**Iran says it will resort to force if US uses its airspace**

Online.ie ^ | 01/10/2001 3:43:22 PMGMT

[maquiladora]

Iran's Defence Minister Ali Shamkhani has warned the US it will use force if it enters its airspace for attacks on Afghanistan.

But Iranian officials have left open the possibility of joining a UN-led campaign to control militancy.

Shamkhani also acknowledges for the first time that Iran has been supplying the Afghan opposition Northern Alliance with weapons and said Iran would continue to do so.

"The Northern Alliance has been and is our ally. We have provided weapons to the Northern Alliance and will continue to do so. There will be no change in our support of them," he told reporters.

The United States also has reached out to the Northern Alliance in its campaign against the Taliban who control most of Afghanistan and who shelter bin Laden. During a visit to Russia, Shamkhani said he would discuss bilateral military issues including signing arms deals, developments in the Caspian Sea as well as possible U.S. military strikes against Afghanistan.

The US could launch attacks from Pakistan or from warships in the Arabian Sea without violating Iranian airspace.

[ppaul]

**Iran says it will resort to force if US uses its airspace**

There's a silver lining in this seemingly bad news: Now we can practice on the Iranian Air Force (joke force) before we waste the Taliban.

[WhiteGuy]

IRAN = Colateral Damage

[snopercod]

Well fine. Maybe while we're at it we should give the Iranians a little payback for taking our citizens hostage in the 70's.

[TheOtherOne]

Iran Says It Will 'confront' U.S. Planes Using Its Airspace for an Attack on Afghanistan
By Ali Akbar Dareini Associated Press Writer
Published: Oct 1, 2001

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran's Defense Minister warned the United States not to use Iranian airspace for an attack on neighboring Afghanistan, saying Monday that Tehran will react "strongly" if its skies are violated.

"We will strongly defend our airspace and will confront (U.S.) planes if they use our airspace," Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani said at a news conference.

The comment underlined Iran's opposition to a U.S.-led war on terrorism and its refusal to cooperate in an American attack on Afghanistan, whose Taliban rulers shelter Osama bin Laden, the prime suspect in the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said last week that Iran does not consider the United States "competent and sincere (enough) to lead any global campaign against terrorism."

Iran, which is a little bigger than Alaska, lies between Afghanistan and most of the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, where the United States has military forces.

However, the United States could launch an attack on Afghanistan without violating Iranian airspace, sending forces from Pakistan, from warships in the Arabian Sea or from Central Asia.

Shamkhani also acknowledged for the first time that Iran, which strongly opposes the Taliban, has been supplying the Afghan opposition Northern Alliance with weapons.

"The Northern Alliance has been and is our ally. We have provided weapons to the Northern Alliance and will continue to do so. There will be no change in our support of them," he told reporters.

The United States also has reached out to the Northern Alliance in its campaign against the Taliban, and Russia has vowed to step up arms supplies to the opposition.

AP-ES-10-01-01 1037EDT

[longleaf]

Iran's attitude is that the enemy of my enemy (U.S. versus Taliban) is STILL my enemy.

[Camerican]

My guess is the Iranian air force will be about as effective as the Iraq air force was in 1990. Fresh meat. Hee hee hee.

[Victor]

OK, Iran....you too??

Good. Bring it on, let's roll......

I'd love to see their piss-ant little air force wiped out. One less bunch of a$$holes to deal with.

[major-pelham]

I think that this is typical Islamic braggadocio. Further, it represents an opportunity to eliminate their air force in a single day. Let 'em try.

[AppyPappy]

< sarcasm >Oh yeah. they really kicked Iraq's ass < /sarcasm >

[BIOMAN]

But Iranian officials have left open the possibility of joining a UN-led campaign to control militancy.
SC**W THE U.N. HOW ABOUT PAYING THE STATE OF NEW YORK THE 21.3 MIL. ON UN-PAID PARKING VIOLATIONS.

[undergroundwarrior]

True. Once the Taliban is eliminated, everything will be back to normal. Bottom line...The Islamic nations will always view us as dirty / unclean infidels.

We should let them waste each other.

[BIOMAN]

NO profanity

[Husker24]

We dont even need thier lousy airspace.

[Lexington Green]

Good... it's time for Iran to go.

[JoeSixPack1]

Piss-ant was the exact analogy I was thinking!

[freedomson]

Whatever. Okay all terrorists, the line for 'asswhuppin' is now forming behind Iran.

[Woahhs]

Ya know...maybe Osama calculated better than we initially thought. If he can depend on states like Iran to take any and every opportunity to announce how far they can pi$$, we will indeed have a World War III.

[BIOMAN]

Air-space..We Need No Stinking Air-Space.

[classygreeneyedblonde]

Another country that has to go .We put up with enuff of these arab countries. Let's Roll!!!!

[boycott]

We need to stir a conflict between Iran and Iraq. Let's get them going at each other.

[classygreeneyedblonde]

This is kick ass day!!!

[Soul Citizen]

"IRAN = Colateral Damage"

Sounds like they are trying to draw a line in the sand. We love lines in the sand!

[Reagan is King]

The Iranian pilots better practice crash landing.

[riri]

Where would this leave the Russians? Iran and Russia are pretty chummy.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

I'd love to see their piss-ant little air force wiped out. One less bunch of a$$holes to deal with.

be patient

good things come to he who is patient.....

[Doctor Freeze]

How much better the world would be without the countries of Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Just nuke all three of them.

[Pericles]

The fact that Iran may say this as a cover for the Islamic world opinion while allowing American planes to fly into its airspace in secret has not crossed anyones mind as a possbility. I am not saying those bastards are doing just that but you never know.

In the mean time Freepers, relax, keep your powder dry. Regardless of what Iran does, it is Iran's airspace. We don't need them anyway if they block our request.

F**k 'em.

[Ispy4u]

Good! Our jet jockeys are well schooled in the use of HARM missles thanks to Iraq, but are missing some crucial live fire time on airborne targets. Thank you Iran!

P.S. Don't send up something you can't afford to lose!

[Cyber Liberty]

My guess is the Iranian air force will be about as effective as the Iraq air force was in 1990.

The Iranian air force is the Iraqi airforce of 1990. Remember all the "chicken-outs" that flew Iraqi planes to Iran when the bombing started in January 1991?

[MinuteGal]

Iran Air Force = Jamaican Olympic Bob Sled Team.

Leni

[Ispy4u]

HARM missle, redundant.

[Faraday]

I just love how these terror sponsors on lining up. Here come the the dominoes.

[rebdov]

Please USAF,violate their airspace and let's get rid of them once and for all.

[Kevin Curry]

Iran's Defence Minister Ali Shamkhani has warned the US it will use force if it enters its airspace for attacks on Afghanistan.

In a related development, French Defence Minister Jerry Lewis warned the US that France will use farce if the US enters French airspace in transit to Afghanistan.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

Another country that has to go .We put up with enuff of these arab countries. Let's Roll!!!!

IRAN is not an arab country. Diversity of enemies is no vice?!

[Doctor Stochastic]

I suppose the US could shoot down another Iranian airliner.

[TheOtherOne]

Ass = Donkey

It is not profanity.

[DJ88]

LOL, Leni!!!! :-) I was thinking along the same lines....Deej

[VoodooEconomist]

Warmongers play lipservice to property rights ... as they advocate the total disregard of property that makes up an entire country. Nice consistency we got going here. Is it any wonder why some consider us a bully? We can do whatever the hell we want because we're big than you are. Nyah nyah nyah. And we got bigger toys too! C'mon people. Start thinking with the head above your waist.

[unixfox]

I guess we can add them to the list of our"New States".

Welcome Home...

[classygreeneyedblonde]

Well then middle east country...don't be so picky

[Nick Danger]

The fact that Iran may say this as a cover for the Islamic world opinion while allowing American planes to fly into its airspace in secret has not crossed anyones mind as a possbility.

It crossed mine. I'll bet that's what is happening. The Saudis are doing the same thing. Every day there are two news stories: one says we can't use the Saudi bases, the other one says our bombers are already there. Osama doesn't know which way to look for trouble... which is exactly the way we want it.

There's a war on, folks. There will be disinformation out there. Don't believe everything you read.

[rintense]

"You are either with us, or with the terrorists."- George W. Bush

"BRING IT ON!"- Republican Warrior Princess

[Psycho_Bunny]

**Iran says it will resort to force if US uses its airspace**

"COME GET SOME."

[MJY1288]

You mean france hasn't surrendered to Osama bin Laden yet? :-)

[rintense]

You know, considering the turn-about from both Iran and Saudi Arabia, I'm thinking that Bin Laden's influence is stronger than we suspected. In other words, they are ALL targets.

[freefly]

The Northern Alliance has been and is our ally. We have provided weapons to the Northern Alliance
and will continue to do so. There will be no change in our support of them,"

If that support was worth having, then the Taliban would have been history long ago.
Since Iran has made such a poor showing against the Taliban,
I don't see their threats to "resort to force" amounting to much.

[Kevin Curry]

You mean france hasn't surrendered to Osama bin Laden yet?

I believe they have, but they are having a hard time getting his attention to let him know.