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US drone shot down over Yemen
CNN ^ | August 21, 2019 | Barbara Starr

Posted on 08/21/2019 5:13:31 AM PDT by McGruff

A US MQ-9 drone was shot down over Yemen on Tuesday by a surface-to-air missile, a US official tells CNN.

The US believes the missile was provided to Houthi rebels by Iran, said the official, who added that it was not immediately clear if the drone was being operated by the US military or the intelligence community.

The official said the Trump administration will publicly call out Iran for the incident, which was first reported by Reuters.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
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I didn't know we are involved there also?

We use to have these things called satellites that could take pretty high res pictures instead of giving the Iranians something to brag about.

1 posted on 08/21/2019 5:13:31 AM PDT by McGruff
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To: McGruff

The drone was missile bait. It was aa tool for gaining intellegence about missile capabilities.

The way to defeat the Houthi is carpet bombing a city. Kill them all


2 posted on 08/21/2019 5:16:20 AM PDT by bert ( (KE. NP. N.btyC. +12) Progressives are existential American enemies)
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To: bert

“The drone was missile bait. It was aa tool for gaining intelligence about missile capabilities.”

And now it is confirmed the Houthi’s have Anti-Aircraft capabilities and what kind of aa.


3 posted on 08/21/2019 5:29:23 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (Trump is President and CEO of America, Inc.)
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To: bert

Yep


4 posted on 08/21/2019 5:32:03 AM PDT by Centurion2000 (Coming in from the cold .... been a LONG while.)
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To: McGruff

[I didn’t know we are involved there also?
We use to have these things called satellites that could take pretty high res pictures instead of giving the Iranians something to brag about. ]


Can’t launch a Hellfire from a satellite.


5 posted on 08/21/2019 5:34:24 AM PDT by Zhang Fei (My dad had a Delta 88. That was a car. It was like driving your living room.)
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To: McGruff
Drones are much more cost-effective than putting up satellites.

And much more dispensable as well. The U.S. military has thousands of them at their disposal.

It is no "black eye" to the US to have a drone shot down. Well within the range of acceptable losses.

6 posted on 08/21/2019 5:36:33 AM PDT by SamAdams76
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To: McGruff

Next time, have them fly in pairs. An old drone flying low as missile bait, and a higher-flying drone with JDAMs to target the missile launch point.


7 posted on 08/21/2019 5:40:20 AM PDT by PapaBear3625 ("Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities." -- Voltaire)
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To: McGruff

Yemen is at entrance to the Red Sea, a very narrow entrance. All traffic going to and from the Suez Canal from the South passes within a few miles of Yemen. Iran now controls Yemen.


8 posted on 08/21/2019 5:46:41 AM PDT by Stevenc131
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To: PapaBear3625

My thoughts exactly.


9 posted on 08/21/2019 5:46:46 AM PDT by donozark (We Build the Wall Inc. (Check it out))
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To: McGruff

Literally anyone with a computer or smartphone and access to the internet can know when a US spy satellite will be overhead and able to see them - so they know when to hide.

https://stuffin.space

The above is *real time* data collected from civilian space surveillance resources - surface to orbit radar, infrared and other systems.

Drones are not easily visible to literally everyone on the planet and do not have predictable orbits.


10 posted on 08/21/2019 5:51:14 AM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: McGruff

Satellites have predicted orbital paths that allow those on the ground to hide their actions when a satellite is overhead. A drone is not as predictable and thus help in getting a better picture.


11 posted on 08/21/2019 5:53:04 AM PDT by Destroyer Sailor (Revenge is a dish best served cold. Z)
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To: McGruff

And FYI, there is no such thing as stealth in space. If it’s in orbit and bigger than a lunchbox, it’s tracked by *several* civilian organizations. That’s before we get to the government and military types watching orbit. If you put something up in space, *everyone* can see it, knows where it is and knows what it can see.

We used to have people that would keep up to date with basic technology...


12 posted on 08/21/2019 5:58:48 AM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: Zhang Fei

Love Me some HELLFIRE!


13 posted on 08/21/2019 6:00:20 AM PDT by Big Red Badger (Despised by the Despicable!)
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To: Big Red Badger

The article was started by CNN...….So you believe it’s true?


14 posted on 08/21/2019 6:05:56 AM PDT by DaveA37
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To: EQAndyBuzz

Specifically, it tells us that someone gave the Houthi some (relatively) high-altitude capable systems - the MQ-9 operates between 25,000 and 50,000 feet, well above man portable air defenses like a Stinger or Strela’s capability to detect let alone engage. Being able to engage an MQ-9 at operational altitude means that they had to have stationary or vehicle mounted radar to even detect it and stationary/vehicle mounted missile systems to engage it.


15 posted on 08/21/2019 6:09:33 AM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: DaveA37

Video and photos of the wreckage are here: https://maps.southfront.org/houthis-shot-down-us-made-mq-9-reaper-umanned-combat-aerial-vehicle-over-yemen-photos-video/


16 posted on 08/21/2019 6:10:23 AM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: DaveA37

Also not the first time this has happened:
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2019/06/16/centcom-mq-9-reaper-shot-down-over-yemen-last-week/

Centcom usually confirms it within a day or so.


17 posted on 08/21/2019 6:11:55 AM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: McGruff
it was not immediately clear if the drone was being operated by the US military or the intelligence community.

Like there's a difference..................

18 posted on 08/21/2019 6:29:47 AM PDT by Red Badger (Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain......................)
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To: McGruff
We use to have these things called satellites that could take pretty high res pictures instead of giving the Iranians something to brag about.

Not in 'Real Time'..................

19 posted on 08/21/2019 6:30:06 AM PDT by Red Badger (Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain......................)
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To: DaveA37

I’m so Cynical,
I Question My
Own Existence.
As for You,,,?


20 posted on 08/21/2019 6:34:57 AM PDT by Big Red Badger (Despised by the Despicable!)
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