Ex-NatSec Spox on CNN Torpedoes Congressman’s ‘Mothership’ Theory On New Jersey Drones
Ex-National Security Council spokesman Shawn Turner told CNN’s Kasie Hunt that a “mothership” is not releasing drones over New Jersey, torpedoing a claim by a New Jersy congressman.
Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) claimed on Fox News this week that an Iranian “ mothership” was responsible for launching the mysterious drones whose sightings have alarmed residents all over the East Coast.
On Thursday’s edition of CNN This Morning, Turner — a former Director Of Communications for the U.S. National Intelligence under President Barack Obama and current Professor Of Strategic communication at Michigan State University — derided that theory, as well as the notion of shooting them down:
KASIE HUNT: All right, joining us now, former director of communication for U.S. National Intelligence at the office of the director of National Intelligence, Shawn Turner. Shawn, always great to have you on the program.
This is just remarkable.
SHAWN TURNER: Yes.
HUNT: I saw one New Jersey official say — you know, it’s — they’re like the size of an SUV. It would be like a Suburban flying in the sky over your house.
What do you think is going on here?
TURNER: Yeah, good morning. It’s good to be with you.
You know, I understand that these drones and this whole thing is unsettling to people and that it’s raising a lot of concern, but I’ve spent a lot of time looking at this to really try to understand exactly what you just asked — you know, what’s going on here.
I think the most important thing to say is I think there’s two things. First of all, there is no Iranian mothership. I think it’s important just to reiterate that. But the other thing is I look at whether or not these drones appear to represent any type of threat to the people of New Jersey or New York. I tend to agree with those who have — who have assessed they don’t appear to represent a threat. It is concerning that they are flying in areas over military installations.
But I think that what we’re going to find here, and I would say this is within a matter of days and not weeks or months — you know, we are going to get to the bottom of where these drones are coming from and who is flying them. Look, each of these drones — they have to take off and they have to land. They don’t appear to be doing anything that’s out of the — that’s sort of supernatural or superhuman with regard to the way that they’re operating in the sky.
So I think that what we’re going to find here is, yes, there will be some individuals who are behind this. My research found that there is a lot of access to drone technology. And the market, when it comes to the ability to get these — to build these drones is somewhat saturated.
So I know it’s a nuisance and I know it’s something people are concerned about, but we’re going to get to the bottom of this and I think we’re going to find that there are individuals right here in the U.S. who are behind this and who are going to be dealt with accordingly.
HUNT: OK. The Congressman, Jeff Van Drew from New Jersey, also went on to say that — well, let’s just — let’s just watch what he said, and we’ll talk about it on the other side.
TURNER: Sure.
HUNT: He talked about the fact that they should be —
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JEFF VAN DREW (R-NJ): These drones should be shot down. Whether it was some crazy hobbyist that we can’t imagine or whether it is Iran — and I think it very possibly could be — they should be shot down. We are not getting the full deal. And the military is on alert with this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HUNT: “They should be shot down,” he says.
TURNER: Yeah.
HUNT: Is that a good idea?
TURNER: Yeah. You know, at this point I really don’t think it is.
First of all, shooting down these drones — we’ve seen some reporting that suggested they are — they’re not small. You’ve got to be mindful of the result of shooting down an aircraft and what happens on the ground.
But also, look, there are a lot of things that we can do from an investigative perspective to understand who is behind this, what they’re up to, and to deal with this without a military-type or kinetic operation as a first option.
So look, we — I think that at this point because these drones have not done anything to actually threaten residents or to — we don’t have any indication that they’re actually collecting or surveilling anything along those lines, let the investigation continue. Let’s figure out who’s responsible and if we can’t, then at some point we escalate our actions to deal with this and possibly putting up other aircraft as a first option before shooting these drones down.
HUNT: All right, Shawn Turner for us this morning. Sir, very grateful for your perspective. Thanks very much for being here.
TURNER: Thanks. Good to be with you.
Watch above via CNN This Morning.
