Iranian drone plane buzzes U.S. aircraft carrier in Persian Gulf

[Minstrel Boy]

Iranian drone plane buzzes U.S. aircraft carrier in Persian Gulf
19:06 | 30/05/2006

TEHRAN, May 30 (RIA Novosti) - A pilotless Iranian reconnaissance plane circled for 25 minutes over a U.S. aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf before returning safely to its base, a senior Iranian official said Tuesday.

"Our pilotless reconnaissance plane flew over the USS Ronald Reagan in the Persian Gulf unnoticed to the Americans for 25 minutes," the official said, according to Iran's Fars agency.

He did not say when the flight took place, but added that U.S. radars picked up the unmanned aerial vehicle after 25 minutes, and that four USAF fighters and two helicopters were scrambled to intercept it. However, the Iranian plane had already crossed the border back into Iran and landed at its base.

"This points to holes in the U.S. military reconnaissance systems deployed in the Persian Gulf," the Iranian official said.

Novosti

[paparush]

1. Repeat after me... Gulf of Tonkin, Remember the Maine, etc...

[The Stranger]

5. You beat me to it.

Who was the "Iranian official"?

Overheard: "Paul Wolfowitz! Take off that fake beard!"

[katty]

35. exactly

[cantstandbush]

52. You mean to tell me that those backward Persians have drones?

NOooooo!!! Say it isn't so. You know damn well we have to attack those WMD drones.

[BikeWriter]

55. MUSHROOM QUICHE OVER AMERICAN CITIES!

We're doomed!

[Selatius]

2. Maybe the US government wants Iran to attack the fleet?

This way, the Neocons have all the justification they need to force the generals on board the war train to Iran.

Leave holes in your defenses. Let them come through the lines and hit you. It almost sounds like a recipe for what happened on 9/11 as well. Leaving gaping holes in the wall to let them come through.

[Minstrel Boy]

4. quite plausible

I have a hard time believing the drone was undetected for so long, so close. By not reacting, the US may be encouraging more provocative measures from Iran.

[Posteritatis]

31. Another possibility

would be that they're feigning holes to get the Iranian military overconfident. If they think a UAV can shadow the carrier for a half hour, then if push comes to shove they'd be more likely to perform the particular idiocy of expending some of their better aircraft in a strike on the fleet during hostilities. If I were commanding the carrier and saw the thing coming, I'd be torn between intercepting it on the one hand, and pretending not to have noticed on the other.

If Iran actually did manage to count coup on a carrier - a new one, at that - then I'm not sure if I should be worried about US capabilities or impressed at Iranian ones. Possibly both.

It's also a Russian news site citing Iranian sources, so the whole thing could also simply be so much ass-talkery, though.

[Terran1212]

45. Just like they bombed Iraq in 2002 just to try to provoke them

The people blown apart by those attacks -- I guess they don't matter.

[Selatius]

47. Just numbers on a spreadsheet...like all of us n/t

[katamaran]

61. That's exactly how I think the whole thing will be started

If we don't have a staged terror attack in the US blamed on Iran, to rally people, then I think we would seriously stage or provoke one on the navy in the Persian Gulf. I can see a "previously unknown Iranian fighter jet" striking a ship. Or even more sinister, a Sunburn missile (which we supposedly have no countermeasures for). A carrier would be the most symbolic target...the pride and crown jewels of American naval might. Maybe one of the ones slated for retirement in the next few years. I don't know if the JFK is over there right now, but add insult to the Democrats by taking out the carrier named after one of our heroes....

[FreakinDJ]

3. Russian News agency

Not that I couldn't believe the story, i would rather see it coming from a more credible source

[Minstrel Boy]

6. Novosti's reporting it as the claim of an Iranian official,

so it's newsworthy to that degree, whether it actually happened or not.

And Novosti's pretty good. It's not Pravda.

[seemslikeadream]

23. not the NYT

:hi:

[FreakinDJ]

27. I figured it to be a fluke

[yourout]

7. Bullshit......anything remotely resembling a plane would not...

get within 10 miles without being shot down.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

10. you have to see it to shoot it.

WE have problems spotting the F111 and the B-2 ourselves.
Does anyone think that a transparent vehicle could be built by the Russians? especially given their superb engineering skills with other flying equipment? It is not as though stealth technology is secret anymore.
Make it small enough, quiet and radar invisible, and yeah, they can circle all they want.

[skypilot]

11. "...unnoticed to the Americans for 25 minutes..."?!?!

This would be less than reassuring to say the least. But the story is probably BS as others have stated.

[Ezlivin]

13. We don't even see OUR stuff

As a poster noted above, we often do not see our own stuff.

I participated in a number of Naval exercises. My submarine was one of the oldest in the fleet, yet we managed to sink every one of the newest, hottest surface fleet ships with all their fancy ASW (anti-submarine warfare) equipment.

They even order us to make "noise" as to be more easily detectable. It still didn't work. We "sank" them all.

Part of having a bad-ass armed force is convincing others that you have a bad-ass armed force. Bluffing goes a long way. (Read up on how Hitler managed to rearm Germany after World War I. He bluffed the hell out of the rest of the world.)

[MADem]

22. I think you're probably right--remember this, from way back in the day?

http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/military_blunders/mb_iasd.html

Summary: On patrol in the Persian Gulf, the USS Vincennes shot down an Iranian passenger jet that it had mistaken for a hostile Iranian fighter aircraft. U.S. Navy Captain Will C. Rogers III ordered a single missile fired from his warship, which hit its target and killed all 290 people aboard the commercial airbus. The attack came towards the end of the Iran-Iraq War, while U.S. vessels in the Persian Gulf had been patrolling to ward off Iranian attacks on Kuwaiti oil tankers. The international community was outraged by the American attack on a large civilian aircraft, but the Pentagon and White House defended the action. The United States claimed that the aircraft was outside the commercial jet flight corridor, flying at only 7,000 feet, and on a descent toward the Vincennes. One month later, U.S. authorities admitted that both the Vincennes and the airbus had been within a recognized commercial flightpath, and that the Iranian jet was flying at 12,000 feet and not descending. The U.S. Navy's final report blamed crew error caused by psychological stress on men in combat for the first time.

When you're in the Gulf, you tend to be hypervigilant, even when we aren't "at war" as the Monkey would say....

[katty]

36. all the earmarks of NO scrambled jets ASAP on 9-11

[hunter]

15. Unmanned. Probably smaller than a bird on radar.

You can't shoot at everything.

[Xithras]

24. It probably did look like a bird.

If it's a recon plane, I assume that it's prop driven. Something like that could be built small, with a wingspan of 6-10 feet, not that much larger than a big sea bird. Anyone looking on radar would simply see a small, slow moving target inbound, and the target would appear to be a bird. Since there are sea birds EVERYWHERE in the ocean, it wouldn't even raise an eyebrow.

[puerco-bellies]

58. I was an OS on a U.S.S. Guided Missile Destroyer for 2 Persian Gulf Cruses

There are conditions in the Persian Gulf that can clutter a radar screen. I manned hundreds of hours on AAW and SSW radar scopes and have seen a great deal of clutter in that area. Normal aircraft are quite detectable but remember drones are often constructed using balsa wood or plastic material airframes which are HARD to detect. Couple that with the clutter generated by the sand based dust that is always prevalent in the persian gulf and it is easy to fly a small drone undetected for some time near any fleet asset.

During the Iranian hostage crisis we were overflown daily by an Iranian P-3, which we would take pictures of, and fax to the Pentagon. We were concerned with the "hard-points" which would be switched between intel gathering and harpoon launching almost on a daily basis. Rules of engagement do not allow anyone to shoot down an aircraft in international airspace. A "hot-dog" skipper shot down an Iranian passenger plane during that time period, killing innocent men women and children.

[VegasWolf]

8. Those new Russian toys must be nice that the Iranians are buying. nt

[Gregorian]

9. Iran. Iran. Iran... It's the new corporate mantra.

I think back to the recent past- Iraq. Iraq. Iraq. WMD. WMD. WMD. Saddam. Saddam. Saddam...


Oh they're so fixated on IRAN!


Darfur doesn't get two seconds of time. Fuch these corporate fascists.

[leQ]

12. i wonder how many people realize just how different iran & iraq are

they are two completely different races.

[arcane1]

19. in reality, they're as different as Eurasia and Eastasia

in propaganda, they're as identical

[coalition_unwilling]

43. Iran also happens to have 1,000,000 soldiers in its army

plus, according to various reports, 40,000 trained suicide bombers. Just in case we decide we haven't had enough yet. Oh, yeah, I forgot, add in Muqtada al Sadr's Mahdi Army in Iraq, just in case we decide to attack Iran.

[bdamomma]

62. Iran is alot bigger than Iraq

this is just madness.

[Name removed]

28. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Rex]

14. So nice of the Iranians to point out security holes!

What a nice bunch. Now why are we going to war with them?

[OKNancy]

16. Earlier this month, Iran was supposedly trying to get this technology

I seriously doubt they acquired it in three weeks.
I imagine this is ( untrue)propaganda.

[Minstrel Boy]

17. Here's a story

from May 16 about maneuvers in Fars province to test new equipment, including drone aircraft. Notably, Novosti claims the report of over-flying the Ronald Reagan to have been released through Iran's Fars agency.


Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar said that some of the new equipment produced by the Ministry of Defense would be tested in a maneuver by the army which is underway in Fars Province, according to MNA.

“Various items of domestically produced equipment are usually put to the test in maneuvers held by the armed forces,” he told reporters after opening the production line of the Defense Ministry’s new generation of wireless communications equipment.

Mohammad-Najjar noted that the new equipment is to be used by the ground and air forces, adding that other equipment has been produced by the Defense Ministry for naval vessels, armored vehicles, and aerospace applications, details of which will be made public at the appropriate time.

The Defense Ministry will also be providing the armed forces with drone aircraft and electronic equipment for controlling the borders, he added.

http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=42905&NewsKind=Current%20Affairs

[arcane1]

18. reminds me of the plan to send a fake UN plane over Iraq...

in hopes that Saddam would fire at it, prompting a U.S. response

[TomInTib]

20. REMEMBER THE PUEBLO!!!

Last year, N Korea towed that boat all the way around the peninsula and up the river to Pyongyang.

Right under our noses.

[bigluckyfeet]

21. A Russian Plane

Has flown over a US carrier before and took its pic,and I believe they e-mailed it to the ship.

[driver8]

25. My dad is a retired Navy Chief (cryptotech) and had three good

friends on the Pueblo when it was captured.

One of his friends would never talk about it -- ever. Another of his friends would get a few drinks in him and tell you anything you wanted to know. He was one of the guys who gave the middle finger in a photo that was sent back to the States. They told the Koreans it meant "good luck" in Hawaiian. When the Koreans found out what it really meant, they beat the shit out of these guys.

[Minstrel Boy]

29. Never heard that story before

Thanks.

[driver8]

44. That's the picture I was talking about. My dad's friend is in

the first row, third from the left.

[IndianaGreen]

30. The US Navy treated Cmdr Lloyd Bucher like shit

Bucher was a hero, and yet he was treated by a pariah by a bunch of desk admirals who would have probably cracked had they found themselves in Bucher's shoes.

Shame on the Navy!



http://www.biblio.com/books/17263677.html

[driver8]

46. You are absolutely right. It was a disgrace the way the Navy

treated this man.

He died a year or so ago and I was reading his obituary in the LA Times. The obit said that Bucher lived in San Diego and was an artist (painter). The article mentioned that Bucher would talk to anyone, anytime about the USS Pueblo.

You would think that someone who was treated the way he was would shy away from the public...but he didn't. He was quite a man and, from what I hear, quite a Commanding Officer.

[IndianaGreen]

26. It would be ironic if Iran were to sink the Ronald Reagan

with one of their supersonic cruise missiles or cavitating torpedoes. Iran would never be the one to fire the first shot, but if Bush orders an attack on Iran, we can be certain that Iran will strike back. A US-Iran War will make Iraq look like a picnic.

[leftchick]

32. I imagine they could sink a few US ships

oh god what insanity. :(

[IndianaGreen]

33. They can also hit Saudi Arabia's oil shipping facilities

This would not be the glorious victory that the Freepers anticipate.

[sarcasmo]

38. End Timers are waiting for this. I have heard numerous Religious whack

jobs tell me about the end of times coming.

[annabanana]

42. I think next Tuesday is the day...

06/06/06, after all.

[hunter]

40. War at home, I'm sure.

Don't go to the gas station, it'll be ugly there.

I was waiting in line to buy gas during the 1979 shortages when the station ran out of gas and a riot nearly broke out.

Damn. Before the police showed up I was seriously thinking about abandoning my car and running away.

[leftchick]

41. and that is not all

They Can close the strait of Hormuz as well. It sounds like Armageddon all right!

<snip>

One further caveat: When talking about oil's importance in American strategic thinking about Iran, it is important to go beyond the obvious question of Iran's potential role in satisfying our country's future energy requirements. Because Iran occupies a strategic location on the north side of the Persian Gulf, it is in a position to threaten oil fields in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates, which together possess more than half of the world's known oil reserves. Iran also sits athwart the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which, daily, 40% of the world's oil exports pass. In addition, Iran is becoming a major supplier of oil and natural gas to China, India, and Japan, thereby giving Tehran additional clout in world affairs. It is these geopolitical dimensions of energy, as much as Iran's potential to export significant quantities of oil to the United States, that undoubtedly govern the administration's strategic calculations.

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0411-21.htm

[BrotherBuzz]

34. The true irony would be if an Iranian dhow sinks the Ronald Reagan

Remember the dhow incident back in Aug 2004

ABOARD USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (NNS) -- During night flight operations in international waters, USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) and an unidentified dhow collided in the Persian Gulf, at approximately 10:20 p.m., July 22. (2004)

All indications are that the dhow sank as a result of this accident. John F. Kennedy and HMS Somerset immediately launched helicopters and small boats to search for any crewmembers of the dhow. U.S. Navy P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft were launched to assist in the search and rescue operation. Although a debris field has been located, no survivors or remains have been found. Rescue operations are continuing.

All airborne aircraft from Kennedy's air wing were recovered, and all crewmembers have been accounted for. No Kennedy personnel were injured.

The U.S. Navy is conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding this accident. Further details will be made available as appropriate.


....

I'm not wishing the event to happen, but irony would not be lost on the world. A true David and Goliath moment.

[superconnected]

37. How come I can read the title and can only think

is this how WWIII starts?

Oh yeah. Because we have a really F*ed administration.

[joe_shmoe]

39. **Please sign this petition against military actin against Iran**

It is with grave concern that I observe the growing threat of a new U.S. war--this time against the people of Iran.

For a collection of articles and resources on this subject you can visit this link: http://reseaudesign.com/research/iran/iran_summery.html

I'm starting up a petition which I will be sending out to as many members of Congress as possible. I'm asking for help to get this signed by as many people, possible in the next month. Send it to as many people you can.

http://www.petitiononline.com/n0war1rn/

[bdamomma]

63. only 331 signatures on this petition that is really pathetic

[MiniMe]

48. Where is the film? It would be a lot more believable that way

And I don't believe that they didn't film it, especially if it was circling for 25 minutes. Oh, I forgot, must be state secrets.

[geek tragedy]

49. Anything from a credible source on this?

And no, a government that actively engages in Holocaust denial doesn't count.

[IndianaGreen]

50. What? The NY Times?

Get real!

a government that actively engages in Holocaust denial doesn't count

So you are willing to support bombing Iran because their President is an anti-Semite? That kinda puts you on the same moral plane as Bin Laden, who saw nothing wrong in killing a bunch of innocent people on 9-11 because of the foreign policy of a government over which we have little to no influence.

[geek tragedy]

51. Logic lesson for you:

Casting doubt on the veracity of the Iranian regime is not the same as supporting military action against Iran.

[spuddonna]

53. Wow, Iran sure has a lockdown on their military intel!

Good to see that Iranian officials like to share their secret military intel with the Russians! :wtf:

And we should believe this actually came from the Iranians because... :shrug: I am with the poster above, Paul Wolfowitz, take off the disguise and stop calling the Russian news agencies!

[mortlefaucheur]

54. More than likely Murkan disinformation n/t

[Vidar]

56. Can't see therir drones, but we can sure hit their airliners.

[IndianaGreen]

57. The crew of the Vincennes had a collective orgasm when they shotdown

that Iranian jetliner carrying pilgrims to Mecca. The US always regrets the loss of civilian life, and then proceeds to kill more civilians.

[Vidar]

59. Safer that way: they don't shoot back.

[0007]

60. cough cough.....yeah right!

[ileus]

64. Amnesty for the illegal aliens now, we're going to need them.

Maybe that's bushs plan. sure could use another 8mil or so soldiers.