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Syria eager for missiles, experts say
Jpost ^ | Jan. 13, 2005 | NINA GILBERT

Posted on 01/12/2005 11:41:41 PM PST by F14 Pilot

Since Syria has no missile development infrastructure, it is a buyer of the weapons and is especially interested in accurate medium-range missiles that can hit Israel, Israel Aircraft Industries missile experts told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Wednesday.

Syria lacks a satellite program needed to develop the ballistic missiles, and it is not worthwhile for it to develop this capability, according to a review on the regional missile threat presented by two IAI officials, Uzi Rubin and Yair Ramati.

The committee held a session on the topic on Wednesday, amid the developing crisis between Israel and Russia on Moscow's supply of missiles to Syria.

According to the experts, it is not worthwhile for Syria to upgrade the Scud missiles it has in its possession.

Iran, on the other hand, is totally self-sufficient in missiles, and is making great strides with help from expert Russian missile engineers who are acting privately, the committee was told. Iran is trying to expand the range of its missiles.

Committee chairman Yuval Steinitz (Likud) said he is concerned that the IDF does not have a missile response program, and said it should establish a unit that could launch from both the sea and land.

Two types of Iranian short- to medium-range missiles are present in Lebanon are: the Fajjar-3, with a 40-km. range and the Fajjar-5 which can hit at 70 km. Iran also has a new, tactical medium-range missile, the Fatah 110 that has a 250-km. range.

The more advanced missiles are only located in Iran itself, including the Scuds and Shihab-3, which can reach 1,500 km. and the recently-tested Shihab-4 that has a 1,700 km.-2,000 km. range. Those missiles are not accurate, however, and have a 1-km. hitting radius.

The development of the Shihab-4 proves that Iran has first-rate missile engineers, who are not all Iranian and include Russians.

The experts characterized the Shihab-4 as a significantly threatening to Israel and US forces stationed in the region. The Iranians are also aiming to improve the Shihab-4 which could range from the UK to China.


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Israel; News/Current Events; United Kingdom; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: china; europe; foreign; iran; mideast; missiles; muslims; syria; terror; terrorism; uk; us; usa

1 posted on 01/12/2005 11:41:42 PM PST by F14 Pilot
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To: F14 Pilot

Syria's eager for missiles. Shall we send them some? ;)


2 posted on 01/12/2005 11:48:23 PM PST by DTogo (U.S. out of the U.N. & U.N out of the U.S.)
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To: F14 Pilot

I'm all for giving them as many missiles as we possibly can.


3 posted on 01/12/2005 11:48:48 PM PST by Bon mots
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To: F14 Pilot

I say we send elite special forces into Syria and cut the throat of anyone we suspect of supporting the insurgency in Iraq. I'm sure a few of the throats we slice will belong to Islamofascists who are eager for missiles.


4 posted on 01/12/2005 11:54:31 PM PST by bamaborn
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To: F14 Pilot

I think the time has arrived to give Syria a wake-up pinch.


5 posted on 01/12/2005 11:55:29 PM PST by Octar
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To: F14 Pilot

I think you'll find a unanimous opinion here in favor of sending missiles to Syria.


6 posted on 01/12/2005 11:58:31 PM PST by thoughtomator (Rooting for a Jets-Vikings Superbowl!)
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Comment #7 Removed by Moderator

To: F14 Pilot

Look to NK and Brazil as potential sellers.


8 posted on 01/13/2005 12:16:37 AM PST by endthematrix (Declare 2005 as the year the battle for freedom from tax slavery!)
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To: F14 Pilot
I would like to donate money to this cause. How much do I have to give to have one with my name on it be the first to land on Damascus?
9 posted on 01/13/2005 12:18:50 AM PST by msnimje
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To: msnimje

"I would like to donate money to this cause. How much do I have to give to have one with my name on it be the first to land on Damascus?"

Tomahawk donation fund.


10 posted on 01/13/2005 12:21:01 AM PST by demecleze
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To: Octar

Hear! Hear! Why we haven't invaded already is beyond me.


11 posted on 01/13/2005 12:37:23 AM PST by Freep-O-Rama
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To: Freep-O-Rama

Kerry was just in Syria right, guess he gave the Syrian president, or prince or whatever he's called, a big high five on this??


12 posted on 01/13/2005 2:20:16 AM PST by tina07 (Bush/Cheney'04)
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To: dennisw; Cachelot; Yehuda; Nix 2; veronica; Catspaw; knighthawk; Alouette; Optimist; weikel; ...

If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.


13 posted on 01/13/2005 5:16:52 AM PST by SJackson ( Bush is as free as a bird, He is only accountable to history and God, Ra'anan Gissin)
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To: IAF ThunderPilot

Contributions for Syrian missile quest ping!


14 posted on 01/13/2005 6:18:12 AM PST by Convert from ECUSA (tired of shucking and jiving)
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To: F14 Pilot

Syria should be careful what it wishes for. They want missiles? We can give lots to them. Delivered right to your door! *boom!*


15 posted on 01/13/2005 1:07:44 PM PST by Paul_Denton
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To: F14 Pilot

Let's send 'em a couple of ours - pointy end first!


16 posted on 01/13/2005 1:08:23 PM PST by IamConservative (To worry is to misuse your imagination.)
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To: Convert from ECUSA

Luckily, the Syrian army today is weak, very weak, its not the army of 1967 and 1973. Their missiles are only a cover since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the death of Assad the father.


17 posted on 01/14/2005 5:14:50 AM PST by IAF ThunderPilot (The basic point of the Israel Defence Forces: -Israel cannot afford to lose a single war.)
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