Iran military shoots down U.S. drone: state TV

[TFatseas]

Somehow, I doubt the Iranian claims are correct.

[Jimbuna]

Well as of 25 minutes ago the US still hadn't responded.

The Iranians did instigate a similar claim in July.

In July, Iranian state-run media quoted an Iranian lawmaker who claimed that Iran shot down a U.S.spy aircraft near the Fordu nuclear site. Iran's Revolutionary Guard later refuted the report.

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/...134989708.html

[Oberon]

[soopaman2]

I want to see a picture of the wreckage with some kind of American markings.

Otherwise I am going to assume it was Israeli, since they use our equipment anyways.

Not saying good or bad, just seems that monkey ears Mahmoud has been trying to find a cassus belli on Israel since he came to power.

American meddling can certainly "justify" the measures him and his people dream of taking.

But Ghaddaffi was a much bigger threat? Or was he easier?

Wait until we leave Iraq, then he will really get bold

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by soopaman2

Wait until we leave Iraq, then he will really get bold

Poissibly the moment the US, Israel et al are waiting of

[MH]

Originally Posted by Skybird

However, right now this is still unconfirmed news. It cannot be ruled out that it is a staged event by Iran trying to intimidate the West or to divide it, by now claiming that it will retaliate outside Iranian borders, internationally. This wpould serve as a reminder that Europe would not be safe from Iranian retaliation in case of an Israeli-Amerian attack.

I would say that its should be more for domestic purposes.
With all the misfortunes they need to show some success and initiative.

The german chan celor also has finally willed to deliver anothe rdolphin submarine to Israel, after having blocked the deal for one year while demanding the Israelis to make concessions to the Palestinians. It was a blockade move by Merkel herself. The unfreezing by Israel of 100 million in tax funds for the Palestinians

I don't believe so.


.......

[Skybird]

NATO gets quoted with saying that it could be a drone that got lost over Western Afghanistan last week.

The loss of a drone in general now can be seen as "confirmed", I guess.

It's some extremely sensible piece of hightech the Iranians got their hands on. A present from heaven, so to speak. China, Russia will be willing to pay a lot to get a glance at it. The Iranians also will love to examine it themselves.

[soopaman2]

Originally Posted by Oberon

Standing ovation from the imperial guards. All of whom know about knee wounds.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by MH

I don't believe so.

It became clear that Israel would not change its' settlement policy in Jerusalem (even less so when considering that the new blocks that Germany complained about are located in a part of Jerusalem that would fall to Israel anyway if that controversial deal the Europeans expect Israel to accept, would become a valid treaty), which was the major object of German criticism. Building that boat, with over a third of the price payed by the German state/tax payer, means plenty of jobs being maintained, and so that "symbolic" act by the Israelis may have served as an opportunity to escape a deadlock.

Also, this year saw German arms sales going booming. The government has silently eased many former restrictions for military goods. This year's arms sales by Germany hit an all-time record. It is seen as a fundamental, drastic change in Germany's arms and military platforms sales policies.

[MH]

Originally Posted by Skybird

It became clear that Israel would not change its' settlement policy in Jerusalem (even less so when considering that the new blocks that Germany complained about are located in a part of Jerusalem that would fall to Israel anyway if that controversial deal the Europeans expect Israel to accept, would become a valid treaty), which was the major object of German criticism. Building that boat, with over a third of the price payed by the German state/tax payer, means plenty of jobs being maintained, and so that "symbolic" act by the Israelis may have served as an opportunity to escape a deadlock.

Also, this year saw German arms sales going booming. The government has silently eased many former restrictions for military goods. This year's arms sales by Germany hit an all-time record. It is seen as a fundamental, drastic change in Germany's arms and military platforms sales policies.

I believe that this money would go to PA anyway.
Netanyahu got a lot of criticism over this move domestically as well....
This was more of a warning of things to come if PA keeps on climbing the tree but at this stage it still makes no sense.
Netanyahu is not stupid even though he has a lot of morons in his coalition.
For Merkel it might be just an opportunity....or whatever.

Anyway...

[Skybird]

Damn, that drone the Iranians presented, looks almost intact.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16098562

So much for keeping secret high technology.

[Jimbuna]

'Cyber Warfare' eh?

Payback for the computerised attack on their nuclear progamme?

You always run the risk of losses when flying over enemy/hostile territory.

TBH I'm not so sure I believe them...could be a model

[Ducimus]

Obligatory.

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Damn, that drone the Iranians presented, looks almost intact.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16098562

So much for keeping secret high technology.

The PRC and Pakistan will already have men on the way. Well...it was a nice secret while it lasted...

[Agiel7]

If it's that "intact," I'm more inclined to believe that the real drone was more totaled than the Iranians had hoped, and then built a 1:1 scale model of it using Wikipedia as their reference to save face.