Inside the Ring-Iran Defends Nukes, Preparing for Attack

Washington Times ^ | May 10, 2002 | Bill Gertz

[codebreaker]

Iranian military forces recently moved additional air defense missiles to a key nuclear facility in what U.S. officials view as a sign that Tehran is preparing for an attack.

Several batteries of Iran's U.S. made improved Hawk missles, known as I-Hawks, were added to defenses ringing Iran's Bushehr nuclear faciilty and were photographed last month by a U.S. spy satellite. Iran has about 150 I-Hawks.The Bushehr nuclear power plant is located 10 miles south of the city of Bushehr and has been under construction since the 1970's.

[codebreaker]

More: CIA non proliferation officials have told Congress that Iran is active persuing the acuisition of fissile material and the expertise and technology necessary to form the material into nuclear weapons. The weapons are based on obth plutonium and highly enriched uranium nuclear arms, accoring to the agency.

[varon]

....U.S. officials view as a sign that Tehran is preparing for an attack.

Either the U.S. officials or the reporter or both are engaged in some doubletalk. What are they saying? Is Iran preparing defenses against an attack or are they preparing for an offensive attack?
Placing defensive missiles around their nuclear facility could serve their intended purpose in either scenario. So, which is it?

[THEUPMAN]

this is my favorite line ...

Several batteries of Iran's U.S. made improved Hawk missles

the mushy fell good leftwing policys that let the Shaw down are gonna get somebody hurt

[codebreaker]

I think it is defense.

[whipitgood]

UNDER CONSTRUCTION SINCE THE 1970'S? Boy, those guys are really getting with the program!

[Joe Boucher]

Let's do a double hit, Irans nuclear facilities and carpet nuke iraq at the same time. end of problem. Next.

[Savage Beast]

this is my favorite line...

the mushy fell good leftwing policys that let the Shaw down are gonna get somebody hurt

That's why mushy, feel good, leftwing policies are always dangerous. They get somebody hurt.

"There is no substitute for moral and strategic clarity."

--Benjamin Netanyahu

[soycd]

Imagine a hawk trying to shoot down a volly of Cruise missiles coming in for a touchdown.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

...Iranian military forces recently moved additional air defense missiles to a key nuclear facility in what U.S. officials view as a sign that Tehran is preparing for an attack...

You can hardly blame them. Iran has no nukes (ignore the histrionic and misleading thread title) themselves, yet they're being threatened with a nuclear strike by this Administration :

The leaking of the report to American newspapers is certain to have huge diplomatic repercussions because it calls for the development of new nuclear weapons and draws up contingencies to launch a first-strike attack against some states that do not have nuclear weapons - a departure from previous policy. The Nuclear Posture Review, shown to Congress on January 8, names China, Russia, Iraq, North Korea, Iran, Libya and Syria as potential nuclear targets.

No wonder Iran's moderates are constantly being undercut by hardliners who say 'every time we soften policy towards the US, they hold a new knife to our throat.'

[Byron_the_Aussie]

..let's do a double hit, Irans nuclear facilities and carpet nuke iraq at the same time...

Shut up, you idiot.

[Savage Beast]

Here's something I don't understand. Maybe somebody can explain it to me.

When President Bush identified Iran, Iraq, and North Korea as the Axis of Evil, he put them on notice. That seems unwise to me. One would expect them to be building up their defenses.

What good could such a statement do? Why put them on notice? If military action against them is anticipated, why eliminate the element of surprise? Did he expect such a threat to induce them to stop being an Axis of Evil?

I don't understand.

[astounded]

Another chickenhawk I presume.

[rageaholic]

Uhh, why does Iran, with all that free oil, need a nuclear power plant?

[streetpreacher]

Here's something I don't understand. Maybe somebody can explain it to me.

When President Bush identified Iran, Iraq, and North Korea as the Axis of Evil, he put them on notice. That seems unwise to me. One would expect them to be building up their defenses.

What good could such a statement do? Why put them on notice? If military action against them is anticipated, why eliminate the element of surprise? Did he expect such a threat to induce them to stop being an Axis of Evil?

I don't understand.

It serves to put the American people on notice. Who cares what Iran does? Several months ago, they received a clear warning from the biggest military power on the planet and in response have continued to support terrorists, including Al Quaeda, while thumbing their nose at the U.S. If the Iranian government (fictional) is that dysfunctional as well as mad, it only serves to bolster the President's case against them.

The President is being smart by leveling with the American public. What can Iran really do to counter an American attack (besides ceasing terrorism, which would be tantamount to self-imploding)? Their days are numbered and they know it. Same for Iraq and N. Korea (and hopefully Syria). To quote a certain patriot, "Start the bombing in five minutes." (Was it five minutes? Well, you get the picture.)

[streetpreacher]

Uhh, why does Iran, with all that free oil, need a nuclear power plant?

Ha! I never even considered that. Anyway, who are we kidding? What else would Iran want to do with nuclear power? Anybody posting here about Iran not developing a nuclear program is deluded. It reminds of that factory in Iraq during the Gulf War. A sign was placed over it in English that read, "Baby Milk" or Pharmaceuticals or something to that effect. Translation: Target.