Neocon Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) banged the war drums on Fox News by calling for the U.S. military to shoot down Russian planes over the downed drone.
US officials claim the drone was on a routine mission in international airspace.
They accused Russia of attempting to intercept the drone and committing an “unprofessional act.”
Unsurprisingly, hawkish Congress members and legacy media have used the incident to push WWIII propaganda.
Reports said the crash could lead to “unintended escalation.”
JUST IN: A Russian fighter jet collided with a U.S. drone over the Black Sea, an incident EUCOM says could lead to "unintended escalation." https://t.co/fAnU7lKpc2
— ABC News (@ABC) March 14, 2023
ABC News reported:
U.S. European Command labeled the incident as “dangerous” and said it could “lead to miscalculation and unintended escalation.”
“At approximately 7:03 AM (CET), one of the Russian Su-27 aircraft struck the propeller of the MQ-9, causing U.S. forces to have to bring the MQ-9 down in international waters,” U.S. European Command said in a statement.
“Several times before the collision, the Su-27s dumped fuel on and flew in front of the MQ-9 in a reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional manner,” it added.
EUCOM said the incident “demonstrates a lack of competence in addition to being unsafe and unprofessional.”
Lindsey Graham spoke with Fox News' Sean Hannity and called for America to open fire on Russian jets.
He said it's what Ronald Reagan would do.
"They shot down our drone. What should our answer be?" Hannity asked.
"We should hold them accountable and say that if you ever get near another US asset flying in international waters, you airplane would be shot down," Graham said.
"What would Ronald Reagan do right now? He would start shooting Russian planes down if they were threatening our assets."
WATCH:
Lindsey Graham on the encounter between a US drone and Russian planes: "What would Ronald Reagan do right now? He would start shooting Russian planes down if they were threatening our assets." pic.twitter.com/rmO4Vl6dd8
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 15, 2023
Graham doesn't mind starting WWIII over a drone downed in the Black Sea.
Last I checked, the Black Sea borders Ukraine.
It's nowhere near the United States.
What business does that drone have being near Ukraine?
None.
RT reported:
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has suggested opening fire on Russian fighter jets that intercept US drones, after one such encounter ended with an MQ-9 Reaper plunging into the Black Sea on Tuesday.
“What would Ronald Reagan do right now? He would start shooting Russian planes down, if they were threatening our assets,” the veteran hawk told Fox News, while commenting on the incident.
The Pentagon has accused Russian military pilots of conducting unsafe air maneuvers near the drone, which it claimed was on a surveillance mission near Crimea. At one point a Su-27 allegedly hit the Reaper’s propeller, causing it to ditch in the sea.
The Russian Defense Ministry has denied reports of a collision, and claimed the drone stalled after executing a drastic maneuver. Moscow’s Ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov, suggested that American drones that can carry weapons have no business flying near Russian borders.
Graham attributed the encounter to purported weakness shown by President Joe Biden, who the senator described as “a deer in the headlights.” He concluded that the problem started with the pullout of troops in Afghanistan in 2021, will lead to new conflicts.
Lindsey Graham is no stranger to pushing war propaganda.
The war-hawk called for Putin's assassination on live TV.
Lindsey Graham Calls for the Assassination of Vladimir Putin on Live TV
He threatened Elon Musk after he urged for peace between Russia and Ukraine.
Lindsey Graham Threatens Elon Musk for Urging Ukraine-Russia Peace
Graham urged the United States give tanks to Ukraine to protect the 'World Order.'
GOP Senator Says Not Giving Ukraine Tanks Threatens the ‘World Order’
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