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Iran Warns Of Preemptive Strike [Against U.S. Forces] To Prevent Attack On Nuclear Sites
Agence France-Presse
| August 18, 2004
Posted on 08/18/2004 12:42:01 PM PDT by HAL9000
Iran Warns Of Preemptive Strike To Prevent Attack On Nuclear Sites
DOHA, Aug 18 (AFP) - Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani warned Wednesday that Iran might launch a preemptive strike against US forces in the region to prevent an attack on its nuclear facilities.
"We will not sit (with arms folded) to wait for what others will do to us. Some military commanders in Iran are convinced that preventive operations which the Americans talk about are not their monopoly," Shamkhani told Al-Jazeera TV when asked if Iran would respond to an American attack on its nuclear facilities.
"America is not the only one present in the region. We are also present, from Khost to Kandahar in Afghanistan; we are present in the Gulf and we can be present in Iraq," said Shamkhani, speaking in Farsi to the Arabic-language news channel through an interpreter.
"The US military presence (in Iraq) will not become an element of strength (for Washington) at our expense. The opposite is true, because their forces would turn into a hostage" in Iranian hands in the event of an attack, he said.
Shamkhani, who was asked about the possibility of an American or Israeli strike against Iran`s atomic power plant in Bushehr, added: "We will consider any strike against our nuclear installations as an attack on Iran as a whole, and we will retaliate with all our strength.
"Where Israel is concerned, we have no doubt that it is an evil entity, and it will not be able to launch any military operation without an American green light. You cannot separate the two."
A commander of Iran`s elite Revolutionary Guards was quoted in the Iranian press earlier Wednesday as saying that Tehran would strike the Israeli reactor at Dimona if Israel attacks the Islamic republic`s own burgeoning nuclear facilities.
"If Israel fires one missile at Bushehr atomic power plant, it should permanently forget about Dimona nuclear center, where it produces and keeps its nuclear weapons, and Israel would be responsible for the terrifying consequence of this move," General Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr warned.
Iran`s controversial bid to generate nuclear power at its plant being built at Bushehr is seen by arch-enemies Israel and the United States as a cover for nuclear weapons development.
The latest comments mark an escalation in an exchange of threats between Israel and Iran in recent weeks, leading to speculation that there may be a repeat of Israel`s strike against Iraqi nuclear facilities at Osirak in 1981.
Iran insists that its nuclear intentions are peaceful, while pointing at its enemy`s alleged nuclear arsenal, which Israel neither confirms nor denies possessing.
Dimona, in the Negev desert, is allegedly where Israel produces weapons-grade plutonium for its estimated 200 nuclear warheads.
TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: iran; preemption; preemptive
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To: HAL9000
look at map of ME. Study map for 5 seconds. Look at history of last 14 months of the absolutely amazing job this administration and our troopers accomplished.
Whats next.... I wonder?
101
posted on
08/18/2004 2:08:33 PM PDT
by
12.7mm
To: HAL9000
To: HAL9000
look at map of ME. Study map for 5 seconds. Look at history of last 14 months of the absolutely amazing job this administration and our troopers accomplished.
Whats next.... I wonder?
103
posted on
08/18/2004 2:15:42 PM PDT
by
12.7mm
To: Maceman
I hope it is the policy of the US that Iran will never be allowed to possess nuclear weapons It better be. Are you kidding? BWAHAHAHAH!!! [Look at N Korea..in the land of PC, this country has had it]
104
posted on
08/18/2004 2:20:42 PM PDT
by
Indie
(Ignorance of the truth is no excuse for stupidity.)
To: NRA2BFree
please...
105
posted on
08/18/2004 2:21:29 PM PDT
by
Chode
(American Hedonist ©®)
To: HAL9000
I remember Chirstmas eve 2004 sitting outside Terhan nuclear plant, the memory is seared in me, with the Iranians shooting at me and the Isralies flying overhead dropping laser guided bombs and I was thinking, I might get blown up by our own allies and all the while the President saying that we were not there.
106
posted on
08/18/2004 2:21:59 PM PDT
by
tomnbeverly
(Do not let the UN make decisions for the protection of the United States... VOTE for George W. Bush)
To: HAL9000
Can you imagine these crazies with some nukes and acting in concert with China? To create chaos so China can more easily move in on Taiwan? What would the payoff for the Ayatollahs be? Better nuke and missile technology directly from China or through China's pawn, the North Koreans.
107
posted on
08/18/2004 2:23:48 PM PDT
by
dennisw
(Once is Happenstance. Twice is Coincidence. The third time is Enemy action. - Ian Fleming)
Comment #108 Removed by Moderator
To: HAL9000
I'm picturing one of those little bald mexican rat dogs yipping away while staring down a Rot..
109
posted on
08/18/2004 2:36:17 PM PDT
by
Havoc
(.)
To: Eric in the Ozarks
.
Eric in the Ozarks
We are also present, from Khost to Kandahar in Afghanistan; we are present in the Gulf and we can be present in Iraq
Memo to Iranian Military Forces:
PLEASE -- PLEASE -- PLEASE invade Afghanistan and Iraq ....
Patton@Bastogne
.
To: BulletBobCo
111
posted on
08/18/2004 2:42:01 PM PDT
by
traumer
To: BulletBobCo
Cambridge '2000
112
posted on
08/18/2004 2:43:33 PM PDT
by
traumer
To: Indie
Are you kidding? BWAHAHAHAH!!! [Look at N Korea..in the land of PC, this country has had it] We can again trace all this back to Bill Clinton who sat on his A$$ for eight years while Iran Developed a Nuclear program.
To: pete anderson
Actually i think it goes back to a communist peanut farmer i know of....Klinton was his legacy..
114
posted on
08/18/2004 2:53:27 PM PDT
by
Indie
(Ignorance of the truth is no excuse for stupidity.)
To: stockpirate
"Yes, no way they match up with us. A-10's vs T-70 tanks... lol"
That'd be nice if it was true. Iran has designed their own MBTs and APCs. They have modified virtually every weapon system that they've come across, from laser guided SA missiles to cruise capable Kilo class submarines. They also have sunburn missiles that are nuclear capable, (200kt max).
Iran is not Iraq. Their airforce wouldn't threaten our Naval aviators very much, but some of their ground systems can. IIRC, they've modified a variety of their aircraft to allow air launches of the sunburn.
We can certainly do the job, but it's not going to be a cakewalk.
115
posted on
08/18/2004 3:08:56 PM PDT
by
HipShot
(EOM couldn't cut the head off a beer with a chainsaw)
To: HAL9000
That would be fun to watch!
116
posted on
08/18/2004 3:10:15 PM PDT
by
fso301
To: Indie
"Actually i think it goes back to a communist peanut farmer i know of....Klinton was his legacy.."
We're NEVER going to undo the damage that he did. As far as I'm concerned, we're still owed some justice over the 444 days of pure HELL that some of our citizens suffered. Our dear peanut farmer enabled the entire thing, and started this avalanche.
117
posted on
08/18/2004 3:13:12 PM PDT
by
HipShot
(EOM couldn't cut the head off a beer with a chainsaw)
To: Hollywoodghost
I've been thinking the same thing for some time: Accidents do happen when you don't know what you're doing! Too bad some static set off your implosion explosives. Untaceable.
118
posted on
08/18/2004 3:20:13 PM PDT
by
dickmc
To: telebob
Stop hyperventilating.Do I look like I'm hyperventilating? I have legitimate concerns over our troops in Iraq, and all the rude replies you want to make won't change that.
119
posted on
08/18/2004 3:25:01 PM PDT
by
NRA2BFree
(Life is not about how fast you run, or how high you climb, but how well you bounce!)
To: HipShot
well I did not realize this info. thought they ewere more like Iraq.
thanks
120
posted on
08/18/2004 3:39:46 PM PDT
by
stockpirate
(The issues surrounding Kerry in Vietnam is a smoke screen! The real issue is VVAW and the FBI docs!)
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