Pentagon Says Iran Fired at Surveillance Drone Last Week

[briefcase]

WASHINGTON — Iranian warplanes fired at an unmanned American military surveillance drone in international airspace over the Persian Gulf last week, Pentagon officials disclosed Thursday, saying that while the aircraft was not hit, Washington made a strong protest to Tehran.

The shooting, which the Pentagon said occurred Nov. 1 — five days before the American presidential election — was the first known instance of Iranian warplanes firing on an American surveillance drone.

George Little, the top Pentagon spokesman, attributed the weeklong silence on the incident to restrictions on discussing classified surveillance missions. But it doubtless will raise questions about whether that silence had been meant to forestall an international controversy before the election. Had a decision been made to officially disclose the shooting, it might have been viewed as a provocative or even partisan political act before the voting.

Mr. Little discussed the episode during a Pentagon news conference only after the shooting had been disclosed by news organizations.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/09/world/middleeast/pentagon-says-iran-fired-at-surveillance-drone-last-week.html?_r=0

Not that it would have changed much with regard to the election (since I'm sure a good chunk of the electorate doesn't pay attention to the news or gets their news from Jon Stewart), but good to see that 2008 Obama campaign promise of increasing transparency has absolutely no chance of coming to pass. 

[funky49]

Plus we never got an answer on our surveillance drone that Iran seemed to have captured (via Russian jamming equipment)

[SpineyNorman]

If Iran can't even manage to hit let alone shoot down an unmanned American military surveillance drone how big a threat are they really? 





Disclaimer:

Unless otherwise noted ANYTHING I post in the political sub is MY opinion and MINE alone. It in NO way reflects my duties and responsibilities as an Admin, or the opinions and/or beliefs of ANY other Admin.

[briefcase]

If Iran can't even manage to hit let alone shoot down an unmanned American military surveillance drone how big a threat are they really? 

Yes, because that precludes them from being any other type of more serious threat. 

[Weeze]

so lets see here, the US flys drones in someone elses airspace and they shoot at it. now why shouldnt they? matter of fact i would expect anyone to blow them right out of the air/ what the hell would the us do if the roles were switched?
 remember the words of IKE on his way out the door, "Beware the miliatary/industrial complex". boy did he have that right.
 its lamost like we have all these really cool new toys and just have to use them

[briefcase]

so lets see here, the US flys drones in someone elses airspace and they shoot at it. now why shouldnt they?

From the article:

“Our aircraft was never in Iranian airspace,” Mr. Little said. “It was always flying in international airspace.”

[k7]

From the article:

it's a f*ing spyplane. i'd shoot that b!tch down as well. we talk smack about the govt. controlling media in other countries. what the hell do you think the US govt. does with our media?

if you're worried about iran, get the f*ing US to stop worrying about other f*ing countries.

fix the domestic issues, you a**holes.

disclaimer: suck my balls.

[Weeze]

now K7, are you saying you doubt 'Mr.Little"s word?
 HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! yeah ,leave to our goverment, especially the military , to tell the truth.
 shit we killed every man ,woman,and child in Viet Nam, remember? they listed it every friday on the nightly news!
or "heluuva job Brownie"
or " "mission Accomplished"!
gimme a freeaking break!

[bit_slicer]

 

A nuclear-armed Iran is everyone's business.

[Todd]

A nuclear-armed Iran is everyone's business.

I agree. I also agree with invading their air space to keep an eye on them. It's nice to know they missed us when trying to take out our drone. I hate seeing other countries dancing around the wreckage of our military crafts in celebration.

[SpineyNorman]

disclaimer: suck my balls.

Someone is Mr Crankypants today. You're not "all potted up on weed" by any chance? 




Disclaimer:

Unless otherwise noted ANYTHING I post in the political sub is MY opinion and MINE alone. It in NO way reflects my duties and responsibilities as an Admin, or the opinions and/or beliefs of ANY other Admin.

[funky49]

The radio said they fired twice on our drone. You can't even say its a warning shot, they wanted to down the sucker.

If they did shoot it down, what do you think the proper response would be? Cruise missile strike on the SAM site(s)? What do you think the pres would do?

[kbvette]

                              A drone is a piece of expendable military hardware.....un manned, the shooting down of a drone
 is not provocation for retaliation.

[HammysHangout ( Hammy )]

they are powered by gerbils.. the gerbils are us citizens under the 2012 protect gerbils act enacted by the house & senate (Obama vetoed it).

 

[funky49]

                              A drone is a piece of expendable military hardware.....un manned, the shooting down of a drone
 is not provocation for retaliation.

It's property of the USA in international airspace. This president loooves his drones. He prolly had a little cry when Iran stole that one from us.