[sam_paine]

Dearest DoughtyObtuse, you are desperately trying to tie the different instances together as a direct analogy in all elements. You are not dense on the subject matter but you act like you're trying to be willfully dense on the conversation! =-)

They're all three (Powers/Hainan/UAVs) totally distinct incidents of course, but they can be both compared and contrasted, just like JFK, Bush and Obama. Three totally different characters, with some similarities and some radical differences.

For your topic of manned vs unmanned flight, obviously there is an opportunity to contrast what we'd be talked about now had a manned spy plane been grounded inside Iranian borders. Essentially another 1979 hostage crisis! But "ohnoez" you'll demur! "Those were diplomats at an embassy! I may be dense but how could that be the same as USAF pilots?!"

lol.

Of all the scenarios suggested, a human spy on the inside seems more simple and to the point than Iranian Star Trek tricorders jamming the signal -from above- (GPS/com antennas are on the top talking to satellites.)

[DoughtyOne]

Three totally different characters, with some similarities...

man vs unmanned
forced down vs a software or technical method
spies in our headquarters vs Chinese Airforce
diplomats vs USAF pilots????

What the heck?

We were talking about methods. Can you please tell what similarity you have in mind here, and how the hell you could now bring in our 1980 Iranian embassy staff and USAF pilots from decades later?

IT’S AN UNMANNED DRONE.