Sen. Lindsey Graham made the case for shooting down manned Russian jets during an appearance on Fox News after an unmanned U.S. surveillance drone was shot down over international waters yesterday.
Graham believes the American military should respond to Russia’s alleged provocation with violence, potentially sparking war with the nation’s largest nuclear power.
“We should hold them accountable and say, ‘If you ever get near another U.S. asset flying in international waters, your airplane would be shot down.'”
Graham then appealed to a Republican Party hero: “What would Ronald Reagan do right now? He would start shooting Russian planes down if they were threatening our asset.”
Lindsey Graham is all in favor of shooting down Russian planes (with Russian pilots) over effing unmanned *drones*—potentially starting a US-Russia war.
No doubt, the Reaper incident was most likely a deliberate provocation to have an excuse to escalate.pic.twitter.com/6MJo8l61Ks
— Gonzalo Lira (@GonzaloLira1968) March 15, 2023
Graham’s remarks came hours after two Russian Su-27 fighter jets pursued a U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone yesterday. After reaching the Reaper, the Pentagon claims that one of the jets flew in front of the drone multiple times, then dumped fuel over it before clipping the drone’s propeller, forcing it to make an emergency water landing.
The Biden administration condemned the Russian pilots for acting “in a reckless, environmentally unsound, and unprofessional manner” and being “unsafe and unprofessional” while in the air.
Russia, meanwhile, claims the U.S. craft was behaving abnormally and approaching restricted airspace at the time of the incident.
“The drone flight was carried out with its transponders turned off and violated the boundaries” of the country’s “Special Military Operation” in Ukraine, Russia’s Ministry of Defense claimed in a statement. “As a result of sharp maneuvering at about 9:30 (Moscow time), the MQ-9 drone went into an unguided flight and collided with the water surface.”
While Graham’s rallying cry made some Republicans sympathetic, others questioned whether Reagan would have rushed to start a military conflict with Russia.
“Neocons always leave two things out about Reagan,” wrote one Twitter user. “He had protectionist tendencies” and “He signed one of the greatest peace deals ever, ending the Cold War. He removed a whole category of nuclear weapons.”
“He NEVER would be in direct conflict with Russia.”
Graham is so repulsive. Neocons always leave two things out about Reagan.
1. He had protectionist tendencies.
2. He signed one of the greatest peace deals ever, ending the Cold War. He removed a whole category of nuclear weapons.
He NEVER would be in direct conflict with Russia. https://t.co/Ix5UeqmWwU— MearsheimerRealist (@R1Machiavellian) March 15, 2023
TVLEE
March 16, 2023 at 7:43 am
If my president, President Trump, had been in office none of these horrendous things would be occurring! The DCAP (demoncrap/communist/atheist party) has us on the path to destruction!
Coolmeadow Kid
March 16, 2023 at 12:53 pm
You’re right, TBLEE. They would be scared shirtless (if you know what I mean) and know better than to push his button.
Bret
March 16, 2023 at 9:00 am
Like graham said if the Russians CONTINUE to threaten an American asset, they should be shot down. Reagan believed in peace because of the strength of the military. He would have answered with strength if they CONTINUED. If I want to see writers twist peoples words then I will read the lefts website.
Plato v2.0
March 16, 2023 at 2:05 pm
NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED DURING THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION. Lady Graham and her FOR THE camera talking points, as well as the rest of you here screaming Reagan this, Reagan that, don’t know Reagan!
You cannot go to war with a broken economy and expect any kind of success anywhere!
Daniel
March 16, 2023 at 9:39 am
No he/ she. He wouldn’t. The only Government Reagan would’ve wanted replaces is OURS, starting with YOU.
Plato v2.0
March 16, 2023 at 2:01 pm
Reagan never said a bad thing about a single republican ever. Not in public anyway, and Reagan would tell Lady Graham here to: SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP UNLESS SPOKEN TO!!!
Ronald Reagan’s first concern would be a functioning economy. With one of those, everything else kinda just falls right into place!!!
OhBrother3
March 16, 2023 at 10:59 pm
Something worse than this happened during Reagan’s term. The Russians shot down flight 007 with Congressman Larry McDonald. McDonald was the strongest anti Russian Congressmen at the time. They murdered him and Reagan seemed to take NOaction. Time proved Reagan realized Russia’s weaknesses and used a different technique to make the Evil Empire crumble. Reagan believed in protecting us and our young boy’s in uniform through strength and a ready military-Peace through Strength.