Graphic: The RQ-170 was reportedly used to watch former Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden during the Navy SEAL mission that killed him
So Where's The Damage? Pentagon Admits Iranian TV Footage DOES Show U.S. Stealth Drone... But Insists It WASN'T Shot Down -- Daily Mail
* Images on Iran's Press TV show lost RQ-170 Sentinel
* U.S. had not previously verified whether Iran got drone
* Officials claimed it would have been damaged in a crash
* But pictures suggest their high-tech drone is still intact
* Obama decides not to retrieve drone to avoid 'act of war'
* Questions over why aircraft did not self-destruct in crash
Mystery surrounds how America's most sophisticated spy plane was captured by Iran after it was paraded on Iranian state television earlier today in near mint condition.
The Islamic Republic claims the lost RQ-170 Sentinel was on a surveillance mission last week when it was detected by Iranians over Kashmar and was downed by their armed forces.
But the drone appears to be in good shape contradicting Iran's claim it was shot down - and backing up U.S. claims that Tehran did not bring it down through electronic, cyber or any other means.
Previous Post: Iran Shows Off Captured U.S. Drone
My Comment: A few things stick out from this U.S. intelligence disaster. (1)It appears that the Iranians were successful in directly taking over the drone, showing a cyber sophistication that many doubted that they had. (2) President Obama decided to not retrieve the drone .... giving me an indication that such an action would have entailed casualties and would have been construed as an act of war .... a prospect that President Obama obviously does not want to be faced with right now. (3) Russia and China want their hands on this drone .... expect both countries to be pressured by Iran to keep voting against sanctions .... and as a sweetener .... they would then have the opportunity to check out this U.S. tech.