There are now many versions of the story of saving a colonel downed deep inside Iran from official and unofficial sources. Trump called it a great victory, a vindication of American superiority in war machine and technology. Some called it a big farce, spending US$2b to save a colonel, losing 11 aircraft in the process. What is the real story? So far it is all based on personal views from the facts reported and available to the public. The real inside story is still a secret.
To assume that the American would throw in 11 aircraft just to save a downed pilot is quite ludicrous. Some ignoramus even argued that this is standard American procedure, including sending two C130s into the operation, including building a make shift runway in the heart of Iran. No one is asking how many manpower and machinery will be needed and how long it would take to build a runway in enemy territory.
Scot Ritter gave his personal account on what could have happened in one of his interviews. There was a big military operation to enter Iran's nuclear facility in Isfahan by Special Forces to steal Iranian enriched uranium, a similar operation like the kidnapping of Maduro in Venezuela. The Americans got carried away be their easy success in that operation. But this time it is different, no traitors to open the door for them, or maybe they thought they had and walked into a trap.
Ritter said the two C130s were fully loaded with equipment, choppers and troops for the mission, ie very heavy. Because of the heavy load, both had to go to the edge of the runway for the full distance for the takeoff. While doing a U turn at the end of the runway, the first C130's nose wheel went out of the makeshift runway and got stuck. The second C130 also had the same problem while trying to avoid hitting the first aircaft. After failing to get unstuck, they eventually transferred whatever they could into new rescue aircraft that arrived and flew off, but not before blowing up the two C130s. Problem with Ritter's version, the C130s were preparing to take off, ie completed their mission with Iranian uranium. Obviously not.
Very likely, the C130s actually just landed at the far end of the runway, had yet to proceed with their mission and got stuck, unable to unload their equipment, choppers and Special Forces, and very likely already getting fired on. Ritter's version assumed that the Iranians were sleeping and the Americans could fly so many aircraft in and out without being noticed and tracked and attacked. The wreckage said they were under heavy fire. It must be. The Iranian radars are everywhere, especially near Isfahan, their nuclear site. And the location of the runway is in the middle of a vast flat land, fully exposed, nothing to take cover. There is no way for the Americans to fly in and out like in homeland America. This is war, this is enemy territory. For all they know, the Iranians were tracking every American aircraft and were waiting for them in an ambush.
The story of a downed weapon system officer, a colonel, is even more ridiculous. Weapon system officer is normally a captain or major or of lower rank. What is a colonel doing behind a pilot of a F15E? Was he the commander in charge of the mission to steal Iranian uranium but got shot down? Even if some of the Special Forces were diverted to save the colonel, how are they going to get out of Iran in such numbers? Rescuing a couple of soldiers in hostile territory with a few choppers quite possible, but a bigger group on top of a mountain and inside enemy territory, and already exposed with hunting parties everywhere, are only made in Hollywood. Every aircraft flying in the area will be spotted by radar or visually and would be shot at. If the Iranians could take down a F15E, and another 10 aircraft, there is no way that the rescuing choppers or a few transport aircraft could come in and fly off safely with their pickups.
Very likely the colonel and many Special Forces are still stuck inside Iran, hiding. Very likely the Iranians are conducting search parties for them and have the area cordoned off, with radars, AA guns and missiles all ready to shoot down anything in the sky or on the ground.'
Trump can tell all the stories he wants. What is the truth? Which is the real story?