that Iran has the biggest pressure point, Kharg Island. This is where 90% of their crude is shipped from. One successful air strike and Iran is out of business for the foreseeable future. Saudi Arabia and the Emirates are standing on their shores with arms crossed looking meaningfully at Kharg and saying, “Really? Are you sure?”
I tend to agree.
In any event, let the thing develop, maybe increase sanctions, wait.
What's the derivation of "Stuxnet"
Or, a mullah's house is mysteriously destroyed.
Poor old Finland had to stave off the Nazis and the Russians.
This is what Iran does.
We dont need to go racing in to the Middle East to secure our economic energy lifeline anymore. Europe and China do . Europe and China are also big supporters of the Iran nuclear deal and they are helping Iran break sanctions so it is fitting that they are going to be the ones feeling the pain when Iran goes rouge
Its all about the loopholes baby!
“The Russian LNG comes from a new $27 billion terminal on the Yamal Peninsula in the Arctic Circleoperated by Yamal LNGa joint venture among Russias gas company Novatek, Frances Total, and Chinas CNPC. Novate is on the Treasury Departments financial sanctions list. However, the LNG shipment does not violate the prohibitions that the Obama Administration imposed four years ago because it is owned by a French energy trader arriving on a French-owned vessel (Gaselys) and consisting of Russian gas as well as gas from other European sources.”
I feel another trillion or so spent on nation building instead of a good ol fashion kick ass war and leave.
Gotta keep lining the pockets of the machine.
I think Gen Salami answers to Major Gen Bologna
A few B-52 sorties along the Iranian Coast of the Straights of Hormuz will put the Iranian military back to riding horses and using swords. But thats not going to happen. Two or more can play the asymmetrical warfare game.
But PDJT is simply waiting to let the world see the clear evidence of Iranian threat. President Trump is going to solve the Iran world terrorism problem , one way or the other, watch for it.
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