The Middle East's Perennial Drone Charade
FIRST INSTANCE: The 'Threat' Emerges (1980s) While drones weren't a primary concern then, the broader 'Iranian threat' narrative solidified during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988). The US, notably, provided intelligence and aid to Iraq, even as Saddam Hussein's regime used chemical weapons ( Foreign Policy, 2013 ). The groundwork was laid: Iran was the designated regional menace, regardless of who
was actually using WMDs or invading their neighbors. REPETITIONS: The Perpetual Provocation Cycle (2000s-2010s) 2002: 'Months from a Nuke' (Netanyahu's famous claim) – Benjamin Netanyahu, then an opposition leader, famously stated in US congressional testimony that Iran was "months away" from developing a nuclear weapon. This claim has been recycled annually for over two decades ( ProPublica, 2015
). The 'imminent threat' justification is elastic, shifting from 'nukes' to 'drones' as convenient. 2019: Hormuz 'Attacks' and Deployments – In 2019, amidst alleged attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz (which Iran denied, and evidence remained ambiguous), the Pentagon announced a significant increase in deployments, including the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, citing "threats
from Iran" ( NYT, 2019 ). This occurred just as the Trump administration was ramping up its "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran. OUTCOMES: Escalation and Entrenchment Each iteration of the 'Iranian threat' narrative, whether it's nuclear ambitions or 'provocative' drone flights, invariably leads to increased US military presence, expanded arms sales to regional allies (see: Costs of War Project,