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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Iran Moves Ballistic Missiles Into Launch Position |
| 2008-06-29 |
| Iran has moved ballistic missiles into launch positions, with Israel’s Dimona nuclear plant among the possible targets, defence sources said last week. The movement of Shahab-3B missiles, which have an estimated range of more than 1,250 miles, followed a large-scale exercise earlier this month in which the Israeli air force flew en masse over the Mediterranean in an apparent rehearsal for a threatened attack on Iran’s nuclear installations. Israel believes Iran’s nuclear programme is aimed at acquiring nuclear weapons. The sources said Iran was preparing to retaliate for any onslaught by firing missiles at Dimona, where Israel’s own nuclear weapons are believed to be made. Major-General Mohammad Jafari, the commander of the Revolutionary Guard, told a Tehran daily: “This country [Israel] is completely within the range of the Islamic Republic’s missiles. Our missile power and capability are such that the Zionist regime – despite all its abilities – cannot confront it.” An editorial in a government newspaper, Jomhouri Eslami, said: “Our response will hit right at their temple.” The sabre-rattling coincided with a visit to Israel yesterday by the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, for talks with his Israeli opposite number, Lieutenant-General Gabi Ashkenazi. This intensified speculation that Israel was seeking US approval for a possible attack on Iran. “Although the visit had been planned well in advance, we got the feeling he was coming to make sure we’ll obey the strict timetable agreed with the US,” said an Israeli defence source. He refused to elaborate. President George Bush has approved the linking of Israel to a US infrared satellite detection system that could spot Shahab missile launches within seconds. This should enable the Israeli air force to destroy such missiles in the booster stage. The system will also give the Israelis about 15 minutes to seek shelter before any warhead hits. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #19 Missles with that range and accuracy and payload in the Iranian inventory, however, are very limited McZoid, and are fixed launch. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2008-06-29 23:54 |
| #18 You're late, Joe. RB covered that yesterday. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2008-06-29 23:47 |
| #17 TOPIX/REDDIT > IRAN THREATENS PERSIAN GULF OIL, TRADE SHUTDOWN IF ATTACKED BY ISRAEL [40% of World's oil Supply Trade]. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-06-29 21:45 |
| #16 When Saddam Hussein was launching Scuds at Israel, he used mobile launchers. Iran has a superior launch and hide capacity. That is why I think this confrontation will go nuclear. And who cares? Anymore wheel spinning will indulge Iranian ICBMs targeted at American cities. In 8 years, young people are going to be asking our depraved generation: Why the f%&$ didn't you do something about that? Was your talk of "pre-emption" nothing but gas-baggery? |
| Posted by: McZoid 2008-06-29 20:50 |
| #15 This should enable the Israeli air force to destroy such missiles in the booster stage. With what? What nonesense. |
| Posted by: KBK 2008-06-29 20:20 |
| #14 James, Ima think (g) has thought about this a lot. |
| Posted by: .5MT 2008-06-29 20:06 |
| #13 #6: The key point to remember, they're not nuke tipped yet. Ummm, G(R)om Serious Question If someone states they're going to kill you, Points a gun at you, do you assume there's no danger, it's not loaded. (That'll get you dead real fast) Or do you kill the bastard and check the gun later? |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2008-06-29 19:27 |
| #12 Another Hiroshima would bring the West's mortal enemies to their knees. It isn't a tragedy when stupid people die. |
| Posted by: McZoid 2008-06-29 15:37 |
| #11 The key point to remember, they're not nuke tipped yet. I wouldn't bet the farm on that, grom. |
| Posted by: mrp 2008-06-29 11:44 |
| #10 Everybody, remember that Iran has a bunch of different missiles: http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/iran/missile/shahab-4.htm Use the drop-down menu in the upper left to select the class of missile, but check out this page first, especially the map on the bottom. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2008-06-29 09:11 |
| #9 DarthVader: The Democrat congress's one significant accomplishment in the last two years was to take away funding for the airborne laser. Those bloody idiots. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2008-06-29 09:01 |
| #8 You know, if we had a laser that could destroy it on the ground ... especially if it has fuel in it. I'm just sayin'. Accidents happen you know. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2008-06-29 08:50 |
| #7 And mid-November is a long time away. Lot's of opportunities to train the Iranian management and crews in how not to react. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2008-06-29 07:47 |
| #6 The key point to remember, they're not nuke tipped yet. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2008-06-29 07:27 |
| #5 Our response will hit right at their temple I'll be the Joooooooooooooos go for the C&C. |
| Posted by: .5MT 2008-06-29 03:26 |
| #4 Do we know where the launch sites are? If so, I would doubt that the missiles will get launched. They should be one of the first things taken out by stealth bombers. The Iranians will never see them coming. |
| Posted by: Rambler in California 2008-06-29 02:55 |
| #3 They just have to fire enough of them. The bombs will always get through. The old saw applies; how do you sink a carrier with 100 missiles for defense? Fire 101 missiles at it. |
| Posted by: gromky 2008-06-29 02:38 |
| #2 Shahb-3 Missile: Basedon NKor Nodong-1 missiles. Range over 1000KM, CEP - varies per design mark (B more accurate than A at about 100-200m, etc). 700kg warhead capacity. Factor Iranian workmanship, factor in Patriot and Arrow batteries, and any shared US SRBM/IRBM ABM technology from the THAAD program, and only G-d knows where the missiles will end up or if they will hit their target. Thats a mighty big roll of the dice for Iran. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2008-06-29 01:56 |
| #1 "kick me" signs reposted with BOLD LETTERING |
| Posted by: Frank G 2008-06-29 00:48 |