Posted on 08/17/2006 12:51:21 PM PDT by SmithL
Iran will launch a series of large-scale military maneuvers across the country and has not made plans for an end to the ongoing war games, the army said Thursday.
"The maneuvers are aimed at introducing Iran's new defensive doctrine," military spokesman Gen. Mohammad Reza Ashtiani was quoted as saying by state-run television.
He said the exercises would begin on Saturday in the south east of the country. "It will continue in the whole of Iran, stage by stage for an unspecified period," Ashtiani said.
The announcement came as Iran faces heightened international scrutiny because of its contentious nuclear program and for supporting the Lebanese Hizbullah guerrillas.
Iran denies Israeli accusations it is arming and training Hizbullah fighters.
Ashtiani praised Hizbullah for its month-long fight against Israel. "Human forces can decide fate of a war. We saw it in Lebanon," the general said, echoing Hizbullah claims it won the war by resisting a massive bombing and ground offensive for more than a month before a UN-brokered cease-fire came into place earlier this week.
The military spokesman said Iran's maneuvers reflected the current level of tension in the Middle East. "We have to be prepared against any threat and we should be a role model for other countries," local newspapers quoted Gen. Ashtiani, as saying. "Our army is ready to defuse all plots against Islamic Republic of Iran."
The military exercise, involving 12 infantry regiments, is called "The Blow of Zolfaghar," in reference to a sword that belonged to Imam Ali, one of the most revered figures of Islam for Shi'ite Muslims. A majority of Iran's 70 million people are Shi'ite.
On Wednesday, the Interior Ministry said that Iran also plans to boost security patrols on its borders.
Ministry spokesman Mostafa Pourmohammadi said the move targeted smugglers. Drug traffickers killed 8 police officers during a firefight in southeastern Iran last week.
Iran has routinely held war games over the past two decades to improve its combat readiness and test locally made equipment such as missiles, tanks and armored personnel carriers. In April, Teheran launched its biggest military maneuvers so far, during which it said it tested several advanced weaponry including missiles.
Culminating on the 22nd?
I had the same thought.
I'm sure we have some KH sats to monitor the goings on over there. Perhaps we can learn something about their tactics and such?
"Culminating on the 22nd?"
They need to battle harden their troops...
and O, by the way, this is what a mushroom cloud looks like.
Launch the flying zodiacs!
Funny....that's not what they said last week. From the Jerusalem Post:
Iran has admitted supplying Zelzal-2 short-range ballistic missiles to the Hezbollah terrorist organization, reports The Jerusalem Post. Mohtashami Pur, Secretary-General of the Iranian “Intifada Conference” told an Iranian newspaper yesterday that Iran transferred the missiles so that they could be used to defend Lebanon.
The Zelzal-2 (“earthquake” in Farsi) is believed to have a range of anywhere from 120 to 400 kilometers, and would be capable of striking Tel Aviv if launched successfully. The Israeli Defense Force estimates that it has destroyed almost two-thirds of Hezbollah’s Zelzal-2 arsenal, according to The Jerusalem Post.
The Nuke Goes Off Then.
Tick tock..
They're just going to die tired...
Iran will nuke Israel.
Israel will wipe Iran off the map.
Oil production will dry up as general war breaks out.
Worldwide depression follows.
I think their 22nd is our 21st, since the count 'next day' when you can see a white thread in the dark?
No it's not, it's negotiation and sternly worded letter time.
As soon as their nuke is tested, Iran becomes a member of the club, like it or not, and they become untouchable, just like North Korea.
Sad, but true. We've lost our nerve. The time to attack is NOW, before their deadline...
Say, are you good with landscaping? Automotive?
And we never met.
(Besides I'm all took nowadays)
Har! A month ago I'd have taken you up on that! ;^)
Say, are you good with landscaping?
I'm pretty good at trimming strips of grass, and I plant SO WELL. :^)
Automotive?
I love cleaning out intake pipes and I'm a pro at tuneups. :^)
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