Firebrand strategist to head Iran’s Air Force

Iran Focus ^ | 1/21/2006 | Staff

[Dark Skies]

Tehran, Iran, Jan. 21 – A senior commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards who once vowed that “no part of the Islamic world is going to be safe and secure for America” was named as the new head of the Guards’ Air Force.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a decree on Saturday, appointing Brigadier General Hossein Salami as the new commander of the Air Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). Another senior Guards commander, Brigadier General Mohammad-Reza Zahedi, was put in charge of the IRGC Ground Forces.

Salami is known as the father of the IRGC’s “asymmetric warfare” doctrine, which he helped to develop in the months preceding the war in Iraq. At the time, Salami was Director of Operations in the IRGC command headquarters.

The military doctrine is based on two components as strategic tools in any military confrontation: the massive use of suicide operations to target U.S. and Western interests around the world, and the use of weapons of mass destruction.

On July 4, 2004, General Salami called for the destruction of the United States during a ceremony to recruit suicide bombers that were willing to attack Western and Israeli targets.

“Now, America knows that Muslims with their desires for martyrdom have discovered a new technology and are capable of technological production. This has made [the U.S.] fear them”, Salami was quoted as saying by the state-run news agency ISNA.

In his new position as commander of the IRGC’s Air force, General Salami will be in charge of the country’s ballistic missile development project, a key component of the asymmetric warfare doctrine. Missiles are important as means of delivery for such weapons.

In November, Khamenei had appointed Salami as Vice-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the IRGC.

In the July 2004 speech, Salami had argued for the use of oil as a weapon by Muslim countries to put pressure on the West.

Salami said that because of the strategic location and resources of the Middle East, the United States had a goal of dominating the region, but was faced with the world of Islam.

Referring to suicide attacks against Israel, Salami said, “A young group following the ideology of Imam [Ruhollah] Khomeini and the [1979] Islamic revolution have started a new strategy of struggle and jihad against the Israelis”.

“With martyrdom-seeking operations, the fight against Israel has taken on a religious quality and has spread Islamic values. It was these martyrdom-seeking operations that brought about victory for the Hezbollah forces in southern Lebanon”.

He said that the West and Israel were terrified of suicide operations. “Now, no part of the Islamic world is safe and secure for America, thus the U.S. cannot move forward in the region and is currently trying to secure its present location”.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps was founded in the early days of the Islamic revolution in 1979 as an armed force loyal to Iran’s clerical rulers. Its commanders directly report to the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and their mission is to “protect and propagate the Islamic revolution”.

The appointments come 12 days after a plane crash in northwest Iran, which killed 11 senior IRGC commanders, including the commander of the IRGC Ground Forces. The crash was a serious blow to the IRGC at a critical time when the force has been given huge powers by the Supreme Leader in the wake of the consolidation of power by the ultra-conservative faction after hard-liner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took office as president.

[r9etb]

This is heading into World War III, IMO.

Could be -- but "asymmetrical war" works both ways. I'm guessing (based on little more than impressions based on various articles I've read) that there's more than a little internal instability in Iran. The "apparent power struggle" is just one thing. There's also a great deal of financial instability, and I think the neo-Taliban crackdown is both a symptom of previous unrest, and a precursor to more unrest.

Our "assymetry" -- or better, the Russians', since they've got a lot of experience in it -- would be to feed that unrest, in order to take down the mullahs once and for all. I think it'd take a lot less than folks think.

[tet68]

The appointments come 12 days after a plane crash in northwest Iran, which killed 11 senior IRGC commanders, including the commander of the IRGC Ground Forces. The crash was a serious blow to the IRGC at a critical time when the force has been given huge powers by the Supreme Leader in the wake of the consolidation of power by the ultra-conservative faction after hard-liner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took office as president.

Ah, the age old question.
Which came first ?
The plane crash or the egg?

[mcshot]

I believe you are right and the possibilities are scary.

mc

[claudiustg]

---I think you all should relax.---

And let this sort of rhetoric become normalized? I don't think so.

[Pukin Dog]

What are you talking about? This rhetoric is designed to provoke a response. Once it either succeeds or fails, it will end.

[freedumb2003]

This is nothing but the loud bully on the school bus, who has not yet been punched in the mouth.

We have established worldwide dominance WITHOUT even deploying our latest air technology (F-22, F-35).

I read in a thread somewhere here that in live mock battles a single F-22 took out something like 10 F-15s. Since the fall of the USSR, the "old school" F-15E has an astounding 26:0 kill ratio, I don't think we have to worry about Iran's old Soviet-era "airforce."

[Howlin]

I heard today that Iran isn't saying where they are moving their "assets." Surely we know, right?

[COEXERJ145]

The Iranian Air Force is nothing but Raptor food.

[Pukin Dog]

The F-15E is not a fighter, but an attack bomber. The F-15C is the fighter version and has more than a 100-to-0 record if you combine Israeli versions and our own. The F-22 regularly takes on and defeats up to 6 F-15s alone and in a pair, can defeat an entire squadron of F-15s.

[freedumb2003]

Thanks for the clarifications.

As mich as I love military craft, it is hard to keep up. They keep upgrading and changing designations on the good old stuff (they will never make a more beautiful craft than the F-15 IMHO).

And the deployment schedule of the F-22 and its capabilities and latest results are also difficult to track.

But at least it is good to know we match on the bottom line: Salami and is bolonies don't have a chance.

[Robe]

If this balloon goes up, we're gonna have to place 3-4 carriers in the gulf...

I hope the American people can stomach losing one...

cause we surely will (Praying I'm Wrong)

[claudiustg]

---What are you talking about? This rhetoric is designed to provoke a response. Once it either succeeds or fails, it will end.---

It is the tongue that spreads evil abroad. The response they are trying to provoke is not from us, but from all those millions of Muslims. What was once unthinkable, becomes a commonplace.

You make the same mistake, the politicians made on the eve of WWII. You assume it is all talk and bluster and that it's aimed at you.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

This is going to be really, really bad.

I am compelled to agree. The asymmetrical aspect is interesting. However, it seems to be a war of "wills". We have the will to win. Who will step back from the precipice?

[Pukin Dog]

No we wont.

Look, during war time, there is no safer place to be than on one of our Carriers. No real estate on earth is better protected or defended.

During wartime, nothing flying or swimming will get within 100 miles of one of our carriers without blowing up.

[Pukin Dog]

I'm making a mistake?

Who was it who said, "It will be the mother of all battles."?

Clue: we dug him from a fox hole.
Clue: his army beat the snot out of Iran.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Clue: his army beat the snot out of Iran.

Noteworthy that they ground each other to a halt. The economic conditions have changed. Iran's alignment with Syria is not to be taken lightly. Odd that the Turks have not received media amplification. Nonetheless, Europe stands as the economic buffer. Given their history; the infighting should commence soon.

[jblair]

Though I believe the F-22's results vs. the F-15, the kid in me is in denial, even astonished. The F-22's capability is far beyond my imagination. The competition to drive those suckers must be extreme.

[Robe]

I know your right ,Puke, I've spent many a moon on bird farms.. 28 years in in total,did 2 tours in SE Asia in the 60's flying F-4's, retired as O-5.

I just have a bad feeling....

I keep envisioning a flock of silkworms flying 6' above the waterline as they pass thru the Strait of Hormuz

[Kozak]

Kamikaze Scotsman
As featured in the Flying Circus TV Show - Episode 38

---

The cast:
JEREMY
Michael Palin
VOICE OVER
Michael Palin
SCOTS SOLDIER
Michael Palin
SECOND SOLDIER
Eric Idle
R.S.M.
Terry Jones
CAPTAIN
John Cleese
MAN
Michael Palin
RECEPTIONIST
Carol Cleveland

---

The sketch:
(We sse Edinburgh Castle at dusk. The lone piper is silhouetted against the crimson-streaked sky.)
Jeremy: (voice over) The lone piper on the battlements of Edinburgh 'Castle...

(There are a few bars of bagpipe music. Suddenly there is a scream and he disappears. Cut to interior of stone-walled guardroom inside Edinburgh Castle. Ten kilted Scottish guardsmen with bagpipes in a line. A sergeant major at the door taps one on the shoulder.)

RSM: Next!

(The next goes outside. We hear pipes start, the sergeant smiles. Cut to castle battlements. The piper plays and then jumps off We hear the scream as before. Another piper emerges and goes through the same routine.)

Voice Over: (Scottish accent) Here on top of Edinburgh Castle, in conditions of extreme secrecy, men are being trained for the British Army's first Kamikaze Regiment, the Queen's Own McKamikaze Highlanders. (there is a scream and a piper jumps off, another one emerges and starts to play) So successful has been the training of the Kamikaze Regiment that the numbers have dwindled from 30,000 to just over a dozen in three weeks. What makes these young Scotsmen so keen to kill themselves?

(Close ups of soldiers.)

Scots Soldier: The money's good!

Second Soldier: And the water skiing! (he falls down with a scream)

(Cut to interior of the guardroom in Edinburgh Castle. As before, but with only six men left plus the sergeant major. Bagpipes and a scream. The sergeant major dispatches another man. A captain enters. Bagpipes again.)

RSM: Ten-shun,

Captain: All right, sergeant major. At ease. Now, how many chaps have you got left,?

RSM: Six, sir,

Captain: Six? (there is a scream)

RSM: Five, sir. (to another highlander carrying bagpipes) Good luck, Johnson. (Johnson leaves)

Captain: Jolly good show, sergeant maior. (we hear bagpipes starting up outside) Well, I've come to tell you that we've got a job for your five lads.

(There is a scream.)

RSM: Four, sir.

Captain: For your four lads.

RSM: (whispering to another man) Good luck, Taggart.

Taggart: Thank you, sarge. (he goes)

Captain: (looking rather uncertainly at the man leaving) Now this mission's going to be dangerous, (bagpipes start) and it's going to be tough, and we're going to need every lad of yours to pull his weight. (the usual scream in the background) Now, which ... er ... which four are they?

RSM: These three here, sir. OK. Off you go, Smith.

Smith: (with manic eagerness) Right! (he charges out through door before captain can stop him)

Captain: (with mounting concern) ... er ... sergeant major!

RSM: Yes, sir? (bagpipes start outside)

Captain: You don't think it might be a good idea... er... to stop the training programme for a little bit?

RSM: They got to be trained, sir. It's a dangerous job.

Captain: Yes ... I know... but... er ... (the usual scream)

RSM: All right MacPherson, you're next, off you go.

Captain: You see what is worrying me, sergeant major, is... MacPherson I'll make it a gud'un, sir! (he dashes off)

RSM: Good luck, MacPherson.

Captain: Er... MacPherson... (the bagpipes start up) only this mission really is very dangerous. We're going to need both the chaps that you've got left (scream)

RSM: Both of who, sir?

Captain: Sergeant major, what's this man's name?

RSM: This one sir? This one is MacDonald, sir.

Captain: No, no, no, no. (the captain stops MacDonald who is straining quite hard to get away) Hang on to MacDonald, sergeant major, hang on to him.

RSM: I don't know whether I can, sir... (MacDonald's eyes are staring in a strange way) he's in a sute of Itsubishi Kyoko McSayonara.

Captain: What's that?

(They am both struggling to restrain MacDonald.)

RSM: It's the fifth state that a Scotsman can achieve, sir. He's got to finish himself off by lunchtime or he thinks he's let down the Emperor, sir.

Captain: Well, can't we get him out of it?

RSM: Oh, I dunno how to, sir. Our Kamikaze instructor, Mr Yashimoto, was so good he never left Tokyo airport.

Captain: Well, there must be someone else who can advise us?

(Exterior of smart London health-salon-type frontage. A big sign reads 'Kamikaze Advice Centre '. A bowler-hatred man enters. A receptionist sits behind a posh desk.)

Man: (very businesslike) Good morning, Kamikaze, please.

Receptionist: (indicating door) Yes, would you go through, please?

Man: Thank you.

[Pukin Dog]

Read up on AEGIS.