British Intel Reports Critical of US Shoot Down

The Sunday Times of London reported that a British intelligence report is "severely critical" of the US Navy in the downing of an Iranian airliner on July 3. The British report is based on radio communications monitored in the Persian Gulf.The report says the regularly scheduled Iran Air flight left Bandar Abbas for Dubai almost on schedule. The airliner took off only three minutes late. Moreover, the Civilian airliner was on the correct flight path. Finally, the plane was climbing when it was downed.As John Adams once pointed out that "facts are stubborn things," Pentagon officials had no immediate comment.The Sunday Times said, "The intelligence report was based on conversations between the aircraft and air controllers at Bandar Abbas during the two hours preceding the downing of the Airbus." Read full story