December 4th, 2011
02:01 PM ET

Drone downed in Iran probably ours, US says

By Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr

Operators of a U.S. drone lost flight control of it along Afghanistan's western border with Iran, according to a U.S. official with knowledge of the incident. The crew operating the unmanned drone reported a loss of flight control just before the drone went down. U.S. officials are aware of reports out of Iran that they shot down a U.S. RQ-170 Sentinel and believe this may be the drone the Iranians are talking about, according to this U.S. official. However, the U.S. official said the U.S. government has not confirmed that Iran shot it down, although it may have gone down over Iranian territory.

The RQ-170 Sentinel is a stealth drone developed for the Air Force to help provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Although the Sentinel was developed for the Air Force, the U.S. official declined to confirm whether it was the U.S. military or the U.S. intelligence community operating the drone at the time of the incident.

The official said the drone’s mission was to fly over Afghanistan. U.S. officials over the years have been adamant that U.S. assets do not fly over Iranian air space.


Filed under: Afghanistan • CIA • drones • Intelligence • Iran
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  13. khanjee

    very sad movement for supper american Iran capture US drone. I don't know why americam lose every where like Afghanistan ,Somalia, Iraq, Koriea,vatname and many other countries.

    December 10, 2011 at 7:33 am | Reply
  14. rodney

    Hey you Guys! The d.a. Iranians are not building their nuclear facilities, our friends the Russians are. When Israel destroyed the Syrian complex in the north of Syria,one thousand Russians hightailed it out of Iran fearing they were next. Riddle this for me: If you shoot down a drone with a missle, wouldn't it be destroyed or seriously banged up. The purported drone appears to be in great shape.

    December 8, 2011 at 2:16 pm | Reply
  15. Not another war

    I can see it very clearly that our generals have their fingers itching for some action and busy planning out another long war for our soldiers. When r these guys going to stop this war mongering. If Afghanistan wants to keep fighting amongst them and stay in dark ages, let them. We are going bankrupt, there are no jobs, housing is messed up and we are out there spending $2 billion per week on these wars and maintaining all those army bases.

    December 6, 2011 at 4:17 pm | Reply
    • Dr. Atif

      I belong to Pakistan but i do agree with u, why america is opening so mush wars that he couldn't handle and why he is so much interested in others matter. It must pay attention towards is nation. and one important thing whenever there is peek there is always fall.

      December 10, 2011 at 5:35 am | Reply
  16. Drones For All

    This is NOT taking over a drone. Probably killed our control as the drone was flying toward the border though and the drone continued in more or less a straight line. until impacting the terrain. The command receiver by nature has limited shielding from EMP. Apparently the drone had no active "return home" internal guidance program in effect or weight limits on internal EMP shielding meant its internal guidance controls was also overwhelmed.

    Actually its pretty easy to take out a radio controlled drone with a big EMP focused by antenna to initially overwhelm the data stream and then lower level of noise to keep the encrypted channel from reconnecting. Much easier to hit drone optically than shoot it down such that it crashes inside Iranian borders. Plus you get a more intact drone so you can copy it and build your own.

    December 6, 2011 at 1:41 pm | Reply
    • Rusty

      I cant imagine a stealth drone not having pretty robust loss link procedures. They are probably using encrypted command and control. Even if they were not encrypted it is highly unlikely anyone would know the format of data needed to control and perform a landing. It is highly unlikely anyone else took control for a number of other reasons.

      December 6, 2011 at 8:07 pm | Reply
  17. svann

    Two months ago the drone program consoles were found to be infected with a keylogger program that was recording all pilots keystrokes. Now Iran is saying they "took control" of a drone and landed it.
    keylogger link:
    http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/10/virus-hits-drone-fleet/
    Iran "took control of drone" link:
    http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2016936391_iran05.html

    December 6, 2011 at 12:43 pm | Reply
    • justageek

      @svann – Useless FUD stories as relates to this one. If Iran can take over a single drone it can take over all of them and that has not happened. When it does I will buy into your silly assertions.

      December 6, 2011 at 12:53 pm | Reply
  18. EMTHREE

    Normally I can ignore CNN's sloppy reporting/presentation, but this one is too wrong to just look away...

    The headline/teaser is this: "Downed drone in Iran on CIA mission"...So I say, wow, CNN is reporting that the missing drone was actually on a CIA flght & was actually in Iran, that's important news. Then I open the article, which is now headlined: "Drone downed in Iran probably ours, US says". Hmm, that's different than the teaser. "probably" should raise anyone's attention that the report is at best a guess & the reporter feels no obligation to or intention of supporting with fact. Is there any editorial check here? Should a more responsible voice have lent some guidance to this report? Still, the article headline tells me the ill-fated drone was on a spook mission. So now I read the article, which only further equivocates any supportable statements and now reports that the mission may or may not have been CIA sponsored (no confirmation from the gov't), and the craft may or may not have been downed in Iran (also unconfirmed from the gov't).
    These are pretty important details. With so much misinformation readily available to news gatherers/reporters, isn't it your responsibility more than ever to make sure you are not enflaming already-heightened fears by adding further doubt and actually manufacturing possibilities, then reporting them (in the headlines in this case) as factual news?

    I guess the media is done chastising itself for being the puppet of the Bush administration's rush-to-war against Iraq, and you're now happy and willing to be invited back to play ball again. At a time when factions of the US gov't are quite anxious to demonstrate their perceived need for war with Iran, don't you feel a greater onus to be especially vigilant in your fact-checking and even more careful in your use of words?

    December 6, 2011 at 12:35 pm | Reply
    • NWO KILLER

      UNDERSTAND that CNN is a media that PROMOTES Wars like Afganistan where we found few terrorists and killed 2 million to find 1 person... Osama. We NEVER had proof of his capture. This is a huge false flag and Ted Turner... that MORON that control CNN will undoubtedly burn in hell with Rothchilds and Rockerfellers. We know that the NEO exists. Its too late they should give up and run inside their Bunkers before they die. And to you that serve the "Corrupt" because you DO NOT check your beliefs... May you burn in the hottest place in hell with Lucifer.

      December 7, 2011 at 2:20 am | Reply
    • NWO KILLER

      Visit http://www.Infowars.com and find out why We are going in war with IRAN.

      December 7, 2011 at 2:22 am | Reply
  19. TellMe

    That's why Ron Paul is right, about this, about many things. We're fighting this covert war that will just escalate and lead to a bigger mess. We intervened in Iran decades ago and we helped spur the Islamic Revolution and now we have the consequences of our actions to deal with. Same thing with training the muhajadeen (Al-Qaeda) to fight the Russians and same thing Libya where the Al-Qaeda flag is now fighting on government buildings. Great thing we fought with Al-Qaeda in Libya, that makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. Why don't we look at what we do with Vietnam? We trade.... no problems there.

    December 6, 2011 at 12:31 pm | Reply
  20. Randy

    Dear CIA, please don't drag us into another war until we get finished with the last two...

    December 6, 2011 at 12:26 pm | Reply
    • Bear

      The count is 3 now including Libya. Or do wars started by Nobel Peace Prize winners not count?

      December 6, 2011 at 12:35 pm | Reply
      • Dover

        We are finished with Libya, that make two left to finish as the first post said.

        December 6, 2011 at 1:42 pm |
  21. Steve

    The Russians must have figured out the remote link, took control of the drone and landed it undamaged. Ha-ha.
    Iran, Afghanistan are in their back yard and I don't think they like us being there. Let's take a hint and come home.

    December 6, 2011 at 12:18 pm | Reply
  22. Peter

    I would hope that these Drones used in these types of missions have an explosive charge or incinerary device to destroy any sensitive equipment on board.

    December 6, 2011 at 12:14 pm | Reply
  23. Bill

    What does it matter anyways if Iran has their hands on it??? The drone was made in China or Taiwan and if Iran wants one of their own, they could just as easily buy one from China or Taiwan who ever made it. It sure as heii wasn't made in the U.S., we don't make sh1t for ourselves any more.

    December 6, 2011 at 12:13 pm | Reply
    • meki60

      that's true resulting from union demands and support from President Garbage.

      December 6, 2011 at 12:29 pm | Reply
  24. Mike

    FactChecker – M.A.D. should be enough to discourage anyone, including the United States, from using nuclear weapons. However you can't count on everyone running their shows to be sane.

    December 6, 2011 at 12:12 pm | Reply
  25. meki60

    being a good muslim, President Garbage has given this to Iran to help them with their efforts toward Isreal.

    December 6, 2011 at 12:12 pm | Reply
    • FugginMorons

      U r a but phuking r3trd...

      December 6, 2011 at 12:17 pm | Reply
      • meki60

        the truth bothers you?

        December 6, 2011 at 12:23 pm |
    • just a thought

      plz kill yo self

      December 6, 2011 at 12:35 pm | Reply
      • JGD77

        The more you respond to republican hacks, the more they keep manufacturing facts to support their nonsense. I find it funny that they have nothing to offer but a bunch of clueless clowns as options. How embarrassed they should be for openly supporting any one of those candidates. Just remember our guy is in the office and will be after another landslide election victory. My goldfish could win against these hacks.

        December 6, 2011 at 12:56 pm |
  26. Brathead

    Great...Something else for Iran to bit** about for the US. Why don't we just go to war with them too and get it over with. They are going to turn around and nuke us one of these days! They hate us no matter what they do. Iran is the liars saying that their nuclear activity is for peaceful puposes..That is what I call complete BS.

    December 6, 2011 at 12:11 pm | Reply
    • PaulMc1981

      Have you ever stopped to consider the history behind why the Iranian regime hates us so much?

      December 6, 2011 at 12:22 pm | Reply
  27. meki60

    more 'fast & furious' action from President Garbage

    December 6, 2011 at 12:10 pm | Reply
  28. adam

    The concern now is can Iran now use this disabled drone to create one of their own?

    December 6, 2011 at 12:08 pm | Reply
    • svann

      Well I think drones are pretty well available to anyone with cash these days. google rent a drone.

      December 6, 2011 at 12:26 pm | Reply
  29. spike

    This is probably a deliberate misinformation project, like the fake dead british agent with the briefcase full of fake top secret plans, which the stupid nazis swallowed hook, line and sinker.

    December 6, 2011 at 12:05 pm | Reply
  30. Guest

    Safe to say....We'll never know the facts on this one. Somebody really screwed up.

    Is there any topic we are undivided on? What a waste of unity to tackle DC corruption in BOTH parties.

    December 6, 2011 at 12:04 pm | Reply
  31. Dennis

    I've long wondered why these drones don't have a self-destruct device in them.

    December 6, 2011 at 12:01 pm | Reply
    • BigRed

      Because the actual technology in the drones is unclassified. It is the data links that provide guidance, mission, and flight control. The thing is nothing more then a big camera and sensor platform of parts you could buy online.

      December 6, 2011 at 12:10 pm | Reply
      • Paul

        ALL of the technology in those drones are covered by ITAR restriction, not the least of which is the stealth technology.

        December 6, 2011 at 12:17 pm |
  32. Starstuff

    Actually the gadget did not 'went down' over Iran, it was hacked and landed safely in Iran. What a bunch of LIES is our government and armed forces feeding us? In addition to our P*O*S equipment being hacked the RQ-170 Sentinel is a stealth drone developed for the Air Force to help provide 'intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance' In other words SPY on Iran and was not operated by the air force but by the CIA and those 'assets' do fly over Iran.

    What a humiliating story, the Iranians hacked into one of our P*O*S spying gadgets took over the controls and landed it in one of their strips. As we speak it is being taken apart and it's being reverse engineering providing valuable information for their own 'intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance' programs.

    December 6, 2011 at 11:31 am | Reply
    • justageek

      @Starstuff – "the Iranians hacked into one of our P*O*S spying gadgets took over the controls and landed it in one of their strips" – LOL...and then you woke up.

      December 6, 2011 at 11:42 am | Reply
    • John "Johnny mop" Price

      It cant be hacked, that not a possibility in any form. You know absolutely nothing abouth the technology involved in the craft, You need to go away and read a book, your grade two education isnt gonna cut it. Stupid people saying BS is really annoying the rest of us.

      December 6, 2011 at 11:43 am | Reply
      • Charles

        Actually it can be hacked, there was a big article in a science tech magazine maybe 2 or 3 months ago about the vulnerability of our drones even this latest high tech one and how a glich in the software was overlooked when it was built and makes it susceptable to being hacked into and remotely flown down into hostile territory where it could possibly be reverse engineered. The problem lies when the drone is closer to the hacking equipment and the signal is stronger from the hacker – that is where they gain the first advantage, then if they can get into it, then they can override the software on where it is to be accepting it's input from and the rest is history.

        December 6, 2011 at 12:06 pm |
    • BertW

      Good mushrooms, huh?

      December 6, 2011 at 11:49 am | Reply
    • Chuk

      I agree with you, Starstuff. This is another one of those "we got lost 'hking' stories". The idea that the US has not been spying on Iran using drones is laughable. Lying about it is pathetic. Nobody believes that B.S.
      Let's see how they will blame this on Iran. As if the country should have to right to defend itself.

      December 6, 2011 at 11:51 am | Reply
      • justageek

        "Let's see how they will blame this on Iran" – Did you read the article? The U.S. is not blaming Iran but is blaming itself. To blame Iran would give Iran credit.

        December 6, 2011 at 12:04 pm |
      • tct

        Anything we use drones for we can see from outside their airspace ( groups of people,etc), most of what we want intelligence wise from Iran drones are useless for, we use other methods.

        December 6, 2011 at 12:14 pm |
    • starchecker

      why even bother posting?

      December 6, 2011 at 11:51 am | Reply
    • Plato

      Someone plays to much call of duty......

      December 6, 2011 at 11:51 am | Reply
    • svann

      Two months ago it was reported that the drone program WAS "hacked" with a keylogger program. Every keystroke of the remote control pilots was being logged. Normal removal measures would not work and they finally had to wipe the hard drives and start over. After that it is not too much of a stretch to think someone was able to figure out what commands to send that would cause the plane to land itself.

      December 6, 2011 at 11:55 am | Reply
      • Plato

        Impossible the way the systems datalink work. There is no upload or download. Not to mention the hundreds of various assets using a datalink system. Then you have to figure the datalinks would have some sort of crypto. Even if a guy. On the ground wanted to install a virus to the aircraft only the manufacteror would be able to do so.

        December 6, 2011 at 11:59 am |
      • justageek

        Who cares...a keylogger does not by itself give control to anyone.

        December 6, 2011 at 12:06 pm |
      • mark

        Reported? really? where? I'd really like to see that, oh let me guess "its classified", but of course you know something we don't. BS. You think those data links wouldn't be encrypted channels? you think they would not have foreseen this possibility? I have no doubt the CIA and the rest of the alphabet soup does all sorts of dark and sordid things (LOL their supposed to). But spare me this conspiracy garbage.

        December 6, 2011 at 12:07 pm |
      • svann

        http://www(.)wired(.)com/dangerroom/2011/10/virus-hits-drone-fleet/

        December 6, 2011 at 12:09 pm |
    • yuh ok

      You have soureces, or even a source, for your hacking fantasy?

      December 6, 2011 at 12:05 pm | Reply
    • James

      Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is that you?

      December 6, 2011 at 12:06 pm | Reply
    • tct

      Any evidence of that other than the voices in your head saying so?Thought not.

      If Iran was able to hijack it and land it safely they wouldn't mention it this soon, they'd want more time in case there is a self destruct.

      December 6, 2011 at 12:11 pm | Reply
      • svann

        Here's one source. You can google for more.
        http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-la-fg-iran-drone-20111205,0,3941410.story?track=rss
        and the one describing the keylogger:
        http://www(.)wired(.)com/dangerroom/2011/10/virus-hits-drone-fleet/

        December 6, 2011 at 12:15 pm |
  33. Mike

    The drone’s mission was to fly over Afghanistan. U.S. officials over the years have been adamant that U.S. assets do not fly over Iranian air space.....
    Yeah, but if we are talking CIA, they will do pretty much what they darn well want to do. With all of the hoopla with respects to Iran right now, I would say this was just another covert op, backed by satellite reconnainsance missions, aimed at finding out exactly what Iran has, and where it is located, as a prelude to attack and/or invasion.
    The writing's on the wall. It's just a matter of time.

    December 6, 2011 at 11:25 am | Reply
    • Jack Bauer

      Watching too much 24 eh?

      December 6, 2011 at 11:40 am | Reply
    • joe Knows, austin, texas

      Right.. I doubt Iran could even google 'RQ-170 Sentinel'..certainly don't think they could "hack" it. And really.. u think the CIA is that stupid; I'm sure the thing had an altitude detonator on it and all the critical systems were blown up long before any one from Iran had time to ride their camel out there to find it.

      December 6, 2011 at 11:53 am | Reply
      • svann

        How is it you can believe that Iran is smart enough to build a nuclear weapon but not smart enough to do a little hacking?

        December 6, 2011 at 11:57 am |
      • Mohammad

        Actually I've been in Iran, and I can tell you, the average teenager knows far more than we do here in america about computers and hacking and things like that. If you don't know, our science and math and education system is Mickey Mouse crap compared to the Iranian education system. Take this from someone who has actually traveled to parts of the world and spoken to people from other places than hicksville.

        December 6, 2011 at 12:10 pm |
      • mark

        So typical of a Texan thinking they're the only ones with scientists. As the other poster asks, so they can build nukes but cant google? thats patently stupid. Of course you probably think the US is the only with aircraft carriers or stealth fighters – that kind of apathy and arrogance is what blinds you.

        December 6, 2011 at 12:14 pm |
      • RKT210

        Iran isn't in the Middle East, it's in Asia, you know, the same continent as India, China, and Japan. It's people are not Arab, they are Persian. Other than the fanatics in power (imagine if the Westboro Baptist Church ran our government), the country is very wesernized and modern. These are tech-savvy people, not camel jockeys.

        December 6, 2011 at 12:20 pm |
  34. gary

    arms race – more military – mare terrorism – more hate – more dead children – WW III – crickets

    December 6, 2011 at 11:20 am | Reply
  35. svann

    Oct 7 2011: "A computer virus has infected the cockpits of America’s Predator and Reaper drones, logging pilots’ every keystroke as they remotely fly missions over Afghanistan and other warzones."
    http://www(.)wired(.)com/dangerroom/2011/10/virus-hits-drone-fleet/

    Dec 4 2011: "While the IRNA headline described the U.S. spy drone as having been "shot down," an Iranian military official quoted on Iranian state television claimed that an Iranian military cyber-warfare unit "managed to take over controls of the drone and bring it down,"

    December 6, 2011 at 11:13 am | Reply
    • Plato

      Unmanned systems cannot be uploaded with virus's and the sort, they are all closed loop with no way to gain access via Internet or along lines like that. Also there are various datalinks that unmanned systems communicate with most of which are secured, not to mention in order to hack a UAV you would need not only all the link information but that aircrafts particular operating system as well, you can't just plug an antenna into a laptop and fire up a flight sim, so needless to say I think it got shot down or just crashed, but all these conspiracy therorys are pretty retarded, this is the real world people not some call of duty game!

      December 6, 2011 at 11:49 am | Reply
      • svann

        Unmanned drones are not self reliant. There is a drone pilot stationed at Creech afb that flies the plane remotely. Everything the drone does is a command sent and received wirelessly. If the enemy knew the codes it could send the codes. A keylogger would make that possible. It is possible they stole our codes 2 months ago and just now used them to control the drone.

        December 6, 2011 at 12:03 pm |
      • justageek

        "If the enemy knew the codes it could send the codes" – If the secure link is compromised as well. And the stars align just right.

        December 6, 2011 at 12:11 pm |
      • Plato

        Yeah no, for one most high tech UAVs are full atonomous. Also even if it had a key logger how would the even see the link they are not omni directional most are satcom with very narrow beams. Also all UAVs have specific logic to return to a predetermined location if the datalink experiences interferance. Also with a key logger how do you think they fly these things? There are multiple stations that operate them all over the world with various software configurations and autopilot logics, needless to say it can't happen, even with key logging there would be no way to get the information back to the bad guys, uplink to the aircraft is just commands and that's all not to mention the operating system has torun various tests before leaving to fly. I would say you have a better chance of hacking a brick than a UAV.

        December 6, 2011 at 12:13 pm |
      • svann

        Secure link you say? We captured Iraqi insurgents with our drone video on their hard drives. But yea, I can see how you would assume its secure.

        December 6, 2011 at 12:18 pm |
      • Paul

        svann,

        How would a keylogger allow you to command a drone when you don't even know the operating system it is using, what each keystroke actually does, or have the encryption system being used? You could install a keylogger on my computer and still have no idea what I am doing with it since you don't know what operating system I am using or what application software is loaded.

        December 6, 2011 at 12:26 pm |
      • justageek

        Wake up. Seeing unencrypted video and having control of the drone are completely different. We get your point but just because something may be possible doesn't mean that it was and there is no proof it was taken over. Only a keylogger story and unencrypted video story and a press release from Iran...nothing to actually prove it was taken over. If Iran takes ALL the drones in the air right now and sends them to Iran I will believe it. Until then it's just fantasy.

        December 6, 2011 at 12:32 pm |
      • just a thought

        thank you for ur sane comment cuz these guyz r crazy

        December 6, 2011 at 12:44 pm |
      • Xen1313

        It's funny to think, in the 80's and early 90's, the FBI had tech that could allow them to see what was going on, on your computer screen, from down the block. Each computer radiates EMF's that can be picked up and seen. The signal being sent to the drones could not be Laser, simply because in poor conditions you would lose LOS on the drone. Cloud cover would nix lasers from satallites. And if your broadcasting a signal, anyone with the right receiver will pick it up. The idea that there is no way for the keylogger to transmit data is absurd. The drone has to transmit real time data to the pilot, otherwise the pilot could not see where the drone was. That signal could carry another signal piggyback. And as it's being broadcast, sure the data the drone itself is broadcasting is encrypted, but that piggybacked signal doesn't have to be. And that is how the enemy could get and understand the commands.

        December 6, 2011 at 12:45 pm |
  36. southern_gent_from_mississippi

    Our country isnt the only one manufacturing weaponized smart drones. China as well as many eastern bloc countries have gotten into the business. Within 2 or 3 years, any small country weve terrorized over the years and most well funded terror groups will command fleets of these cheap and deadly weapons. Lets see how folks here like it when other countries make military strikes in the good old usa. I can think of many legitimate targets. How many innocents have our troops murdered in the middle east? Anyone remember the 5 boys chopping firewood that our gunship mistook for terrorists or the more recent UN attack at the afghanistan military checkpoint that left dozens of their soldiers dead? Wonder if theyll send the drones here to kill those murderers in the same manner that we do?

    December 6, 2011 at 11:12 am | Reply
    • rick

      I doubt your claim of being a "gent" and from Mississippi. I doubt that you are an American. You clearly are a Muslim spokesman and you appear to be writing from a script prepared by the Iranian ministry of propaganda or Hezbollah.

      December 6, 2011 at 11:18 am | Reply
      • terre08

        Why couldn't he be from Georgia? Just because you support all our actions regardless of how many innocent people die does not mean anyone objecting to that is a muslim. You can't be very smart. By using the same standard as yourself you could be called a fascist.

        December 6, 2011 at 12:11 pm |
    • justageek

      @southern_gent_from_mississippi "Anyone remember the 5 boys chopping firewood that our gunship mistook for terrorists" – Nope...but I do remember the 58 or so killed today by a suicide bomber posted on the front page.

      December 6, 2011 at 11:47 am | Reply
      • Paul

        If we weren't there, we wouldn't be easy targets!

        December 6, 2011 at 12:28 pm |
      • justageek

        @Paul – Please read the article before you post...they killed themselves...not us goofball.

        December 6, 2011 at 12:34 pm |
    • mark

      Rick I second that posters comments, who are you to decide who is or isn't? Are you arguing we can't question policy and still be on the same side – nonsense. Unlike you, not everything thinks we always do the right thing, or that this perpetual state of war is cool.

      December 6, 2011 at 12:18 pm | Reply
  37. hawaiiduude

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uXnXOLFROE

    December 6, 2011 at 11:07 am | Reply
    • WeDon'tMatter

      Relivance???????

      December 6, 2011 at 11:18 am | Reply
      • rick

        irrational bigots dont require relevance. Palestinian spokesmen are so used to propagating the big lie of "victimization: "oh, woe is me, we are innocent victims, we didnt do anything wrong, its the US, the JEWs, the West, the Zionists, the UK, The Hindus, the American Indians, everyone but us. we just kill athletes, bomb school buses, send rockets into civilian areas because we are being treated so badly. Oh, woe is me"

        December 6, 2011 at 11:22 am |
      • mark

        And your just as much a propagandist as he is just different sides.

        December 6, 2011 at 12:20 pm |
  38. ya no

    No end to the rantings of self-proclaimed CIA/aeronautical engineers/explosives experts/poor spellers here. 98% wasted time and space.

    December 6, 2011 at 11:06 am | Reply
  39. WeDon'tMatter

    Let's analyze this a little, either Ahmadinejad tells his people that an out of control U.S. drone ran out of gas and crashed in Iran or he tells his people that a U.S. drone illegally crossed into Iranian airspace and his elite forces shot the high tech spy plane down. Now really, we know Ahmadinejad, which story sounds more like the man who is stuck on himself. Of course we know our government too who wouldn't want to admit that their high tech stealth aircraft is vulnerable to prehistoric antiaircraft fire.

    December 6, 2011 at 10:58 am | Reply
    • Wicked Fairy

      The real story is that there was a double agent in control of the UAV. It landed intact as part of a covet action by the double agent to steal US stealth hardware/software.

      December 6, 2011 at 11:03 am | Reply
      • WeDon'tMatter

        So are we sending the Unit or Jack Bauer to bring it back?

        December 6, 2011 at 11:10 am |
    • hawaiiduude

      and you know this? idiot.

      December 6, 2011 at 11:04 am | Reply
      • WeDon'tMatter

        Does which one of idiots know what?

        December 6, 2011 at 11:13 am |
  40. Peaceful Nutrino

    Perhaps this drone was not doing reconnaissance or spying at all. " Aviation Week's David A. Fulghum believes that the UAV is probably a "tactical, operations-oriented platform and not a strategic intelligence-gathering design".[3]" – wiki Perhaps it was actually working as a sort of AWACS for ground forces near the area. It is rather hilly no? Why would the US send a UAV to do the job of the extremely expensive spy satellite network already in operation? Was it shot down? possibly... I have noticed everyone automatically associates the stealth factor of the drone, to evading enemy radar... It wouldn't be technologically wrong to send such a drone into Afgahn airspace where they have "no radar" systems... How do most aircraft get shot down over there? Stingers, RPG's ETC.. The "Stealth" factor of the drone will protect it from being locked on by insurgents with shoulder mounted weapons. And if it was indeed a sort of AWACS, you can see the importance of making sure it does not become a target.

    December 6, 2011 at 10:58 am | Reply
    • Talgrath

      Stealth doesn't help you to avoid the sight of people on the ground; as a side-note, RPGs do not lock on to aircraft (that only happens in movies and video games) so the idea of a stealth fighter avoiding a "lock-on" is ridiculous. Most likely, the drone lost control and crashed, but Iran is claiming to have shot it down for political purposes; either that, or some guys with assault rifles got lucky, it does happen.

      December 6, 2011 at 12:01 pm | Reply
      • Paul

        He said shoulder fired weapons, not specifically RPGs. There are plenty of smart shoulder fired weapons such as our own Stinger, the Pakistani Anza MK-2, Chinese QianWei 1, Russian Grinch SA-24 and SA-18, French Mistral and many others.

        December 6, 2011 at 12:42 pm |
  41. GRS62

    How about showing a photo of the correct aircraft? Using stock photo's of a completely different drone is misleading, or maybe CNN is simply ignorant?

    December 6, 2011 at 10:54 am | Reply
    • jayson

      there are no pics of the actual drone as it is top secret, this pic is as close as you will see

      December 6, 2011 at 11:03 am | Reply
      • Paul

        BS. There are plenty of pictures available if you know how to enter RQ-170 into a google search!

        December 6, 2011 at 12:44 pm |
    • Wicked Fairy

      Correct. The RQ-170 looks like the B-2 stealth bomber batwing.

      December 6, 2011 at 11:06 am | Reply
  42. Steve

    I'm with all the rest of you REAL American's. The only people in the world who are real people and matter for anything and the ones who's ancestors come from Europe, well the North-Western Europe region to be exact (you know what I mean wink wink). The rest are just animals for us to control. We just need to build a zoo big enough. I speak for the vast majority of democrats and republicans!

    December 6, 2011 at 10:52 am | Reply
    • WeDon'tMatter

      Now that was intelligent. Now you can put your white cone hat back on and go burn a cross.

      December 6, 2011 at 11:05 am | Reply
    • Bob

      Need to work on your english bro. I'm from Pakistan and came here with much better credentials (mechnical engineering) and a firm grasp of english language. Hmmm.

      December 6, 2011 at 11:08 am | Reply
    • AntiExtermism

      haha! I just find it funny that ppl like you still exist in this country but again, I am glad that you have absolutely no influence on anything outside of your little world.

      December 6, 2011 at 11:15 am | Reply
    • ORLY?

      @Steve:
      "Yeah good luck when ***you're*** dealing with nut jobs that think if they blow themselves up they get a bunch of virgins after they die, but in my unlearned ego-centric view they rot in hell instead. One cannot have reasonable debate with ignorant people such as Steve, and Steve is a backward ignorant uneducated person.
      "
      ---------------------------
      There! Fixed that for ya.

      December 6, 2011 at 11:21 am | Reply
    • wow

      you mean you speak for the vast majority of idiots

      December 6, 2011 at 11:47 am | Reply
    • mark

      Steve, you speak for no one except yourself.

      December 6, 2011 at 12:22 pm | Reply
  43. Get ready for another war

    Well looks like Israel's plans to get us into another war seems to be doing just fine, thank you Israel for doing a great job of dragging us in again and keeping your army and resources safe. They keep on finding things on nations that can be threat to them. I say the hell with it, let Iran have a nuclear bomb so there can be a balance in that region.
    Our congress is so corrupt and under the influence of AIPAC that they are willing to do what ever Israel asks. It is time to pay attention to our needs and put USA interest first.

    December 6, 2011 at 10:45 am | Reply
    • Daniel

      Let's ot forget, Iran is effectively surrounded by nations with nuclear weapons. Just look at a map: Russia to the north, Pakistan to the east (and India next over), and Israel to the west. PLus, the USA and UK probably have nukes in submarines in the Indian Ocean, to the South. In their situation, I might want some nukes, too! M.A.D. works, after-all.....

      December 6, 2011 at 10:55 am | Reply
      • vbscript2

        M.A.D. works if the leaders aren't actually mad. Can't say that this is true for Iran.

        December 6, 2011 at 10:56 am |
      • Paul

        vbscript2,

        can't even be sure that ours are sane, either!

        December 6, 2011 at 12:47 pm |
    • vbscript2

      I would hardly call letting Iran have a nuclear bomb "putting the USA first." You do realize that many U.S. assets would eventually be in range of such a weapon, including even HI and the West coast, right?

      December 6, 2011 at 10:55 am | Reply
      • Kevin

        Have you ever seen a map before? The east coast of our country is far closer to Iran than the west coast. Not to mention, Iran's most advanced ballistic missiles have nowhere near the capability you're talking about. If New Jersey was taken over by Iran and it launched a missile towards the west coast from Atlantic City, it would end up in Lake Michigan somewhere.

        Are you practicing to be Dick Cheney when you grow up?

        December 6, 2011 at 11:33 am |
      • Paul

        Kevin,

        Iran has already put a satellite in orbit, meaning it can theoreticelly hit anywhere on earth. Their current ICBM arsenal allows them to hit virtually anywhere in the middle east and southern Europe.

        December 6, 2011 at 12:55 pm |
    • GKW

      The comments regarding Israel dragging us into another war are right on.They have cost us billions of dollars and too many American lives over the years. When are we going to wake up?
      I would like to see the bidding going on for access to the drone by Russia, China, and probably India. Maybe the US could get in on it and get the wreckage back after it has been picked over.

      December 6, 2011 at 11:14 am | Reply
      • rick

        Israel has cost US american lives? are you concerned at all with fact or are you writing fiction in a basement in Ramallah?

        December 6, 2011 at 11:32 am |
      • Paul

        Rick,

        Isreal has directly taken US lives! USS Liberty.

        December 6, 2011 at 12:57 pm |
    • rick

      is that you CCHU aka Cassandra Chu or just another irrelevant palestinian spokesman that posts anti Israel comments on any article that has anything to do with the Mideast. It really doesnt matter as the big lie: palestinians are innocent vicims of western aggression is no long credible after 70 years of self inflicted misery

      December 6, 2011 at 11:28 am | Reply
      • rick = Zionist

        ohhhh poor Rick....his great Zionist government invaids, oh sorry "settles" on land that the UN has deemed past thier borders since 1967, attacks kids throwing rocks with a US level armed forces and recieved billions of our tax dollars yearly only to drag us into wars they dont want to fight themselves.....pathetic.

        December 6, 2011 at 12:23 pm |
  44. mfx3

    By the time they reverse engineer it to sell on the black market, they'll be the proud owners of a glass factory. That is, they'll be reduced to cinders.

    December 6, 2011 at 10:43 am | Reply
  45. Steve

    I find it strange that the CIA would not have the foresight to equip these things with self-destruct high explosives...

    December 6, 2011 at 10:41 am | Reply
    • TheThinker

      Packing a recon drone with explosives is really silly. But your suggestion reminds me of a German WW2 aircraft that was on display at Wright Pat for decades. When it needed to be refurbished, some of the original German workers took a look inside, IIRC, the tail fin and said "ya, the explosive charge is still there". Our guys were like WTH?? That aircraft had an explosive charge on the tail to blow it away so it wouldn't whack a pilot as he bailed out. The charge was removed.

      December 6, 2011 at 10:51 am | Reply
      • Leenid

        How much did he charge to remove the charge?

        December 6, 2011 at 11:52 am |
    • Youguys R. Killinme

      @Steve:

      Foresight? CIA? Come on. You're kidding, right? All those guys care about is their "black budget" and their way-cool "toys."

      This toy broke!!! Me want ANOTHER one!!! N-O-W-W-W-W-W!

      These are the guys who gave us the Bay of Pigs "invasion" in 1961, who overstated the Soviet "threat" by, oh, about 400% back in the 80s-90s, and for whom the the terms "blowback," "Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight," and "unforeseen consequences" were INVENTED.

      December 6, 2011 at 10:59 am | Reply
  46. erich2112x

    Why aren't those things programmed to self destruct if they crash? We can't be there to babysit you guys, you have to be able to think for yourselves. Now look, the whole world has that technology now.

    December 6, 2011 at 10:38 am | Reply
    • vbscript2

      Umm... except for the minor little problem that they don't actually have much of the important technology on board. The primary important part in a drone is just software and the command and control center. The airframes aren't anything particularly special. They could learn about as much about aerodynamics from a 1960's-era Piper. The drone itself doesn't do them a lot of good without the software and the command and control infrastruture.

      December 6, 2011 at 11:00 am | Reply
      • Paul

        Quit talking out your A$$. I would be willing to bet that virtually every bit on that drone is covered by ITAR and you would be in jail for a long time if you passed on any of the technology outside the USA without permission.

        December 6, 2011 at 1:03 pm |
    • GI Joe

      Gee, erich2112x thought of something the entire US miltary didn't! Or perhaps Erich doesn't know all the facts and is quick to make assumptions and post on the internet.

      December 6, 2011 at 11:02 am | Reply
    • erich2112x

      LOL

      December 6, 2011 at 11:08 am | Reply
    • Dani Patel

      Self-destruct? You watch too much Mission Impossible movies...don't worry it will come on the next upgrade. Hahahaha!

      December 6, 2011 at 11:11 am | Reply
  47. Mitra

    Hahahahaha....Btw Iran, that drone is ours, so uhhh can please return it. We can share technology info just like the Germans did with Us after WW II. Thanks 🙂

    December 6, 2011 at 10:35 am | Reply
  48. Jessie M

    Look at the facts. It was a brand new model of stealth remote controlled aircraft. This wasn't something we designed to use against insurgents. This wasn't something we designed to use against anybody who doesn't have advanced radar tracking.

    We have hundreds of drones that aren't nearly as expensive as this on that we could use in Afghanistan with the same amount of effect. The fact that this is an advanced stealth aircraft means there is 100% chance it was used to spy on Iran, and had nothing to do with Afghanistan.

    Learn how to read in between the lines, people.

    December 6, 2011 at 10:32 am | Reply
    • Iran away with a drone

      Brand new? This drone has been used in the USAF since 2007...

      If Iran shot it down with a missle don't you think it would be hard to tell wtf it is? Since they claimed it was ours right away maybe it just crashed.

      Maybe we deployed it intentionally just to see if they had the technology to shoot it down. Maybe while they were busy shooting this poopy 2007 version of a stealth drone down, we had a 2011 version on the other side of Iran taking pix of their wives in the shower.

      December 6, 2011 at 10:46 am | Reply
      • TAK

        That's ridiculous! They don't have showers.

        December 6, 2011 at 10:55 am |
  49. sam

    the plane parts will be sold to china

    December 6, 2011 at 10:31 am | Reply
    • Daniel

      They already have them.....

      December 6, 2011 at 10:47 am | Reply
    • EddieUSA

      No worries on this. Most of the parts probably were made in China anyway 😉

      December 6, 2011 at 10:51 am | Reply
  50. AhhPures

    Those of you posting that we lost our latest technology to the Iranians are reading too many comic books. I can assure you that it is not the latest or the best.

    December 6, 2011 at 10:28 am | Reply
    • Jessie M

      I can assure you that you have no idea what you're talking about. Skunk Works developed this with in the past 5 years. I would say that is pretty much 'latest and best'.

      December 6, 2011 at 10:34 am | Reply
      • Furunculus

        Check your facts there, bub. The 170 has a lot of the leading stealth technologies removed from the design for just this type of incident. Plus. I wouldn't be suprised if the military has a newer version that is better than the 170. For all we know, this could be a counter-intelligence move to give Iran a flawed design.

        December 6, 2011 at 10:54 am |
    • calmchessplayer

      Accident entering Iranian airspace? Or was caught entering Iranian Airspace? Either way the data might be good. 🙂

      December 6, 2011 at 10:36 am | Reply
  51. MarkCali

    Who is this "US OFFICIAL"? Some lowly USAF Airman 2, or a Senator? And why are we leaking intelligence missions on the CNN website? As a country, I thought we were smarter...

    December 6, 2011 at 10:28 am | Reply
  52. Greenman

    thats ok.....we'll make more

    December 6, 2011 at 10:25 am | Reply
    • anchorite

      At 8 million taxpayer bucks a pop? To harass a country that hasn't invaded anyone since the 18th century? And you hawks say you're all about saving us common people money when it comes to cutting social services.

      December 6, 2011 at 10:27 am | Reply
      • 4thHorse

        One does not need to start a war to threaten another country. I still see the Iranian sponsered chants on TV, youtube etc: "Death to America!". Doesn't sound very friendly does it? Should we laugh that off as "Oh those silly Iranians always joking around." Maybe we should pity them because of the Shah? "It's ok Iran, we still feel bad for the Shah, please continue to harass us."

        December 6, 2011 at 10:53 am |
      • ya no

        Let's not confuse the abject, paranoid hatred with the facts. We're well on our way to hating pretty much everyone else on the planet. Haven't yet found a way to drop that into the 'makes sense' bin.

        December 6, 2011 at 10:57 am |
  53. DS

    What if this was a Trojan horse? Let them have it . . .take it back to their cave and then hit the self destruct button. I kinda like it!

    December 6, 2011 at 10:22 am | Reply
    • anchorite

      Only in sci-fi movies do craft half self-destruct, my friend, and why would they want it anyway, so they could steal the pictures we took of their own country? I think they probably have better pictures. The technology for the plane itself is worthless for the kind of war we intend to wage on them.

      December 6, 2011 at 10:29 am | Reply
      • RA16897089

        Actually self distruct in an intrigal part of most unmanned vehicles. As an example, most people do not know but it's not a secret, that every vehicle that leaves the cape is wired for self distruct in case it head the wrong way. Self distruct in some vehicles means one thing and in others different things. The rocket launces make the unable to fly by popping the tops off and allowing gasses to escape solid rocket boosters, while others will blow the LOX tanks, so it depends on where in the flight SD signal is sent. On vehicles like this all that is needed is softwear to SD although other SD iniatives could also be implemented to protect any probably load.

        December 6, 2011 at 10:37 am |
    • Benny

      WINNER!!!!! BEST IDEA EVER!!!!

      December 6, 2011 at 1:00 pm | Reply
  54. Bill

    Who cares. This is a psyop. Ignore media's perception management games.

    December 6, 2011 at 10:19 am | Reply
  55. Selmers

    It is an act of war and we should blow the Shiite out of them!

    December 6, 2011 at 10:16 am | Reply
    • anchorite

      Are you speaking for them or us? Sending a military plane into their airspace to spy on them was the act of war. Them shooting it down was just and proper.

      December 6, 2011 at 10:24 am | Reply
      • ya no

        I just read another article featuring Afghani chest-pounders. We have more than our share of the same – they can't, however, see the similarities.

        December 6, 2011 at 11:02 am |
    • Daniel

      If another nation over-flew our airspace, and we shot their aircraft down, as I hope we would, is that also an act of war? On who's part? The invader? Or the defender?

      December 6, 2011 at 10:50 am | Reply
  56. SunBadger*

    If- and most likely was- shot out of the sky it was probably a rocket which would have blow it too bits. At 30,000 there would be nothing left. Even in little bits it would be impossible to recover. The structural materials are super light, so the fire ball alone would have vaporized it. Conservatives making baiting remarks just shows rudeness. Just because someone think differently than you do is no reason to invalidate there belies or pepper them with crude remarks. Jesus did not do this why do you, must not be Christian.

    December 6, 2011 at 10:11 am | Reply
    • sam

      rocket could of just nipped the wing causing the plane to crash but remain intact somewhat

      December 6, 2011 at 10:30 am | Reply
      • Matty13

        "Nip the wing!!" Be serious. If they shot it down, or even if it crashed, it would have broken into pieces and burned up. It did was it was programmed to do. Find a landing spot and land.

        December 6, 2011 at 10:46 am |
  57. citizenUSA

    I can't believe we don'y have some kind of self-destruct device. I think that if we would lose flight control it may not be possible to send a destruct signal. Could there be some way to make it self-destruct if the drone were to stop receiving it's normal signal?

    December 6, 2011 at 10:09 am | Reply
    • frblack

      i think the watch-dog only reboots a malfunctioning system. if remote control is lost, drone should head to a previously set safe point; nuking itself would be risky. self destruct option is reasonable if unauthorized people tries to open up its belly for technology.

      December 6, 2011 at 10:23 am | Reply
    • Gary

      They should take the "I" out of CIA. They seem to lack intellegence. To not have a self-destruct device on board the drone to enure sensitive tech is not comprimised is rediculous.

      December 6, 2011 at 10:28 am | Reply
      • ryan

        The fact that you talk about the CIA lacking intelligence, while spelling ridiculous "rediculous" is laughable.

        December 6, 2011 at 10:43 am |
    • Thomas

      Crypto and other sensitive components have destruct capability. But it is hard to destroy an entire airframe like that. Remember, the more explosives on board, the more weight and the less sensors you can carry.

      It is a delicate balancing act.

      December 6, 2011 at 11:03 am | Reply
    • ndTimmy

      Considering the project is still largely classified, believing that their is no self-destruct is only speculation. A plane is a plane and they won't gather much from the down aircraft that they don't already know. The more important stuff like the communications equipment and software was mostly likely encrypted. If they are going to reverse engineer it then they will be spending a lot of time do it... chances are they are going to sell the scraps to the Chinese.

      December 6, 2011 at 11:23 am | Reply
  58. Michael

    So what is is it – DOWNED or NOT? The Taliban says it's down and the US GOVERNMENT say's it a lie. The Taliban has proof that it's down and the US GOVERNMENT say's they don't.

    I wish the US GOVERNMENT would stop lying.

    Geeze people, do you really think you can suppress information?

    Jerks.

    December 6, 2011 at 10:06 am | Reply
    • Howard

      Let's see if I've got this straight, Michael. You believe everything the Taliban says, right? Hoo, boy!

      December 6, 2011 at 10:13 am | Reply
      • Daniel

        I thin his point is that we should not blindly believe our government.....

        December 6, 2011 at 10:52 am |
    • Les

      The admitted that they lost control, that means it crashed, no other option.

      Where is Gary Powers when you need him?

      December 6, 2011 at 10:15 am | Reply
      • Jeff

        Lost Control only means they were unable to alter it's flight path , the drone is programmed with the ability to stay a loft without operator control.

        December 6, 2011 at 10:32 am |
    • AceRyder

      Why do you or I need to know? Who cares – it crashed. Whether shot down or just malfunctioned, it's not the story. The story is we are spying on Iran and admitted it. What more is there to know and what lies are being told? Maybe they don't know yet if it crashed or was shot down.

      December 6, 2011 at 10:15 am | Reply
      • anchorite

        That's right. If we are not planning to wage a war on Iran regardless of what they're doing or not doing, obviously for their oil and their pipelines, why would we be sending military planes into their airspace? According to Seymour Hersh the Israelis have been training Kurdish separatists (i.e. terrorists) in northern Iraq to blow up targets in Iran since we hollowed out a big western military playground for them. If Iran was doing that to us, if they had spy drones in our airspace, I wonder if these people would be so quick to dismiss it all as Iranian self-defense because we have a nuclear weapons program (that we have used on civilians multiple times).

        December 6, 2011 at 10:32 am |
    • Grace Of The Witch

      Michael, please learn how to read.
      This story has nothing to do with the taliban.
      And what has the US lied about ?
      They have admited they lost a drone.

      Shouldnt you be in school ?
      It might help.

      December 6, 2011 at 10:15 am | Reply
    • rs

      Last I checked the taliban are not in control of Iran. If you can't get that straight why are you so concerned about whether it was shot down or not. Does it make your life different in any way?

      December 6, 2011 at 10:23 am | Reply
    • WeDon'tMatter

      Mikey, let's analyze this a little, either Ahmadinejad tells his people that an out of control U.S. drone ran out of gas and crashed in Iran or he tells his people that a U.S. drone illegally crossed into Iranian airspace and his elite forces shot the high tech spy plane down. Now really, we know Ahmadinejad, which story sounds more like the man who is stuck on himself. Of course we know our government too who wouldn't want to admit that their high tech stealth aircraft is vulnerable to prehistoric antiaircraft fire.

      December 6, 2011 at 10:40 am | Reply
  59. the Capital T Truth

    This is how we are going to civilize Iran and bring her into the 21st century, by liberating the country from her warlords pretending to be religious leaders and freeing her people. The shame is, that just like in feudal Japan and Nazi Germany, it will require a third world war and massive blood to be spilled in order to do so.

    December 6, 2011 at 10:03 am | Reply
    • Duckman

      It's not our problem their country is backward. No need to invade it.

      December 6, 2011 at 10:12 am | Reply
    • bobdevo

      The SAD part is Iran would be a secular nation like, say, Turkey, if the United States had not overthrown the democratically elected secular Mossadegh government in 1953.

      Why did we overthrow a democracy? They had the nerve to suggest raising oil royalties to pay for roads, schools and hospitals. If the US could stop acting like a psychopathic bully for a couple of minutes, we could probably improve our relations with Iran.

      December 6, 2011 at 10:18 am | Reply
      • Thomas

        Well if you are going to bring in historical facts to an Internets Tubes forum....... 🙂

        December 6, 2011 at 11:05 am |
    • AhhPures

      You are correct, and everyone knows it. The prophecies concerning 2012 could center around just such a conflict, and clearly from reports out of Israel, the hardliners won't wait much longer. 2012 starts next month.

      December 6, 2011 at 10:20 am | Reply
      • rs

        Oh come on and stop with this drivel. If it came down to total war it would last about 1 hour and Iran would be converted into a parking lot. If the rest of the mulslim nations join in they too would be parking lots about another hour later. While US exerting its economic might and upseting regional politics is not the right thing to do (my opinion) if it comes down to military and total war (not restrained war that we have had so far) no other nation has a chance. The US is about the first super power in history that hasn't gone out on a conquest mission. Something to be said for that.

        December 6, 2011 at 10:30 am |
  60. LetsGetOneThingStraight

    The US is paying too much for insisting on DELIVIRING A NOBLE RESPONSE to the attack that it had had from Afghanistan on 2001. It is wise to imagine it will not always be willing to chip in endlessly....It will find less noble way to secure its land...

    December 6, 2011 at 10:02 am | Reply
    • bobdevo

      Afghanistan did NOT attack the US. Some Saudis in the employ of bin Laden attacked the US. The Afghans had made bin Laden promise NOT to attack the US before they let him in. He double-crossed the Afghans, which is why they offered to turn him over to a third party, but Bush was in too big a hurry to blow stuff up to actually negotiate bin Laden's capture. There was never any strategic reason to invade Afghanistan.

      December 6, 2011 at 10:22 am | Reply
      • Thomas

        This is the second time you insist on bringing up historical facts as part of your argument. What gives? This forum is for emotional and ignorant rants.

        Sheesh you history nuts will be the death of the Internets Tubes. 🙂

        December 6, 2011 at 11:07 am |
    • rs

      Get your info straight, pls. US did not attack afganistan, the US attacked the Taliban for their refusal to turn over bin laden and for providing safe haven to al queda. The taliban took over afganistan and the US freed afganistan. With all the politics and corruption involved (on both sides) US gets little credit for this. If you recall the taliban took a tank and destroyed the buddah statue and was in the process of destroying the afgan heritage because it offended them. The taliban decided no education for girls and that women could be reduced to essentially salvery. Yea taliban, what a crowning jewel of social evolution.

      December 6, 2011 at 10:47 am | Reply
  61. Matt

    For sure this was drone was spying on Iran (or Pakistan?), maybe from Afganistan airspace, maybe not. Because why on earth would you need a high advanced stealth aircraft in Afganistan for? Didn't know the taliban had such advanced rader systems which we need to evade. You don't fly a highly advanced aircraft this close to Iran without good reason. You always take in account loosing contact with a remote controlled aircraft and it falling in the hands of who know who. So before a mission there should be (and I think there is) a risk assesment if means used are appropiate.

    December 6, 2011 at 10:00 am | Reply
    • dt

      If you research the particular asset, you will find that most of the concerns being muttered here have been already thought of. There is a reason we pay so much for our military. No datalink, encrypted or not, can remain intact if there is a concerted and focused jamming of the data. This particular craft, designed with very old 'stealth' technology, is designed NOT to be a treasure trove if it falls out of our hands. This occurred near the border as well, and if you look at the service ceiling of that craft you will notice that it has a substantial look down capability at altitude for great distances.

      December 6, 2011 at 10:08 am | Reply
  62. REG in AZ

    You would think that those things would include a self-destruct technology that would automatically prevent any salvageable intelligence, leaving only scrap to be harvested.

    December 6, 2011 at 9:57 am | Reply
    • Niel

      What a cute story – yes why would US have any intention of gathering intelligence from Iran ... it definitely must have drifted away. Stupid drone. And of course miserable Iran couldn't have shot it down ... it must have come down by itself. We should totally cut all supplies to the country for this conspiracy ... and freeze all it's assets everywhere. Thanks to media, we are so sure that they have nuclear weapons to destroy the world. Just like we found WMD in Iraq after tearing the country off.

      December 6, 2011 at 10:12 am | Reply
    • JD

      Weight is a big consideration when designing these platforms. Besides, if the data-link was being jammed, then so would a destruct command.

      December 6, 2011 at 10:19 am | Reply
  63. Ching Wang

    Tank you verry verry much americans for nice gift to grorious Chinra.

    December 6, 2011 at 9:57 am | Reply
    • Grace Of The Witch

      Chinra ?

      December 6, 2011 at 10:18 am | Reply
  64. DrDiomededs

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Martin_RQ-170_Sentinel

    December 6, 2011 at 9:52 am | Reply
  65. Truefax

    There are some bozo's that think this was an intentional act on the part of the opperators to give tech to the Iranians. To those bozo's i say f_u_c_k__y_o_u, if you want to question the loyalty or ability of the US Armed forces you need to go live somewhere were you can trust the military. Accidents happen, 2 space shuttles, concord, and many more areospace accidents have cost the lives of many people no system is perfect get your head on straight.

    December 6, 2011 at 9:50 am | Reply
    • DrDiomededs

      chilax ...

      December 6, 2011 at 9:53 am | Reply
    • Mike

      It could have been to plant disinformation.

      December 6, 2011 at 10:01 am | Reply
      • George S. Patton

        That's what I'm hoping. Like that dead guy in the water with alleged plans for a US invasion of Calais that threw the Germans off. We can only hope that we're thinking like that.

        December 6, 2011 at 10:09 am |
    • DrDiomededs

      It was likely sent to spy on Iran and Pakistan. The Taliban have no radar, so why would we need stealth protection against them? I supsect it wasnt shot down but rather there was a malfunction ...

      December 6, 2011 at 10:14 am | Reply
  66. aurelius1947

    I believe we should ask Iran to return the drone or what's left of it. If they refuse, we should cut off export of Kellog cereals to that country.

    December 6, 2011 at 9:34 am | Reply
    • AJS

      stupid!!!

      December 6, 2011 at 10:05 am | Reply
  67. max crusader

    it is stealth to them, it is not stealth to us since we know where our drones are

    December 6, 2011 at 9:30 am | Reply
    • bobdevo

      We don't know where THAT drone is, now do we?

      December 6, 2011 at 10:24 am | Reply
  68. jose

    Too bad the photo is not actually the RQ-170. This is a much more capable machine that the one pictured.

    December 6, 2011 at 9:29 am | Reply
    • National Security

      The RQ-170 is a stealth craft, therefore it doesn't show up in pics .. but it's there!

      December 6, 2011 at 9:46 am | Reply
    • DrDiomededs

      I noticed that too ... good eye

      December 6, 2011 at 10:17 am | Reply
  69. giuseppe

    done drowned probably sour

    December 6, 2011 at 9:28 am | Reply
  70. Dave

    wag the dog.....

    December 6, 2011 at 9:24 am | Reply
    • Capnronman

      Not wagging yet, but soon. Very very soon.

      December 6, 2011 at 9:37 am | Reply
  71. biglouis

    Can it be that they didn't think of a self destruct capability ON BOARD THE CRAFT?

    December 6, 2011 at 9:20 am | Reply
    • cincpac306

      Ummmmmm if they LOST CONTACT, they should have signaled a self destruct?????

      December 6, 2011 at 9:41 am | Reply
      • Truefax

        Timer

        December 6, 2011 at 9:43 am |
      • Sean

        Loss of contact more than 5min-15min (whatever they deem appropriate) then detonation. You do not need to send a signal. A lack of single works just as well. It can be armed after launch and disarmed on approach.

        December 6, 2011 at 10:56 am |
    • jerrycc

      I thoght the same thing. But, that makes too much sens . We are talking the govt here. Too bad China will end uo with the software and other technology.

      December 6, 2011 at 9:53 am | Reply
      • Pete

        Just like china copied our fighter jets and iPhone. They will copy the stealth drone too.

        December 6, 2011 at 10:07 am |
  72. Bryant

    Hey Barbara,
    Link says "Downed drone in Iran on CIA mission". But yet there is absolutely no mention of that in the story. In fact, the CIA isn't even mentioned in the story, just the U.S. Intelligence Community. So which member of the IC was it? The Department of Energy? The Department of Homeland Security? The Department of the Treasury? Or is it bad reporting on your part or just sensationalism to get people to read a none story?

    December 6, 2011 at 9:20 am | Reply
    • Dave

      just how in the heck is the department of energy or dept of treasury a member of the IC community? I think you got ahold of some bad wacky weed

      December 6, 2011 at 9:24 am | Reply
      • Bryant

        Dave,
        Google US Intelligence Community. It is out there to find and it is not a "secret". Get informed as opposed to making stupid comments about people being on wacky weed.

        December 6, 2011 at 9:28 am |
      • Satan

        Energy and Treasury ARE a part of the intel community. Consider yourself educated. BTW, the Bureau of Reclamation even has it's own paramilitary force to protect water assets.

        December 6, 2011 at 9:53 am |
      • George S. Patton

        I wanna see a TV series on the Bureau of Reclamation's Special Forces. That would be fun.

        December 6, 2011 at 10:11 am |
      • Grace Of The Witch

        This is either very funny or very scarey,
        type the word "ILLUMINATI" backwards into your web browser

        http://www.itanimulli.com
        and see what comes up, it blew my mind when i did it.

        December 6, 2011 at 10:23 am |
      • Thomas

        Gee Dave, I bet you are pretty embarrassed by now.

        December 6, 2011 at 11:10 am |
    • evalue8

      Exactly

      December 6, 2011 at 9:29 am | Reply
    • Brandon

      @ Dave, those agencies are actually part of the IC. But what do I know, I'm only an intel instructor.

      December 6, 2011 at 9:49 am | Reply
    • weary_of_shitty_editing

      Agreed. Barbara Starr, please discuss this with your editor. You can do better.

      December 6, 2011 at 9:55 am | Reply
    • NK

      Bryant,
      Agree with you... found a better article regarding this same subject with better info pertaining to the CIA over at the Washington Post...
      http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/drone-belonged-to-cia-officials-say/2011/12/05/gIQAylYGYO_story.html?wpisrc=nl_headlines

      December 6, 2011 at 9:56 am | Reply
  73. vinny

    not that these imbeciles would know how to copy the technology, but why was this thing built without a self destruct mechanishm? Bad job by Lockheed Martin. Since it cost a ton to probably research and build you think they would have remembered that one. Im sure Russia will enjoy taking a peek at it

    December 6, 2011 at 9:17 am | Reply
    • Reason & Logic

      Any self-destruct device would need to operate on both a degree of descent and speed of impact since a radio signal for destruction could be worthless if radio contact was lost.

      December 6, 2011 at 9:26 am | Reply
    • Miss Demeanor

      If you're speculating, it's silly to blame Lockeed Martin unless you know the contract included a self-destruction device. Maybe it did and it was operator error or maybe some Iranian got a lucky shot. I'm just sayin'... but if you're really smart, why don't you apply for a job at Lockheed Martin?

      December 6, 2011 at 9:45 am | Reply
  74. Observer6

    Now bear with me for a moment...what if the drone was "downed" on purpose and contains listening, positioning and computer virus devices? The remaiins of the aircraft would be sitting at some highly restricted location within Iran – now you have an active bug on the inside, even if just for a few hours or a few days....there are plenty of durable materials that could have survived impact and technology that requires little battery power to transmit.

    December 6, 2011 at 9:16 am | Reply
  75. moribundman

    "This drone will auto-destruct in 5...4...3...2...1..."

    December 6, 2011 at 9:13 am | Reply
  76. JoeProvidence

    that is an act of war by us.

    December 6, 2011 at 9:12 am | Reply
    • Kurtinco

      Quit being stupid.

      December 6, 2011 at 9:15 am | Reply
      • Miss Demeanor

        Yeah, trust our gubmint without question. We're the good guys, always...infallibly, because gawwwwwwd is on our side.

        December 6, 2011 at 9:48 am |
    • Truefax

      Yeah so what, we should bomb tehran since we're at war and all.

      December 6, 2011 at 9:44 am | Reply
    • emb619

      You are an idiot.

      December 6, 2011 at 10:10 am | Reply
    • Grace Of The Witch

      Attacking a Diplomatic consul is also an act of war.

      December 6, 2011 at 10:26 am | Reply
  77. IceT

    The US isn't like big brother watching ... more like a wierd uncle peeking.

    December 6, 2011 at 9:12 am | Reply
    • George S. Patton

      ...and sometimes touching inappropriately.

      December 6, 2011 at 10:13 am | Reply
      • Youguys R. Killinme

        George, that was just SOOOOOO wrong!!!

        🙂

        December 6, 2011 at 11:10 am |
  78. Chicken flippers

    The CIA Drone was there to look for the 12 CIA spies that were captured earlier this month that the US news media refuses to talk about since they have direction from the US government to not cover it because it would interfere with their operations to get them back.

    December 6, 2011 at 9:12 am | Reply
    • National Security

      So you decide to post about it when even the news media knows better.

      December 6, 2011 at 9:15 am | Reply
      • Bill Ulater

        And Iranians couldn't figure that out? Sheeeesh!

        December 6, 2011 at 9:51 am |
    • miw71

      What an idiot!

      December 6, 2011 at 9:29 am | Reply
    • C.Brown

      Your name is Chicken Flipper nuff said!

      December 6, 2011 at 9:30 am | Reply
    • Grace Of The Witch

      Chicken lips.

      December 6, 2011 at 10:27 am | Reply
  79. snarks

    Just think since obama was elected. Got us into a third war, then uganda, more wars than any past president. Now he loses our most secret weapon of all, and unscathed. He loses 21+ seals, rangers, and airforce commandos in a chinook helicopter a week or more after bin laden was dead. How can you people still support this disgrace of a president?

    December 6, 2011 at 9:11 am | Reply
    • Kurtinco

      You're a butt munch if you believe anything you just wrote.

      December 6, 2011 at 9:16 am | Reply
      • evalue8

        Butt munch, no if about it.

        December 6, 2011 at 9:42 am |
    • Shutit

      You have to be one of the dumbest people on the internet.

      December 6, 2011 at 9:17 am | Reply
      • Youguys R. Killinme

        ...and that's saying a LOT. The competition is pretty stiff, especially here.

        December 6, 2011 at 11:12 am |
    • CheekyIndian

      What is he supposed to do moron? Put them in his pocket, safe?

      December 6, 2011 at 9:17 am | Reply
    • SeriouslyBaked

      Really buddy? I think someone needs to go back to bed and try this whole day over without the drugs.

      December 6, 2011 at 9:19 am | Reply
      • Youguys R. Killinme

        Hey, lighten up. He/she probably had an EXTRA bowl of Stupid for breakfast.

        December 6, 2011 at 11:14 am |
    • SMSUSAF

      Obama use of Uganda & Serrie Leone personal to guard US bases in AOR is getting US troops killed

      December 6, 2011 at 9:20 am | Reply
    • words

      Probably because under the previous president we started two wars and lost over 1000 soldiers.

      December 6, 2011 at 9:21 am | Reply
    • dwt

      You're a glass-half-empty type, I suppose. Or just partisan. Do you accentuate the negative and eliminate the positive when it come to characterizing the Bush administration?

      December 6, 2011 at 9:22 am | Reply
    • GiveMeABreak

      You are part of the GOP spin machine, aren't you? Your post is a joke. You are a joke. I don't even need to point out the many flaws in your post: anyone with a brain (read: anyone who is not GOP) can point out a major flaw to each of your arguments.

      December 6, 2011 at 9:25 am | Reply
    • Reason & Logic

      Bush caused the deaths of over 4,000 US service people and thousands of innocent Iraqi's.

      December 6, 2011 at 9:28 am | Reply
      • yang

        100k iraqi deaths

        http://www.iraqbodycount.org/

        December 6, 2011 at 9:52 am |
    • snarks

      You liberal neanderthals will support obama no matter what he does. Got us into more wars than any president, and relinquishes a spy plane, a spy plane which hasn't even been photographed for the public. So top secret, yet landed safely in the hands of Iran. You liberals need to wake up before you destroy this nation any further. Not to mention the 25 Navy Seals killed in a Chinook helicopter, rangers, and air force commandos. Who puts seals into a chinook helicopter? Think about it, lemmings.

      December 6, 2011 at 9:29 am | Reply
      • C.Brown

        Your an idiot PERIOD! I think you know that your one yet you continue to speak. I want Snark to sell his computer and forget his user name and password so he can never post another stupid comment like this again.

        December 6, 2011 at 9:35 am |
      • evalue8

        Comments like that increase the likelihood of a second term. The alternative would be to agree with you. Looks like most posters here aren't that blind or dumb.

        December 6, 2011 at 9:40 am |
      • NINO

        were you in a cave in the past 10 years

        December 6, 2011 at 9:40 am |
      • snarks

        Ignorance must be bliss. Let me know how bliss it truly is. In another 90 years, when I am old and senile, I may wish to take it up.

        December 6, 2011 at 9:44 am |
    • zoomnbyu

      I'm by no means an Obama supporter but when you spout off a bunch of paranoid nonsense like that you play into the hands of the supporters. We all but stayed out of Libya (and was handled well across the board) and the decisions related to the chinook flight was about 50 levels below the Potus paygrade. Really folks, outside of certain very high level partisan ideals who the president is really doesn't matter to our foreign policy, econonmy, or day to day satisfaction. Clinton, Bush, and Obama took credit for wins they had nothing to do with and took arrows for the same. At the end of the day all three are fairly bright guys with their own strengths and weaknesses that at the heart of it are more figureheads than anything else.

      December 6, 2011 at 9:29 am | Reply
      • Whitey0302

        Good post. Finally some common sense.

        December 6, 2011 at 9:39 am |
      • snarks

        Again, ignorance must be bliss. You would support obama if he burned your house down in front of you. Stop siding with parties, end the liberal ignorance. Look at the facts, stop living in a make believe world. It is unbecoming.

        December 6, 2011 at 9:50 am |
      • Chadm42

        Well said. I could not have articulated my own thoughts any better. I wish media, bloggers, commentors, etc would better represent our views.

        December 6, 2011 at 9:57 am |
      • George S. Patton

        Just wanted to add my voice to the compliments. If only every post (heck, I'll take every OTHER post) was as balanced as yours.

        December 6, 2011 at 10:16 am |
    • miw71

      your and idiot, no further comment needed.

      December 6, 2011 at 9:31 am | Reply
      • freddysaces

        Actually, "YOU'RE AN" idiot. No further proof needed.

        December 6, 2011 at 9:42 am |
    • jdean

      Good riddance.

      December 6, 2011 at 9:46 am | Reply
    • Bill Ulater

      If there is no clear favorite to vote for, I always vote against the party that appeals the most to ignorance. Apparently the one that's brainwashed you is the green monkey this time. Thanks for being dumb.

      December 6, 2011 at 9:55 am | Reply
      • snarks

        Just go back to watching Maher, and Joy Behar. That will help you devolve further.

        December 6, 2011 at 9:58 am |
    • AhhPures

      We can, do, and will, support this president just to irritate all you backwoods simpletons with little to no education and nothing to do but sit on your porch and play the banjo.

      December 6, 2011 at 10:26 am | Reply
    • Grog Says

      MORON ALERT **** MORON ALERT ***

      December 6, 2011 at 10:29 am | Reply
    • Cuervo Jones

      yeah the pres. tells every helicopter when to take off etc.. you must be thinking of Nixon

      December 6, 2011 at 11:31 am | Reply
  80. michaelfury

    http://michaelfury.wordpress.com/2010/08/23/as-the-crow-flies/

    December 6, 2011 at 9:08 am | Reply
  81. j

    Why worry about spies and espionage when you can just gently glide your latest military tech into an Iranian research hangar?

    Great job, guys.

    December 6, 2011 at 9:07 am | Reply
    • Grog Says

      This drone was past its experation date.
      We just decided to have some fun with it.

      December 6, 2011 at 10:30 am | Reply
  82. GOPisGreedOverPeople

    Just think. When the GOP regain power they will start a war with Iran (totally unfunded of course). They will draft all the poor people to fight/die in the war and give "no bid" contracts to the rich people. Killing two birds with one stone. Then we will us Iran's oil to pay for the war. And when the war is over, Iran will sell us cheap oil. Just like in Iraq........Oh wait.........Never mind.

    December 6, 2011 at 9:01 am | Reply
    • Why Use Facts

      Good morning, now that you are out of bed and typing things on the internet it is time to wake up, and quit typing about your dreams.

      December 6, 2011 at 9:10 am | Reply
    • Duh

      Your brilliant, you know how to solve the worlds problems.

      December 6, 2011 at 9:20 am | Reply
  83. Bob

    And here we go again people hating on one another all because their leaders are nut jobs. Not all Iranians are bad Brian so quit hating on the Iranians from a fellow American

    December 6, 2011 at 8:26 am | Reply
  84. American

    Face it, the U.S. will have navy seals crawling all over that thing if Iran claims they've broken its info database. And if we cant get it back, then I'd say the B-2 Spirits are going to have a field day with this one. Otherwise I think Iran needs a new chant, like the whole death to America is old, get something like "Us Iranians are the dopest Islamic gangstas eva", something good though.

    December 6, 2011 at 8:04 am | Reply
  85. James

    So ummm, why didn't anyone press the self-destruct button to destroy the drone?

    December 6, 2011 at 2:41 am | Reply
    • Informed

      Self destruct mechanisms are a not installed on these in reality... movies and tv shows yes, but not reality...

      December 6, 2011 at 3:17 am | Reply
      • Kurtinco

        And what do you know about high tech military equipment?

        December 6, 2011 at 9:18 am |
      • Myles

        the stealth helochoper that was shot down in the raid for Bin Ladin had to be destroyed with c4! no self destruct.

        December 6, 2011 at 9:50 am |
  86. RichP

    I wonder if this has anything to do with the virus problems they were having with the control software that was reported a couple of months ago.

    December 5, 2011 at 8:06 am | Reply
  87. Bill

    I imagine the Iranian "scientists" are marveling over the wheels right about now. "Praise be! look how round and smooth! We shall STEEL this technology and build carts to carry our dung! Ha HA! We will defeat all of our enemies!"

    December 5, 2011 at 7:10 am | Reply
    • frank

      Priceless!

      December 5, 2011 at 10:38 am | Reply
    • Informed

      Well said. Solid state technology and advanced composites would be nearly impossible to reverse engineer. Older analog technology yes, easy to reverse engineer. The new stuff? Best anyone will get from it is it's a flying thing with an engine and wheels. Not much to worry about.

      December 6, 2011 at 3:25 am | Reply
      • Chris

        Are you really that informed? if Iran can't reverse engineer it they will show it a close ally like Russia or China, its not very unlikely that Chinese or Russian agents are inspecting it as we speak. Look at what happened to the remains of our covert helicopter during the Bin Laden raid.

        December 6, 2011 at 9:13 am |
  88. helenecha

    Both altitude and direction of that drone at that moment when it was suddenly out of control may possibly help telling the truth.

    December 4, 2011 at 8:37 pm | Reply
    • Informed

      Agreed... not sure what altitude the 170s fly at, but if it had mechanical/electrical issues or control signal issues from a partial system failure, it could have easily been operating in Afghanistan, had mechanical issues simply resulting in a slow descent rate and heading from 20+ thousand feet, and crashed across the border coincidentally. But who wants a boring story like that, so claims of shoot downs and control take overs, although likely false, are more palatable to "hype seekers." The most sensational answer must be true right?

      December 6, 2011 at 3:36 am | Reply
  89. Clarity Morales

    Nice to CNN allowing social justice input. Iran, muslims, and 99 percent are current US scapegoats. We need to mind ourr own business and bring all the troops home!! Newt or Michelle "Caliguletta" Bachman are not even funny anymore. Can you imagine these anti-intellectuals in charge of the most powerfull military in the world- War Crime CIty.

    December 4, 2011 at 6:40 pm | Reply
    • Alex

      Newt as president and Michelle as vice-president are just fine ...as long as, of course, they are nuclear deterred. No offense, just view it as an inherent part of what is often called "system of checks and balances". It protects the American People by containing adventurism of the politicians American People elect in free and democratic elections.

      December 5, 2011 at 12:34 pm | Reply
  90. Robert

    How about all leaders just sit and try to talk maybe figure this thing out. maybe then we can move on as a human race.

    December 4, 2011 at 6:16 pm | Reply
    • Brian

      Yeah good luck when your dealing with nut jobs that think if they blow themselves up they get a bunch of virgins after they die. When in fact they rot in hell instead. You cannot debate with ignorance, and these sir are backward ignorant uneducated people.

      December 4, 2011 at 7:10 pm | Reply
      • Jeff Davis

        ..."When in fact they rot in hell instead."

        This is a fact?

        You were right though when you said, "You cannot debate with ignorance."

        December 6, 2011 at 10:00 am |
      • AJS

        So they're the nut jobs??? We try to spy on them, instigate war with them, then we call them the nut jobs?

        Hmmmm....

        December 6, 2011 at 10:08 am |
  91. fn

    Hahaha! Sure, it 'lost control' and just happened to fly over a country that you want a war with and have been trying desperately to retrieve any kind of information that might give you an excuse or provide weight to your deceitful arguments to gain support in order to appease your Zionist warlords! What are the chances of that happening!

    December 4, 2011 at 4:15 pm | Reply
    • FactChecker

      If Iran wants to be a military nuclear power they better get used to serveillance. And maybe they should think about how it will feel to have ICBMs targeted at every Iranian city with over 100 people. The U.S. and Soviet Union lived with the threat of mutually assured distruction for most of my life. We can target Iran if that's what they want.

      December 4, 2011 at 11:04 pm | Reply
      • mrlgh

        Dear, dear...FactChecker, maybe you should use Spell Checker!

        December 6, 2011 at 9:10 am |
    • rick

      " zionist warlords"!! Wow, reading comic books in your parents basement while skipping school has surely affected your grasp on reality

      December 6, 2011 at 12:01 pm | Reply
  92. JohnWV

    All our Mideast wars have been against our interests, yet successfully advocated by Israel. Again against our interests, Israel has involved us in increasingly overt operations against Iran. Spies and American military drones in Iranian airspace are the most recent revelations. Since before 9-11, American soldiers have been dying for Israel's “right to defend itself.” We are at war. Those that did this to us are the lobbyists, organizers, financiers, and other manipulators acting for a foreign government (Israel). America's right to defend itself demands that they be prosecuted for their treason.

    December 4, 2011 at 3:43 pm | Reply
    • Lord Haw Haw

      Lol.... It's always a Zionist conspiracy with you nut jobs. Tell me this....if you are correct, then what is this great power that the "manipulators" have over the United States government? What causes the West to do Israels bidding? Some sort of spell, black magic magic? Generations of tinfoil hats and mind control perhaps?

      Hopefully the people of Iran will rise up and topple the IR before the Massive Zionist Industrial Military Complex has to huh ?=D

      December 4, 2011 at 5:08 pm | Reply
    • Ground Zero

      I was wondering how long it would take
      for some nut to bring Israel into this.
      MOW RON.

      December 6, 2011 at 10:34 am | Reply
    • rick

      "oh, woe is me," the palestinian credo: "Its Israel that is the cause of our misery. Its the US that causes our misery. its not us. we had to kill those school children on that school bus. we were forced by the US and Israel to kill Israeli athletes in munich. Its the west, the jews, the zionists AIPAC, the UK the HIndus, everyone but us that causes us to send rockets into Israel. The israelis build walls just to prevent our suicide bombers from entering into Israel in order to die as martyrs and die for Islam. It is Israel's fault that we attacked them in 1948,1967 and 1973 and lost every time. It is Israels fault that shites kill Sunnis and Sunnis kill shites. Oh, woe is me"

      December 6, 2011 at 11:50 am | Reply
  93. rob2tall

    These drones ought to have sufficient high explosives built in to blow up secret technology if they are either shot down or fail and land in places that are hostile to the USA

    December 4, 2011 at 3:39 pm | Reply
    • Bill

      This isn't the first one that has been lost. I am sure the Chinese have already copied this. In the hands of the Iranians, there is no danger at all of them having the wreckage. I doubt any muslim country has anyone smart enough to fly it.

      December 5, 2011 at 7:14 am | Reply
      • Cuervo Jones

        if they can't build or fly a drone why does everyone think they can build an atomic weapon.

        December 6, 2011 at 11:40 am |
    • ranger 830

      WHO SAYS THEY DONT HAVE SELF DESTRUCT CAPABILITIES!!!!! WINK WINK DONT TELL ANYONE OK!

      December 5, 2011 at 11:00 am | Reply
  94. Iranian

    Death to amerika

    December 4, 2011 at 2:43 pm | Reply
    • Royal

      now there's novel!!!

      December 4, 2011 at 3:24 pm | Reply
    • Lord Haw Haw

      Can you losers come up with a new chant already? Face it...it's not very original and we've all heard it before. Death to this...death to that... yawn...Zzzzzzzzzzz. The IR will fall one way or another. ;-P

      December 4, 2011 at 4:55 pm | Reply
    • actual Iranian

      And a big hello to the Israeli couch surfers. Please do not be /ashamed/ to use your actual nationality.

      December 4, 2011 at 5:24 pm | Reply
      • Brian

        From the USA, the greatest country on earth.

        December 4, 2011 at 7:13 pm |
      • rick

        you would be surprised at how many non Israelis can see through the palestinian propaganda being spewed in these forums daily.

        December 6, 2011 at 11:53 am |
    • NC

      you are a delusional idiot

      December 4, 2011 at 6:27 pm | Reply
    • NC

      get a new phrase like haw haw said

      December 4, 2011 at 6:28 pm | Reply
    • Brian

      Iranian, another idle threat, oooh im so nervous. Iran is a waste of oxygen on this planet.

      December 4, 2011 at 7:08 pm | Reply
    • FactChecker

      At the height of the cold war, the U.S. nuclear arsenal had the explosive equivalent of 10 tons of TNT for every human on earth. Today that would be over 370 tons of TNT per Iranian. If Iran wants to be a military nuclear power that threatens the U.S. they should think about that.

      December 4, 2011 at 11:15 pm | Reply
      • crusader12

        You are not only going to fight Iran? Do you fascist yanks ever think about the consequences of both Russia and China deciding they have had enough of American privateering? lol....suddenly not so brave huh? That's what I thought. America is the bully on the playground. They'll pick on you if you can't fight back but you wanna fight people who could bomb our country too....we're not that tough. lol what a joke

        December 6, 2011 at 12:02 pm |
    • Dave

      yawn....that's so yesterday

      December 6, 2011 at 9:22 am | Reply
    • Teresa

      Spell it right stupid!

      December 6, 2011 at 9:28 am | Reply
    • Grog Says

      Another six year old troll
      picking his nose and farting.

      December 6, 2011 at 10:36 am | Reply
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