Israel test-fires missile as Iran threat looms

Haaretz (Israel) ^ | 2/12/2005 | Jonathan Lis

[rhainw]

Israel carried out a successful test of its Arrow anti-missile system Friday morning, which Defense Ministry officials called a response to the increasing threat of ballistic missiles in the region. The test launch came as a Russian newspaper reported that Iran has signed a deal to buy Russian tactical surface-to-air missile systems and a day after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon warned of the dangers of a nuclear Iran. The Arrow anti-missile missile was fired at 10:28 A.M. from an Israel Air Force base in the center of the country, and hit the target. Friday's test is the 14th test of the Arrow system, which is being developed with the United States, and the ninth test of the missile itself. Meanwhile, the Russian Vedomosti daily reported Friday that Iran is to buy 29 TOR-M1 systems, designed to bring down aircraft and guided missiles at low altitudes, citing Russian defense sources close to the deal. The danger posed by Iran "does not relate only to Israel," Sharon told the editors convention at Sokolov House in Tel Aviv."If by the end of March 2006, the international community does not manage to use diplomatic means to block Iran's effort to produce a nuclear bomb, there will no longer be any reason to continue diplomatic activity in this field, and it will be possible to say that the international attempts to thwart [Iran's efforts] have failed," Ze'evi told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. "The comments by the head of Military Intelligence convey a harsh, worrying and dark picture," said committee chairman MK Yuval Steinitz (Likud). "Iran is going to become a nuclear power in the region and the world is helpless."

[rhainw]

Hotting up alright.

[F14 Pilot]

related story

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1532579/posts

[tomahawk]

What are we waiting for, a mushroom cloud?

The Mullahs' nuke program is 100 times more dangerous than Saddam was or North Korea is.

It is a clear and imminent danger that must be stopped.

[Jet Jaguar]

http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/missile_systems/surface_missiles/arrow/Arrow.html

[FreedomPoster]

We should parachute Jimmy Carter in to save the situation. He did so well with the North Korean negotiations.

[Kozak]

Are the Russians insane or just stupid? Giving nuclear technology and missiles to an unstable group of islamic maniacs who border their own country? Do they need the few rubles that badly?

[Flavius]

well it sure keeps us occupied

[Semper Paratus]

If they have an anti-missle missle you can bet they also have first-strike missles.

[sgtbono2002]

That has been my question from the beginning.

Its not like Russia doesnt know of the Islamic threat. Do they really believe that the Iranians wont pass that information or a bomb over to Chechnyans if they get one?

[backhoe]

While these posts are old, there is much information here:

The Samson Option-- what is known about Israel's Nuclear Weapons?

-Israel's Arrow Anti-Missile System and the THEL...--

[Coop]

The Mullahs' nuke program is 100 times more dangerous than Saddam was or North Korea is.

You've gotta be kidding me.

[Rebelbase]

"We should parachute Jimmy Carter in to save the situation."

Carter did as much or more than anyone else to help create Islamic fundamentlist government of Iran. They ought to be putting him on their money.

[FreedomPoster]

I'd agree with all of that.

It's really tough trying to decide who was the worst President of my lifetime, Jimmy or LBJ. Jimmy gets it for the foreign policy legacy, LBJ for domestic.

At one time I thought it was Clinton, but in recent years, with a little more perspective, I've determined he was a schmuck, but wasn't able to do that much long-term bad due to the Gingrich Congress and his own tendency to self-pleasure vs. working towards an agenda.

[TheRobb7]

Maybe we should let Israel do the first strike thing. If Iran wants to get cute about it, we ARE right next door....

[agere_contra]

Got to go with Tomahawk on this one. The huge difference between Korea and Iran is that the Iran regime is proudly boasting about what it will do with its nukes once it gets them, and is happy to "martyr" its own people in the name of Islam. It's not the number of weapons (currently zero, as we know) but the obvious potential plus the will to commit Nuclear War for any reason other than self-defence.

[reagan_fanatic]

A successful invasion of Iran would be difficult and bloody and would require more than token military assistance from our allies (which we won't see.) Until we settle this thing in Iraq, we can ill afford a second major war at this time.

Since most of the nations of the World have their collective heads up their asses when it comes to the grave threat Iran poses, it would be just another military operation in which the U.S. would supply the vast bulk of the fighting forces. It's time for the World community to wake up and realize, though no one wants war with Iran, there is no other alternative but war and it should be EVERYONE'S responsibility, not just ours.

[varyouga]

It's true. The Mullahs have repeatedly stated that they are not worried about a retaliation nuclear strike as long as they can take out Israel and maybe parts of the US.

An enemy not afraid of dying is the most dangerous. At least Saddam would have been deterred by MAD.

[bert]

.....Do they need the few rubles that badly?.....

They need to pay wages to workers who are the only decent industry they have.

[JasonC]

It isn't money, we'd pay them far more not to. It is troublemaking as grand strategy, on purpose. They are not our friends, nor are they moral, civilized men.

[JasonC]

Horsefeathers. They are awash in oil money, and could plow it back in to modernizing that industry if they wanted.