Posted on 01/11/2006 1:02:15 PM PST by Calpernia
From lauramansfield.com:
I believe the key paragraphs in this article are:
Sazhin recalled that Iran directly participated in developing nuclear weapons in Pakistan. It also extended considerable loans to Pakistan during the work to develop a nuclear weapon. Dozens of Iranian specialists worked at Pakistani nuclear facilities.
"The United States knew about it but did not interfere because it met Washington's interests," Sazhin said.
As Pakistan completed its nuclear tests, it called the atomic weapon "the Islamic bomb," but soon the term was abandoned in order not to cast shadow on the American ally.
Russian Expert Says US, Israeli Military Action Against Iran Unlikely ITAR-TASS Wednesday, January 11, 2006
MOSCOW, January 11 (Itar-Tass) - The use of force against Iran to stop its nuclear program seems highly improbable in the near future because either attacker - the United States or Israel - is sure to sustain heavy losses. Also, it can hardly reach the objective, a high-ranking Russian expert believes.
"Iran cannot compare with Iraq, whose Osiraq nuclear facility was easily destroyed by Israeli aircraft in 1981," Lieutenant General Leonid Sazhin told Itar-Tass on Wednesday commenting on a possible international response to Iran's decision to unseal its uranium enrichment facility.
Unlike Iraq, Iran has powerful armed forces, with the Islamic Revolution Guards almost matching the army in numbers, and multi-million Basij militia units adding to the military's clout.
Iranians have modern armaments and equipment - MiG-29 and F-14 warplanes, tactical missiles and air defense systems.
Their nuclear facilities are scattered across the country, while the nuclear research center in Natanza, built deep underground and sheltered by reinforced concrete, is a difficult target for missiles or bombs.
To be able to deliver strikes at Iranian nuclear installations, U.S. or Israeli aircraft need to overcome Iran's seaborne, land, and point air defense.
"It's very hard to predict how many planes will be able to break through these defenses, but it's clear that their homing in on targets will involve great losses," Sazhin said.
Of course, Israel may use U.S.-made guided GBU-28 bombs intended for destroying underground shelters, but it first needs to deliver them to the target, which is a challenging task, he noted.
"To combat cruise missiles fired from destroyers or submarines in the Persian Gulf or the Mediterranean, Iran will have state-of-the-art weapons - Russian Tor-M1 complexes for point air defense," the expert underlined.
Sazhin recalled that Iran directly participated in developing nuclear weapons in Pakistan. It also extended considerable loans to Pakistan during the work to develop a nuclear weapon. Dozens of Iranian specialists worked at Pakistani nuclear facilities.
"The United States knew about it but did not interfere because it met Washington's interests," Sazhin said.
As Pakistan completed its nuclear tests, it called the atomic weapon "the Islamic bomb," but soon the term was abandoned in order not to cast shadow on the American ally.
Now that Iran has withdrawn from the moratorium on nuclear research at Natanza, this term re-appeared in the vernacular. "Washington's double standards policy in the nuclear sphere is obvious," the expert said.
(Description of Source: Moscow ITAR-TASS in English -- main government information agency)
ping
Trident D-5's. Lets see you shoot that down. ;)
Dey be sweatin' now. Got Russian lackies trippin' on how good the defense systems that they pawned off on Iran...Bluster...
Don't know but I'm guessing we and Isreal have already decided what to do or not to do with Iran militarily.
Iran's F-14s are most likely scrap metal. I doubt that any of them could even get off the ground.
Oh Bull!
Saddam had the "4th Largest" and "Battle Tested" army... rememeber?
F-117 or Raptor Pilots would not have to take off their Ipods, beore Iran is Igone.
Russian General...'nuff said.
The Russkies had the same thoughts about Iraq's military in 1991.
And wouldnt that be nice mission for the first operational squadron of F-22s.
Yes, when you read ludicrous crap like this (the North Koreans are masters of this genre) you know the crap issuers are getting a bit worried.
This article is rather strange. Yes, the U.S. does have good relations with Pakistan. It also has good relations with India. It would be hard to think of the U.S. as an ally of Pakistan in the conventional sense in that it would NOT back Pakistan against India. Do we cooperate now? Yes. Are we allies, well yes, but qualified allies.
As for Iran playing a major role in Pakistan's development of nuclear weapons, China was the acknowledged benefactor of Pakistan. Iran wasn't. Iran may have provided funding. I'm not convinced it's people were integrally involved. Perhaps they were but I've not heard of them playing a prominent role before. Perhaps someone else can comment on that.
We have already trained against the tor m-1 system. Greece has already let the US see the ins and outs of it. They bought some from russia as well. We shall see.
I should have added, that I am also puzzled as to why Russia might think Pakistan having 'the bomb' would suit U.S. interests. If China was going to give Pakistan their nuclear secrets, there wasn't much we could do about it, even if we did have the knowledge at the time, which I'm not convinced we did.
Thought they still had F-4s...
The Russkies said the same thing before the Bakaa valley "turkey shoot".
The Russians have been working very close with the US in the GWOT. They know we are not going to allow Iran to have the bomb, and so does everyone EXCEPT Iran. You can count on us taking action sometime late this summer, before Iran develops the bomb.
Don't know of too many outsourcing Customer Service offices in Pakistan. Textiles, maybe but we really have no question but to side with the Indian's over the Paki's
I used to believe the same, however, I've come to believe that the US will not have the stomach for the ramifications, and I no longer believe Israel can overcome their internal liberals to actually get up the nerve to take the necessary actions.
India seems like a much more natural ally. They are a stable and functioning democracy and don't have the tendenancy to send their children to die as suicide bombers. Although India cosied up to the Soviets in the 70s, the world is a different place. Some of the old Warsaw pact countries are our most reliable allies today.
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