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Old 07-09-2008, 07:42   #1
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Iran Tests Missile Capable Of Hitting Israel, U.S. Bases

This is starting to get interesting....saber rattling or prelude to other events?

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran test-fired nine long- and medium-range missiles Wednesday during war games that officials said aimed to show the country can retaliate against any U.S. or Israeli attack, state television reported.

• Click here to view photos.

The exercise was being conducted at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which about 40 percent of the world's oil passes. Iran has threatened to shut down traffic in the strait if attacked.

Oil prices jumped on news of the missile tests, rising $1.80 to $137.84 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange by afternoon in Europe.

Gen. Hossein Salami, the air force commander of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards, said the exercise would "demonstrate our resolve and might against enemies who in recent weeks have threatened Iran with harsh language," the TV report said.

Footage showed at least six missiles firing simultaneously, and said the barrage included a new version of the Shahab-3 missile, which officials have said has a range of 1,250 miles and is armed with a 1-ton conventional warhead.

RelatedPhoto Essays
Iranian Missile Test That would put Israel, Turkey, the Arabian peninsula, Afghanistan and Pakistan within striking distance.

"Our hands are always on the trigger and our missiles are ready for launch," the official IRNA news agency quoted Salami as saying Wednesday.

The report comes less than a day after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad dismissed fears that Israel and the United States could be preparing to attack his country, calling the possibility a "funny joke."

"I assure you that there won't be any war in the future," Ahmadinejad told a news conference Tuesday during a visit to Malaysia for a summit of developing Muslim nations.

But even as Ahmadinejad and other Iranian officials have dismissed the possibility of attack, Tehran has stepped up its warnings of retaliation if the Americans — or Israelis — do launch military action, including threats to hit Israel and U.S. Gulf bases with missiles and stop oil traffic through the vital Gulf region.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called Wednesday's tests "evidence that the missile threat is not an imaginary one."

"Those who say that there is no Iranian missile threat against which we should build a missile defense system perhaps ought to talk to the Iranians about their claims," Rice said while traveling in Sofia, Bulgaria.

A White House spokesman called the tests "completely inconsistent with Iran's obligations to the world."

"The Iranian regime only furthers the isolation of the Iranian people from the international community when it engages in this sort of activity," said Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the National Security Council.

"They should also refrain from further missile tests if they truly seek to gain the trust of the world," he added, speaking from Japan where President Bush is attending the Group of Eight summit.

In late June, Vice Adm. Kevin Cosgriff, who was then the commander of the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, said any attempt by Iran to seal off the Strait of Hormuz would be viewed as an act of war. The U.S. 5th Fleet is based in Bahrain, across the Gulf from Iran.

Israel's military sent warplanes over the eastern Mediterranean for a large military exercise in June that U.S. officials described as a possible rehearsal for a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, which the West fears are aimed at producing atomic weapons.

Iran says its nuclear program is geared only toward generating electricity, not weapons.

The Israeli exercise was widely interpreted as a show of force as well as a practice on skills needed to execute a long-range strike mission.

Shaul Mofaz, an Israeli Cabinet minister, set off an international uproar last month by saying in a published interview that Israel would have "no choice" but to attack Iran if it doesn't halt its nuclear program. Mofaz is a former military chief and defense minister, and has been Israel's representative in a strategic dialogue on Iran with U.S. officials.

On Wednesday, Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said Israel "does not desire hostility and conflict with Iran."

"But it is clear that the Iranian nuclear program and the Iranian ballistic missile program is a matter of grave concern," Regev said.

The Guards and Iran's regular army routinely hold exercises two or three times a year.
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Old 07-09-2008, 08:00   #2
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We may need to do our own Training Exercise and sit out in the straights and practice shooting down missles!!!!
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Old 07-09-2008, 08:03   #3
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We may need to do our own Training Exercise and sit out in the straights and practice shooting down missles!!!!
I agree. Anything leaving their airspace other than scheduled traffic needs to be shot down.

Time to move a couple of extra Aegis cruisers into the area, along with some of the latest Patriots, if we have not done so already.

TR
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Old 07-09-2008, 08:38   #4
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From: http://www.breitbart.com/article.php...show_article=1

Obama's responses:

Quote:
At this point, the report is unclear, it's still early
Quote:
What this underscores is the need for ... a clear policy that is putting the burden on Iran to change behavior. And frankly, we just have not been able to do that the last several years, partly because we're not engaged in direct diplomacy.
(Oh, so THAT's why...man, what a Foreign Affairs Genius...)

"Obama said he continued to favor an incentive package that is aimed at getting Iran to drop its nuclear ambitions."

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Old 07-09-2008, 09:14   #5
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I agree. Anything leaving their airspace other than scheduled traffic needs to be shot down.

Time to move a couple of extra Aegis cruisers into the area, along with some of the latest Patriots, if we have not done so already.

TR
Or a couple of Ohio/Los Angeles class subs....with tomahawks of course......
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Old 07-09-2008, 09:20   #6
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Originally Posted by enterfirst View Post
From: http://www.breitbart.com/article.php...show_article=1

Obama's responses:




(Oh, so THAT's why...man, what a Foreign Affairs Genius...)

"Obama said he continued to favor an incentive package that is aimed at getting Iran to drop its nuclear ambitions."

He must mean the USN
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Old 07-09-2008, 09:22   #7
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Or a couple of Ohio/Los Angeles class subs....with tomahawks of course......
No ABM capability there, and ineffective against the Iranian weapons sites without nuke warheads.

TR
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Old 07-09-2008, 11:39   #8
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Iran just loves to prod the proverbial hornet's nest, don't they?

Their stance might deter lightweights like Obama, but the Israelis are quite a different story.
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Old 07-09-2008, 13:22   #9
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I truly wonder what they think this will accomplish, are they really trying to provoke us into action? I find it reminiscent of this http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...08/2133633.htm and an equally poor choice from the POV of the Iranian commanders. Its as if they didn’t get the memo that our administration WILL SERIOUSLY throw down if needed.
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Old 07-09-2008, 15:18   #10
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I truly wonder what they think this will accomplish, are they really trying to provoke us into action? I find it reminiscent of this http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...08/2133633.htm and an equally poor choice from the POV of the Iranian commanders.
I think we are seeing a normal example of the security dilemma here. Preparations by Israelis for an attack apparently improves their security, but results in a perceived reduction in Iran. Iran responds by doing the same thing, except those impacted by it include the West. (Of course this has been ongoing, with Israel starting preparations as a result of Iran seeking Nuclear Power/Weapons)

In contrast, the boat incident in my opinion is quite different. That did not appear to be an institutional decision premeditated by the leadership of the Rev Guard, but an unplanned incident by a couple guys who got a bit overzealous.

Stu
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Old 07-09-2008, 15:25   #11
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In contrast, the boat incident in my opinion is quite different. That did not appear to be an institutional decision premeditated by the leadership of the Rev Guard, but an unplanned incident by a couple guys who got a bit overzealous.

Stu
I think we sent the wrong message by not responding more strongly.

You make an aggressive move on a US Navy vessel in international waters, in the wake of the Cole and other attacks, and your leadership threatening this country, you should be blasted out of the water on the spot and a complaint filed afterwards.

TR
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Old 07-09-2008, 16:22   #12
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Here Here

Its like looking for the biggest guy in the room and trying to rob him with a water gun, sure, he MIGHT just be happy it wasn't for real...


or you might be ER bound momentarily.
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Old 07-10-2008, 13:24   #13
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Missile launch photo

Nice follow up to the tests. Looks like the big photo was modified.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,379741,00.html
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Old 07-10-2008, 13:54   #14
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F-22 turn down for the Gulf

Yesterday I posted in Early Bird the Obama interview done by the AF Times.
In a PS, I noted that "Pentagon Officals" vetoed a USAF plan to send the new F-22 to the Gulf.

The AF Times reported, in part, that "Pentagon Officals" made their decision to, "not antagonize Iran".

I hope the Pentagon is able to re-evaluate and take appropiate action.

RF 1

Last edited by Red Flag 1; 07-10-2008 at 13:56.
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