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U.S. Officials React to Iranian Missile Test
American Forces Press Service ^ | Jim Garamone

Posted on 07/09/2008 5:09:21 PM PDT by SandRat

WASHINGTON, July 9, 2008 – Iran’s test of short- and medium-range missiles is a disturbing development and points to the need for a European missile defense system, Pentagon officials said here today.

Iran tested at least seven missiles yesterday, according to news reports, capable of hitting Israel and parts of Europe.

“Iran’s development of ballistic missiles is a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and completely inconsistent with Iran's obligations to the world,” White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said to reporters traveling with President Bush in Japan. “The Iranians should stop the development of ballistic missiles, which could be used as a delivery vehicle for a potential nuclear weapon, immediately.”

The test “addresses the doubts raised by the Russians that the Iranians won’t have a longer-range ballistic missile for 10 to 20 years,” Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during a Pentagon news conference today. “The fact is, they just tested a pretty extended-range [missile].

The situation demonstrates the emerging missile threat from the Middle East, Pentagon officials said, and the need for a missile defense in Europe. Yesterday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice signed an agreement with the Czech Republic to emplace a missile-defense radar in that country. The United States continues talks with Poland to emplace the missiles.

“We face with the Iranians -- and so do our allies and friends -- a growing missile threat that is getting ever longer and ever deeper, and where the Iranian appetite for nuclear technology to this point is still unchecked,” Rice said in Prague yesterday.

“I think that the reality is that there is a lot of signaling going on [among Iran, Israel and the United States]. I think everybody recognizes what the consequences of any kind of a conflict would be,” Gates said. “This government is working hard to make sure that the diplomatic and economic approach to dealing with Iran, and trying to get the Iranian government to change its policies, is the strategy and approach that continues to dominate.”


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: geopolitics; iran; iranianmissiles; missile; proliferation; threats; unsecuritycouncil

1 posted on 07/09/2008 5:11:11 PM PDT by SandRat
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To: SandRat

Whimper Scowel Whimper Whimper


2 posted on 07/09/2008 5:15:11 PM PDT by ATOMIC_PUNK (Read the Constitution to your children make them understand what Freedom is all about !)
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To: SandRat

You would think Europe would be pretty darn worried about this. Do they trust Iran that much?


3 posted on 07/09/2008 5:16:56 PM PDT by autumnraine
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To: autumnraine
Just Euro-Wienies.
4 posted on 07/09/2008 5:20:37 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country! What else needs said?)
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To: SandRat

We should send them a terse memo.


5 posted on 07/09/2008 5:21:22 PM PDT by null and void (every Muslim, the minute he can differentiate, carries hate of Americans, Jews & Christians - OBL)
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To: SandRat
“Iran’s development of ballistic missiles is a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and completely inconsistent with Iran's obligations to the world,” said White House spokesman..."

That's okay. We'll wait until the violations get to Photobucket

6 posted on 07/09/2008 5:28:43 PM PDT by Cobra64 (www.BulletBras.net)
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To: null and void
We should send them a terse memo.

Photobucket

"Stop It! Stop It! Stop It!

7 posted on 07/09/2008 6:17:12 PM PDT by Cobra64 (www.BulletBras.net)
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To: SandRat
Where did the missiles land. And wouldn't be nice if we could intercept a few for practice?
8 posted on 07/09/2008 6:22:51 PM PDT by Logical me (Oh, well!!!)
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To: Logical me

Don’t know. Yes it would be nice to let the Foreign Tech boys at them.


9 posted on 07/09/2008 6:27:03 PM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country! What else needs said?)
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