Not even two days after the election and the "Bomb Iran" shadow campaign is back in action.
Guardian
CNN claims Iran shot at a US drone, revealing the news network's mindset
That CNN's prime mission is to serve the US government is hardly news. But given the magnitude of these kinds of accusations - their obvious ability, if not intent, to bolster animosity on the part of the US public toward Iran and heighten tensions between the two nations - shouldn't CNN at least pretend to be a bit more skeptical and even-handed about how it is reporting these claims? Anonymous Bush officials claim Saddam is reconstituting his nuclear program; anonymous Obama officials claim Iran illegally shot at a US drone for no reason.
NYT
Pentagon Says Iran Fired at Surveillance Drone Last Week
Officials declined to speculate about whether the Iranian pilots were trying to shoot down the drone or were simply firing warning shots. But one official briefed on the episode said the Iranian planes — identified as Soviet-made SU-25 jets known as Frogfoots — carry cannon for supporting ground troops and are not especially adept at air-to-air combat.
They just hate to speculate, but....
Mr. Little said Iranian warplanes “fired multiple rounds” but missed the drone, a Predator, which has a unique silhouette similar to a giant, upside-down flying spoon, and it is not easily confused with a piloted jet fighter.
Mr. Little said the Predator was flying about 16 nautical miles from Iran while conducting a routine maritime surveillance mission. He stressed that Iran’s territorial limits extend 12 nautical miles from its shores, and that the drone never strayed into Iranian space.
you do the math.