Posted on 08/25/2016 2:18:39 PM PDT by Kaslin
As the US Congress struggles to bring another wobbly appropriations year to close, the furthest thing from most minds is likely Iran. Instead, adds to that mega-bill are likely to include bite-sized favors and odd treats tied to the election and domestic politics. But beyond the fray, rails rumble. More specifically, missile launches rumble – especially in Iran and North Korea. And Congress has a chance to address these issues, in a way not immediately obvious, but important.
Over the past several months, Congress has teeter-tottered on the issue of locking down all of Russia’s RD-180 heavy-lift rocket engines – read: rare, ICBM- capable, special rocket engines. The debate is driven in part by local politics as well as Senator McCain’s interest in other heavy lift replacement options, which have yet to fly even once within the last five years. Two questions arise in the debate. One, when will America get its own heavy-lift engine capable of adequately replacing the RD-180? Two, why would we give-up a highly reliable rocket engine that has worked for more than two decades before the promised “new” engine is flown, certified, and proven reliable? Today, I suggest these questions be set aside. A more serious one looms.
If Congress does not reverse course and assure that America can buy these RD-180 ICBM-capable rocket engines from Russia – unlimited by time or number – a dark curtain may fall across much of the globe. More accurately, Iran, North Korea or China – may become the next buyer in line. That would be more than unfortunate or politically unwise; it would be a formula for disaster, the opening of a Pandora’s Box that Congress should never have opened. The answer, obviously, is to restore the status quo ante, and make clear that we will maintain our monopoly buy of these engines, for at least as long as we do not have our own, do not have a missile shield, and Russia is still making them (at about a half dozen a year). Anything else is – literally – indefensible.
Why? Put aside for a moment North Korea’s appetite for buying this asset, pairing it with belligerent bombast, and then launching something on one of these. Let us instead focus solely on Iran. Two studies in the past year have made clear that Iran wants this kind of technology, and that if America does not lock it up – with Russia’s help – they are angling for it. One study was conducted by the Hudson Institute, and was authored by a “Who’s Who” of national security leaders; the other was authored by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Neither of these institutions is running for Congress.
What did these studies say? In part, they both said: Beware the caustic mess that would result from allowing Iran’s evil ambitions to mix with heavy-lift launch capacity. More succinctly: Beware Iran and ICBM-launch capacity, of the kind that the RD-180 engines constitute.
More precisely still, CSIS argued that Iran’s aims are only part of the problem. Mass proliferation of Iranian missile technology across the Middle East would produce “an unprecedented terrorism potential,” and that if Iran is allowed to develop (or purchase) complex long range missile technology … “the gap will be difficult to close.” While poor guidance systems continue to dog Iran’s missile systems, buying a good one – that America put on the market by demurring – would be a terrible turn.
Finally, one other thing is clear, based on Hudson’s study: Iran’s recent and continuing missile tests reveal the intent to gain intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capability, and this represents blunt defiance of United Nations Security Council Resolutions. Easier still would be buying the launch capacity, if the US does not want to hold it from the market; threats to launch and launches themselves would likely not be far behind.
So, as Congress again and predictably angles for reelection, naturally favoring old friends and stuffing odds and ends into the pending Omnibus and/or Continuing Resolution bills, they might pause to consider that ephemeral, often evanescent, oddly ubiquitous and yet utterly critical issue of – national security. If we are to hold Iran and North Korea from the secular Holy Grail of heavy-lift missile launch, the best add would be the simplest: Assure America keeps unrestricted access to RD-180 rocket engines made by Russia, for the sake of global stability and most importantly, American security.
The pussys running the USA that would not launch a total solution on iran for such a faux pas bothers me more.
The USA has now financed, most likely, the Ezekiel 38 attack on Israel. Those who signed the Corker Bill, including the “principled conservative” are responsible.
Only Tom Cotton (AR?) opposed it.
This has prophetic implications and I fear we will not escape unscathed.
They gave Iran $150 billion dollars. Oh, and BamBam gave them another $400 million, just for good measure.
The hour is late.
I think your photo answers the question as to why, even with Obama helping, Iran doesn’t have and isn’t using nuclear warheads on their ICBM. you will notice that the scientists and military are listening to the dictates of the Mullah. Instructions for building these weapons are noticeably missing in the Koran although clear instructions for their use can be found in numerous passages.
You got that right!
Jesus Christ: You can't impeach Him and He ain't gonna resign.
In other words, they might work for launching one or maybe two ICBMs, and that would be the end of the nation launching them, and of their ICBM force.
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