Hadnt the embassy already been breached in Dec? In addition ... 5/19 - Iran attacked oil tankers on the Gulf 6/19 - Iran shot down a US drone 7/19 - Iran seized a British oil tanker 9/19 - Iran attacked Saudi state-run oil refineries
It would really be something if the Iranians shot down that Ukraine passenger jet using their new Russian-made anti-aircraft system Another eerie overlap with MH17
Sad thing is I'm not 100% convinced it was an innocent mistake either. They knew if they shot down an airliner that democrats would blame Trump.
immanently credible. Seriously ... one attack had already been made. Think WTC. But it's seems clear the time between attacks wasn't to be 9 years.
Hmm ... that's some chess level thinking I'm unconvinced is part of their quiver. Perhaps so ... I tend to believe it was the assuredness by the Iranians we'd launch a counter air attack ... that dude in the anti-aircraft battery outside Tehran had his fangs out. I know the feeling ... but I also know target ID. Was working with a Forward Air Controller one night just south of Bagdad during "Southern Watch" (no Iraqi aviation or Republican Guard south of the 33rd parallel (latitude) My flight lead and I were doing some basic infra red targeting (not employing weapons) with an air-ground missile, and recording the pictures. (this is when we saw the terrorist training camps Saddam was housing in Iraq, by the way) Because it was night and we didn't have NVGs, we had a deconfliction plan/position reporting between us. I'd JUST made my run, reestablishing my "safe" altitude from wingie when the FAC called "HELO southbound, HOT" He'd seen a red flashing "beacon" Flight lead was 5-6 miles away ... outbound. >I< was gonna be "THE A-10 pilot to get an air-air kill at night ..." as I was pulling hard back around, arming the heat seeking air-air missile. My fangs were through the floorboard and into the slipstream by the time I got the ol Hawg turning "hot" to the target. upon further inspection ... it was an ambulance running fast down the highway next to our primary targeting site. So .... I know the feeling. But this guy failed. He's probably no longer breathing himself.
Shaark That is a terrifying story but also sorta funny. How long did it take your blood pressure to stablilize? If Iran had owned up to the tragic error it could have turned out so much better for them.
They gently fly missiles into two bases and really do minimal damage and then 20 minutes later a airliner is shot down? The coincidence is crazy. They also know that they did minimal damage and send word out that, effectively, the revenge tour is over. Makes no sense unless they didn't mean to shoot down the airliner and they just want to put this to bed.
bubba' I agree, they didn't mean to shoot down a civilian airliner. It is reasonable for them to think We would have retaliated and then an Iranian got trigger happy.
terrifying? Naw ... exhilarating .... u bet. It was howdy duty time. blood pressure/rate ... no real change, believe it or not. That's not required for the fangs in a fighter pilot. yeah ... lucy got some splainin to do which is also gonna upset that "unwritten rule" discussed in the tablet article above. gently? what's that mean? ... Unless the times of the reports are in error, it was actually a couple of hours after the Iranians' missile strike to the shoot-down of the 737. They didn't intend to shoot the 737, they DID intend to kill US Troopers, fully expecting "shock and awe" in response, which contributed to why the 737 got shot down.
Shaark I forget that that is EXACTLY you trained for. And thank you. I understand the difference between doing what you trained for and taking pleasure in killing. 2 of the hawkest Generals I have read about , Sherman and Patton, hated war and killing BUT if it was necessary they wanted to kill the enemy to keep their troops safe. So what did you say when you got back to base?
when do I go again? Perhaps I should elaborate a bit, since you opened the door. No one loves killing. Let's say that WAS an Iraqi helicopter .... the terms of the surrender were clear. communicated completely (sent/received/read-back/validated) Yes ... that is the job, and it would be the "fault" of the Iraqi government/military for violating the airspace restriction. Full authority of the President (it was Clinton at the time, you partisan screwballs) to enforce and defend. I'd have done my level best to stop that threat with an AIM 9M ... or ... the gun if necessary (but given the night ops, standoff would be preferred, closure is more difficult to gauge at night without NVGs. We do love doing the job for which we train so relentlessly (to the extent the democrats will fund it! ) Anyhow. thanks for obliging. It was an honor. Til Gabriel Blows His Horn ...
Shaark" "when do I go again?" Yet I understand and I think we all understand the difference between love of flying and love of mission versus killing. It takes a special person to do what you and others did for us and had fun doing it. Somehow I can't imagine this guy protecting us
LOL Monday night, I was in a text conversation with an airline colleague who was one of my first officers. He's currently in the Reserve flying F16s as well. He's also an aggy ... the same individual who occasionally motivates my posting here on such things. Anyhow ... he was itching to go. I said "shoot, I can prolly waddle up the A-10's ladder one more time!" It gets in yer blood, and even after 22 years, now, since my last A-10 sortie .... well. fly fight ... WIN.
This came as a result of the official admission (above) regarding the passenger jet full of people -- "Death to the Dictator" and “Death to the dishonest Supreme Leader" Which is all very odd since US media has been telling us that Iran's people are completely united behind the mullahs.
Also leaking out today is the fact the the Obama Admin/John Kerry had been communicating directly (via letters) with Soleimani, the killer of many Americans.
Michael Doran was a senior director in President Bush’s National Security Council Opinion | John Kerry: Diplomacy Was Working Until Trump Abandoned It