Iran Conducts Missile Tests And War Games

The missiles can reach Israel parts of Europe!

Is there no end to the wonders of Smart Diplomacy(tm)?

Days before a key meeting with Western leaders, Iran test-fired two types of long-range missiles Monday in part of what the Islamic republic called routine military exercises, its state-run media reported.

...After a series of short-range missile tests, Iran concluded Monday with the testing of the long range Shahab-3 and the two-stage Sajil missiles, according to reports from state-run media.

Both hit their targets, and Iran's air force commander hailed the exercise as a show that Iran is "fully prepared and determined to stand against all threats."

"We will give a fully decisive, crushing and destructive response to anyone who poses a threat to the existence, independence and freedom of the ruling system and our values," Brig. Gen. Hossein Salami said, according to Fars News Agency. Video Watch an analyst's view of missile tests, nuclear tensions »

The Shahab-3 missile can strike targets between 800 and 1,250 miles (1,300 and 2,000 kilometers), according to the reports.

The Sajil-2 missile is a solid-fuel rocket with a similar range and has been launched twice before, in November 2008 and May 2009.

If Iran's claims are true, the missile brings Moscow, Russia; Athens, Greece; and southern Italy within striking distance.

Let us not forget that Obama recently canceled a land based missile defense shield that would have taken care of these classes of missiles (along with ICBMs being developed tht could reach the US at some point in the future).

Under Obama's new plan missile defense will fall mainly to the US Navy. The problem is no one is sure how that will work or what it will mean in terms of ships and manpower.

Which ships will take the patrol mission? What will the deployments look like — will ships participate in exercises, make port visits or be confined to a narrow patrol box? How long will ships be assigned picket duty? Will BMD patrol ships sail with the crews they would have taken on normal deployments, or will they have fewer sailors to account for the narrower mission?

Navy officials had few answers in the week after Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced the new BMD mission. Spokesmen at the Pentagon and for 3rd Fleet, which is responsible for Navy Air and Missile Defense Command, said officials were working out the details.

Read the whole linked post to see how half-assed this 'plan' is at this point and how many holes are going to have to be filled to make it work.

So much for Obama's vaunted careful, analytical mind.

Extra awesome points for the fact that the French seem to be taking the lead on Iran. Cause you know, America is just one of the guys, nothing special, no real need for us to step up.

Even worse? Given the choice, I'd rather have Sarkozy on point than Obama.

posted by DrewM. at 12:59 PM

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