Posted on 03/07/2006 4:46:55 AM PST by Flavius
March 6, 2006: Iran has apparently successfully test fired a new missile, the Shahab 4, which has a range of 4,000 kilometers. The missile was destroyed in flight, but apparently proved that it worked. With that range, the Shahab 4 can reach targets in Western Europe.
The Shahab 4 is apparently based on the shorter (2,200 kilometers) range Shahab 3. Both seem to use technology from an old Soviet era missile, the SS-5. This is 1950s stuff, using a liquid fuel rocket which gave the missile a range of 4,000 kilometers. The SS-5 served as a truck-mobile, and silo based system until the mid-1980s. The Russians deny that they sold the technology to Iran, but any of the many Russian missile engineers and managers with access to the stuff could have made the sale. The information needed would fit into a briefcase, or on a CD. The Iranians have the engineers, and manufacturing capability, to produce the SS-5 components. Iran says they are developing the Shahab 4 as a satellite launcher. Iran has spent about a billion dollars on the project. The first test launch of the Shahab 4 was three years ago. It may be another year or two before the Shahab 4 is reliable enough for regular service (as an IRBM or satellite launcher.)
Tick... tick... tick...
Hey Europe, how ya feel now? Safe?
Just keep kissing Irans backsides now cause it's gonna get a lot worse.
Guess you all didn't learn a thing from WWII did ya?
I won't lose any sleep when Iran lays a smackdown on you fools.
If you fail to protect yourselves don't place any bets on America helping your sorry butts this time.
again, good post flavius
bump
That reckless, nuclear-sabre-rattling broken-back-French-cowboy Chirac worries me with his dangerous "go it alone" approach to solving international conflicts, has the man no concept of allowing the United Nations to do the job it was intended to do?
//sarc off ;)
Lets make a deal with Europe. If they straighten out Iran we will straighten out Venezuela.
Iran = a country racing toward their own Armegeddon.
And in a hurry to get there too.
You got French cars being burned up by the thousands each month by the "youths".
Regular citizens protesting in the streets by the thousands over "Antisemitism".
And now the French neighbors are testing their new "technology".
Looks like Chirac has everything under "control."
The froggies will surrender and become a Muslim Roman Catholic State, dedicated to Confession and Sharia the World over, and the whole bloody kingdom will fill itself with Burquaed Virgins who kiss and tell.
What a bunch of morons!
This is a big victory for Iran. Recent reports indicated that a January test failed.
Now that they've shown Europe they can be reached with a conventional missile, they'll want to demonstrate nuclear capability. However, we must not forget that they are already capable of using chemical and biological warheads.
In a sane world, that capability should be enough to turn Tehran into the world's largest rock quarry.
A parking lot might be more useful.
No, we'll wait until they use it on a country in range. Then we will debate what our response should be. Then we will take it to the UN, while we gather a group of willing allies together. In that time they will srike a second target, or a third. The time to strike is now. Their leader's talk is more that just a threat. It's a declaration of war.
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