There is no mystery about Iran, only about why the ostriches of 1935 have been leading
Iran leveraging its missile arsenal to intimidate U.S. allies in Gulf region
GERTZ:WASHINGTON — Iran is threatening to use its huge missile arsenal in any attack on American allies in the Gulf, the U.S. intelligence community has determined. Officials said the mullah regime seeks to intimidate Gulf Cooperation Council states with Teheran's ballistic missile arsenal.
They said Iran views its missiles as the primary element in power projection. "Iran is enhancing its ability to project its military power — primarily with ballistic missiles and naval power — with the goal of dominating the Gulf region and deterring potential adversaries," National Intelligence Director John McConnell told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Feb. 27.
The intelligence community said Iran has the largest missile inventory in the Middle East. Iran's Shihab-2 medium-range and Shihab-3 intermediate-range missiles could strike virtually any strategic site in the Gulf. "Teheran views its growing inventory of ballistic missiles as an integral part of its strategy to deter — and if necessary retaliate against-forces in the region, including U.S. forces," McConnell said.
Since we are leaving the region by 2009, why on earth would anyone aid our cause at their own peril from the obvious winners?
They are embarked on a generational national project to acquire nukes. They have proven to the region they will be AMORAL and untrammeled by the slightest 'human' consideration in application of of force, and terror is considered by them to be a legitimate means of application. They have spoken with great consonance over that time about their intentions. Their weapons are mostly modern. They can freeze europe's aid to america with their real threats. They have the cooperation of the Russians and the Chinese. They have PROVEN the UN is a chimera, a charade, a kabuki dance. Their co-religionists form a (religiously repressed) MAJORITY in the Eastern Province of KSA (where the oil is).
They have NEVER lost against the americans.
Any questions?
Defense Intelligence Agency Director Michael Maples said Iran has been developing weapons of mass destruction for use with its missile arsenal. Maples said Iran, which increased defense spending by 6.7 percent in 2006, is expected to advance in its nuclear weapons program this year.
"In 2007, DIA expects further progress including completion of a nuclear reactor Fuel Manufacturing Plant and installation of additional centrifuges at Natanz," Maples said. "Iran has a growing biotechnology industry, significant pharmaceutical experience and the overall infrastructure that could be used to support a biological warfare program," he said.
"DIA believes Iran is pursuing development of biological weapons. Iran has a large and growing commercial chemical industry that could be used to support a chemical agent mobilization capability." Maples said Iran has been training its missile forces in an attempt to hone wartime operations skills and tactics. He said Iranian missiles could strike Israel as well as Central Europe.
"It is fielding increased numbers of theater ballistic missile, and claimed it has incorporated anti-missile defense tactics and capabilities into its ballistic missile forces," Maples said.
Maples said Iran plans to use missiles and naval attacks in any war with the United States. He cited the Great Prophet exercise in November 2006, which focused heavily on the use of missiles.
"Iran intends to rely on asymmetric tactics, using its ballistic missiles, naval attacks in the restricted waters along its coast against U.S. forces, and possibly a strategic terror campaign to disrupt U.S. war plans," Maples said.
Maples said Iran "may be in the process of receiving the SA-15 (Tor-1) short-range air defense system from Russia. Iran could acquire other advanced defense systems. "Anti-ship cruise missiles, a small boat fleet, sea mines, and submarines comprise Iran's efforts to contest access to the Persian Gulf," Maples said.
Teheran has also been producing enhanced anti-ship cruise missiles for any attack on U.S. or Gulf Arab shipping.
Officials said the use of the C-802 cruise missile by Hizbullah in the war against Israel in 2006 marked a test of Iran's development program.
"They've [Iran] put a great deal of concentration into things like submarines and cruise missile-equipped patrol boats that could go out to sea to be able to attack naval forces that might be approaching," McConnell said. "They've also recently acquired surface-to-air-missiles in the country to be able to repel an attack on the country."
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Yawn
Not only does it seem that we're going to let the pot come to a boil but we're going to boil the damn pot dry and blackened.
Beats the living hell out of me what it's going to take. I know at some point some one in charge is going to start making noises like they care but I sure haven't seen anything yet.
Our hopeless President is now railing against greenhouse gases. Heaven help us because some one has put Cheney's balls in a vise.
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Craig Morton to you
Epaminondas