Page 2 - ARUBA TODAY

A2 UP FRONT
Friday 21 June 2019
BIG MISTAKE The other world powers
Continued from Front who remain signed on to
Trump, who has said he the nuclear deal have set a
wants to avoid war and ne- meeting to discuss the U.S.
gotiate with Iran over its nu- withdrawal and Iran's an-
clear ambitions, appeared nounced plans to increase
to play down the signifi- its uranium stockpile for
cance of the shootdown. June 28, a date far enough
He cast it as "a new wrin- in the future to perhaps al-
kle ... a new fly in the oint- low tensions to cool.
ment." Yet he also said that Citing Iranian threats, the
"this country will not stand U.S. recently sent an air-
for it, that I can tell you." craft carrier to the Persian
Shortly before Trump spoke, Gulf region and deployed
Air Force Lt. Gen. Joseph additional troops along-
Guastella, commander of side the tens of thousands
U.S. Central Command air already there. All this has
forces in the region, took raised fears that a miscal-
a more pointed view of culation or further rise in
the shootdown in an area tensions could push the U.S.
where Trump has blamed and Iran into an open con-
Iran for attacking shipping flict 40 years after Tehran's
vessels. Islamic Revolution. In this Oct. 24, 2018, photo released by the U.S. Air Force, members of the 7th Reconnaissance
"This attack is an attempt to "We do not have any in- Squadron prepare to launch an RQ-4 Global Hawk at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy.
disrupt our ability to monitor tention for war with any Associated Press
the area following recent country, but we are fully
threats to international ready for war," Revolution- miles) southeast of Tehran. craft that can fly higher its interests but "cannot be
shipping and free flow of ary Guard commander The first U.S. reaction was than 10 miles in altitude reckless."
commerce," he said. Gen. Hossein Salami said in Trump's Thursday morning and stay in the air for over Talking tougher, Republi-
The Trump administration a televised address. tweet of six forceful words: 24 hours at a time. can Sen. Lindsey Graham
has been putting increas- The paramilitary Guard, "Iran made a very big mis- One U.S. official said there of South Carolina called
ing economic pressure on which answers only to Su- take." was a second American Iran a "murderous regime"
Iran for more than a year. It preme Leader Ayatollah But later, while meeting with aircraft in the area that was and said, "If they're itching
reinstated punishing sanc- Ali Khamenei, said it shot Canadian Prime Minister able to get video and im- for a fight they're going to
tions following Trump's de- down the drone at 4:05 Justin Trudeau, Trump said, agery of the drone when it get one."
cision to pull the U.S. out a.m. Thursday when it en- "I would imagine it was a was shot down. "We're a lot closer today
of an international agree- tered Iranian airspace near general or somebody that Congressional leaders than we were yesterday,
ment intended to limit Iran's the Kouhmobarak district in made a mistake in shooting came to the White House and only God knows what
nuclear program in ex- southern Iran's Hormozgan that drone down." for an hour-long briefing tomorrow brings," said Gra-
change for relief from ear- province. Kouhmobarak is He said the American in the Situation Room late ham, a Trump ally who talk-
lier sanctions. about 1,200 kilometers (750 drone was unarmed and Thursday with top national ed with the president by
unmanned and "clearly security officials including telephone.
over international waters." Secretary of State Mike The senator also focused
It would have "made a big, Pompeo, CIA Director Gina on the issue of Iran's nuclear
big difference" if someone Haspel, Joint Chiefs Chair- ambitions, saying its leaders
had been inside, he said. man Gen. Joseph Dunford have refused to negotiate
"I find it hard to believe it acting Defense Secretary after Trump withdrew the
was intentional, if you want Patrick Shanahan and U.S. from the international
to know the truth," Trump Army Secretary Mark Es- agreement to limit Iranian
said. "I think that it could per, whom Trump has said development of nuclear
have been somebody who he'll nominate as Pentagon weapons.
was loose and stupid that chief. Graham said it's impera-
did it." The Senate's top Democrat tive that the U.S. clearly tell
Taking issue with the U.S. called the downing of the the Iranians that any at-
version of where the attack American drone "deeply tempt to increase uranium
occurred, Iranian Foreign concerning" and accused enrichment will be seen as
Minister Mohammad Ja- the administration of not a "hostile act against the
vad Zarif tweeted that his having an Iran strategy United States and our allies
country had retrieved sec- and keeping Congress and in Israel and will not go un-
tions of the military drone "in the rest of the nation in the answered."
OUR territorial waters where dark. Another factor: This all
it was shot down." He said, "The president needs to comes as Trump is launch-
"We don't seek war but will explain to the American ing his re-election cam-
zealously defend our skies, people why he's driving us paign. He ran for presi-
land & waters." toward another endless dent promising to bring
U.S. Gen. Guastella disput- conflict in the Middle East," American troops home
ed that contention, telling said Sen. Chuck Schumer from the Middle East and
reporters that the aircraft of New York. Afghanistan and has re-
was 34 kilometers (21 miles) House Speaker Nancy Pe- peatedly said he wants to
from the nearest Iranian losi said she didn't think keep America out of "end-
territory and flying at high Trump wanted war with less wars." Ari Fleischer, who
altitude when struck by a Iran and the American was press secretary for
surface-to-air missile. The people have "no appetite" President George W. Bush,
Located at Divi Aruba Phoenix Beach Resort U.S. military has not com- for it either. She said the U.S. cautioned against thinking
J.E. Irausquin Blvd. 75, Palm Beach
For more information call 586-6066 ext.7002 mented on the mission of needs to be "strong and about politics when weigh-
the remotely piloted air- strategic" about protecting ing any response to Iran.q