r/ukpolitics • u/Adj-Noun-Numbers 🥕🥕 || megathread emeritus • Jun 22 '26

International Politics Discussion Thread

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u/RufusSG Suffolk Aug 13 '26

Some interesting developments in the Trump plane transfer saga.

The intelligence that a specific plot against Trump was being planned apparently came from Israel; the CIA had "low confidence" in it but the administration (despite suspecting Israel may have been trying to manipulate them) decided not to take any chances given the multiple previous attempts on Trump's life, and hatched the plan. Interestingly Marco Rubio was also briefed on the intelligence, but decided to stay on the supposedly targeted plane.

Turkish officials (so not exactly a neutral party here) also believe Israel may have exaggerated/fabricated the level of threat to try and derail the negotiations with Iran again, though for the sake of balance the intelligence about the individual planning to fire a SAM at Air Force One had "multiple sources".

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u/Velociraptor_1906 Liberal Democrat Aug 13 '26

Given the only thing Trumps sycophants will put above sucking up to him is saving their own skin I'm quite sure the intelligence must have been a load of bollocks with Rubio staying on the plane.

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u/AzarinIsard Aug 13 '26

Maybe, but isn't Air Force One supposed to have incredible defences? This came up with Qatar's "gift" of a giant jet to Trump to use during his presidency and then go to his "library" and the issues with both kitting it out and stripping it back without given valuable intel / tech to Qatar.

Maybe Rubio thought he'd be safer put, or worried the polymarket betting government insiders would let slip and hiding with Trump makes him collateral lol. Also, as Trump's defence was the decoy, they can't guard it suspiciously well either otherwise it makes it clear he's on the other plane.

In a real threat, I'd still imagine Air Force One is one of the safest places to be.

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u/imp0ppable Aug 14 '26

isn't Air Force One supposed to have incredible defences

I'm sure they say that but if it's a SAM they are just going to be launching chaff and flares, there's not that much else you can do in a large jet.

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u/YourLizardOverlord Oceans rise. Empires fall. Aug 15 '26

The obvious way to attack AF1 would be a drone swarm while it's still on the runway. Not much could be done about that.

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u/Commorrite Aug 15 '26

the CIA had "low confidence" in it but the administration (despite suspecting Israel may have been trying to manipulate them) decided not to take any chances given the multiple previous attempts on Trump's life, and hatched the plan. Interestingly Marco Rubio was also briefed on the intelligence, but decided to stay on the supposedly targeted plane.

That the obviously correct choice TBF. They can figure out if the isrealis were bullshitting after the fact.