Posted on 06/15/2006 10:25:42 PM PDT by familyop
Defense ministers from close allies Iran and Syria on Thursday signed an agreement for military cooperation against what they called the "common threats" presented by Israel and the United States.
In a joint press conference, Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar and visiting Syrian counterpart Hassan Turkmani said their talks had been aimed at consolidating their defense efforts and strengthening support for one another.
"Our cooperation is based on a strategic pact and unity against common threats. We can have a common front against Israel's threats," Turkmani told reporters after two intensive rounds of talks with Najjar.
"Our cooperation with the Iranians against Israeli threats is nothing secret and we regularly consult about this with our friends," he said.
Before the press conference, Iran's defense ministry said the two sides "stressed strengthening mutual ties and the necessity to preserve peace and stability in the region."
The defense ministry statement also said they discussed "ridding the region of weapons of mass destruction," in an apparent reference to the widely held belief that Israel possesses nuclear warheads.
The United States has led opposition to Iran's nuclear program, which Tehran insists is aimed at civilian energy purposes but which Washington suspects is a cover for atomic weapons-making.
US President George W. Bush has advocated diplomacy to resolve the international row over Iran's aims but has also said "all options are on the table" if Iran refuses to halt sensitive uranium enrichment work.
Washington has included Syria in its so-called axis of evil that also comprises Iran and North Korea, citing these nations as "supporters of terrorism."
Asked about US threats against Damascus and Tehran, both top brass brushed off the importance of such threats.
"This is nothing new, we will resist these threats," the Syrian defense minister said.
However, Turkmani dismissed the possibility of hosting an Iranian military base on Syrian soil.
"The language of a foreign military base in our country is alien to us. I want to say that it is not on the agenda," he added.
The Iranian defense minister said: "US threats are a kind of psychological operation. It is not new. With unity among the region's nations, these threats will not prevail."
Although the two refused to give specifics about the agreement for military cooperation, Najjar said Iran "considers Syria's security its own security, and we consider our defense capabilities to be those of Syria."
Najjar also shrugged off reports that Iran could pose a threat to the region.
"Iran is ready to sign a non aggression pact with regional countries," he said.
"Our military warfare equipment is based on deterrent policies and strategy. Enemies should know about our capabilities and should not even think about an assault against us," he said in response to a question about the optimization process going on for the medium range Shahab-3 missile.
Iran's Shahab-3 missiles have a range of 2,000 kilometers (1,280 miles), capable of hitting arch-enemy Israel and US bases across the Middle East.
Najjar added that the Syrian side has purchased some Iranian military equipment, but did not elaborate on the purchased items and did not say whether the purchases were made as part of Thursday's agreement.
Turkmani started an official visit to Tehran on Sunday.
During his trip, Turkmani has also met with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Islamic republic's military chiefs and visited Iranian military factories in Isfahan and Tehran.
Actually, Iran might be close to having its Shahab-4 developed. The Shahab-4 will reach London, Rome and Paris.
Iran would 'use nuclear defense' if threatened
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1650117/posts
The Mice(y) Alliance??
If Iran feels safer behind a Syrian shield, well, more power to them.
I guess both countries bought into the "operational pause" during OIF. That's a real shame.
Not that Syria will turn a wheel against any of Iran's enemies anyhow, they are already overmatched and outnumbered in the Golan, and too afraid to turn their backs for even an instant.
About the only thing of possible concern regarding this "alliance" would be Iranian missile bases in Syria. I don't think the Iranians would be foolish enough to do this, since those missiles could easily be turned against them, but it will take all of about 10 minutes to coordinate adequate ABM defenses against the possibility.
Iran's running scared.
With good reason.
Great news. Now we need no excuse to take out both at the same time. The timing is right on.
LOL! Are these guys serious? They should make an alliance with the Boy Scouts - that would give them more protection. :)
"I see intelligence reports and we know that we're finding Iranian weapons inside the country," Mr. Rumsfeld told reporters."
"They don't just get there by accident. They don't fly there."
"Top Iraqi defense officials on Sunday accused Syria of allowing foreign fighters to operate training camps on Syrian soil and sneak into Iraq to commit suicide bombings."
""We do not have the least doubt that nine out of 10 of the suicide bombers who carry out suicide bombing operations among Iraqi citizens . . . are Arabs who have crossed the border with Syria," the Iraqi national security adviser, Mowaffak Rubaie, told journalists in Cairo, the Reuters news service reported."
"Most of those who blow themselves up in Iraq are Saudi nationals," he added."
I was thinking this might be better news than you make it out to be--with this alliance in place, now, if we fight one of `em, we fight them both, and that's as it should be. Take both of the Axis members out at the same time, make them fight together and get it over with.
Thanks. I enjoy chatting with you
Good, now we can kill two birds with one stone.
BTW, did you see the news many months ago, that we (USA) sold at least several hundred penetrators ("bunker busters") to Israel?
You're welcome, and thanks for the "thanks." And yes, I can tell.
I have but I think its a red herring for the international community. It would be nice to have the "bunker busters" as part of their arsenal but it would not be a part of an attack. Those bunker busters need to be launched from an aircraft. Those aircraft would be better used against targets inside Syria. We know that Iran has underground facilities. Iran built the so deep that the bunker busters currently in stock can't get to them. But a Jericho missile, tipped with a mid yield nuclear weapon can take out those underground facilities in one stroke instead of numerous strikes from a bunker buster.If you have a big enough nuclear blast, the overpressure from the blast would collapse those facilities.They have nuclear warheads that penetrate the ground before it explodes. Im surmising that the bunker busters were part of a sale and the news media just ran with the story.
Mid yield nuclear weapons might be overkill. Used in such a way, they are good cratering devices, but they can make large messes. The IDF is pretty good at modifying things. If they wanted to use nukes, they could mount very small tacticals on bunker busters or missiles. Those would make for less fallout in the air.
But here is what I've been getting at. Our President has made a number of similar statements. What if Israel had access to some of our equipment and ordnance? They've had enough (and will have more) training time for it. And the more stalling that happens with Iran, the more planning and training time...
‘US will help Israel in case of war with Iran’:Cheney
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1562171/posts
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