Iran's Successful Missile Test Puts Israel Within Range

Ha'aretz ^ | July 04, 2003 | Amir Oren

[DoctorZIn]

Iran has successfully tested a Shihab-3 missile, which has a range that can reach Israel. The launch last week was the most successful so far of the seven or eight tests of the missile over the last five years, and has increased worries in Washington - which spotted the test with its tracking mechanisms - and in Israel.

If the assessment proves to be true that the missile, which was launched from east to west, had an effective range beyond the 1,300-kilometer red line, meaning the range from western Iran to Israel, the Iranians could position the launching pads for the rocket deeper inside their country.

The Iranian threat will be one of the subjects under discussion when Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon visits the Pentagon and U.S. armed forces bases next week. Ya'alon's itinerary is supposed to include the Florida headquarters of two key commands: Centcom and Special Operations at MacDill air force base.

More data is now being collected and collated in the West about the missile test and about the progress being made in the Iranian missile program, which is based on North Korean missiles. In previous tests, when the rocket was powered by a North Korean engine, the tests were successful, but when the engines were Iranian-made, even with North Korean know-how, they tended to fail - despite statements by Iranian Defense Minister Ali Shakhmani in 2002 that Iran can "develop everything" and does not need help from foreign sources like China or Russia.

The report of the Shihab-3 test is an incentive for Israel equipping itself with more Arrow missiles made by the Israel Aircrafts Industries and soon to go into a joint production process with Boeing.

Israel is also concerned about the growing ties between Iran and Libya. Indeed, the Libyan threat is now the reason for a third Arrow battery even though the Iraqi threat is gone. One response to the Libyan threat would be an Arrow battery mounted on a naval vessel.

Western experts said that the 16-meter single-stage Shihab-3, which can carry up to a ton of explosives in its payload, is not very accurate, with the probability of hitting within three kilometers of any target it is launched at. But it is possible that has been improved over the past year. In any case, the missile range already includes Israel, Turkey, the Indian subcontinent and the American forces in the Gulf. Iran has plans for two longer-range missiles: a Shihab-4, with a 2,000-kilometer range and a Shihab-5, with a 5,500-kilometer range.

The last Shihab missile test resulted in a Bush administration statement expressing "serious concerns" about the Iranian missile project, which is a "threat to the region and U.S. interests."

The next commander of Centcom, Gen. John Abizaid, who replaces Tommy Franks on Monday, testified last week to a Senate committee that "Iran has the largest ballistic missile inventory in the Central Command region to include long-range weapons of mass destruction and delivery systems capable of reaching deployed U.S. forces in the theater." And he warned, "Iran's long-term ability to develop nuclear weapons remains a source of serious concern."

He told the committee that "Iran casts a shadow on security and stability in the Gulf region. Iran's military is second only to the United States. U.S. allies in the Gulf acknowledge Iran's increasingly proactive efforts to soften its image and appear less hegemonic; however, Iran's military poses a potential threat to neighboring countries."

[RiverDrifter]

This from GuruNet:

Abizaid has trained as a paratrooper and an Army Ranger; serving in the 82nd Airborne Division and the First Armored Division, and he has extensive background in military operations, particularly in areas of civilian Muslim populations. He served with military operations in northern Iraq in the 1990s. Abizaid, a three-star senior general, was previously director of the Joint Staff, an organization serving the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

[RiverDrifter]

This also from GuruNet

Army Lt. Gen. John Abizaid is second deputy commander of the US Central Command, making him the highest ranking Arab-American in the US military. Born in the United States to a Lebanese-American family, Abizaid speaks fluent Arabic. He is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point as well as the Armed Forces Staff College and Stanford University, and he also attended the University of Amman in Jordan.

[FairOpinion]

The last Shihab missile test resulted in a Bush administration statement expressing "serious concerns" about the Iranian missile project, which is a "threat to the region and U.S. interests."

----

I hope this is yet another thing, in addition to Iran's nuclear program and support of terrorism, that will provide incentive for the US to help the Iranian protesters sooner, rather than later, to get rid of the current Iranian government who is a threat to the US, the Middle East, the world, and their own people.

[adam_az]

John Goldstein could slip into that neighborhood more easily?

John is a Christian name, not a Jewish one. Jonathan, more likely.

[DAnconia55]

Paging Dr Krevorkian.

Iran calling for Dr Krevorkian.

[Phil V.]

Actually I see a general named Yehuda Goldstein as having the likeliest probability of carrying Bush's "Bring it on" style to an effective and logical conclusion.

The arabs go nuts over this "obvious Jewish-American conspiracy". They go ballistic (literally). We go ballistic back. PRESTO!! From the Mediterranean to the Euphrates . . .

[stuck_in_new_orleans]

He he!

How old are you... 12 ?

[stuck_in_new_orleans]

There are tons of loyal well-ranked Military professional, members of high office (John Sununu Republican Senator of New Hamsphire, Darrell Issa from California, Spencer Abraham Republican Energy secretary) Just to name a few. With that comment you made the worst of our great nation come through and if you're a 'real patriot' then i feel really sorry for your ranks. I'm absolutely disgusted.

amen

[nuconvert]

Look. rp had a bad first reaction. He's seen the light. Let up on him already.

[yonif]

Who here knows, is that Arab?

Yonif, do you know? Is this name Arab? "Gen. John Abizaid"

Yes.

CNN.com - Arab-American rises in ranks - Dec. 26, 2002

[yonif]

Ping. I'll bet Israel already has a plan to get rid of Iran's weapons capabilities (including its reactors).

[NetValue]

"Please reconcider your freeper name out of concideration to a fine city."

Please reconsider your FReeper name out of consideration to a fine State.

[judicial meanz]

Sorry it took so long to get back to you. He is Christian and if I remeber correctly, his parents fled Lebanon to avoid persecution. here is his official bio from CENTCOM:


Lieutenant General Abizaid assumed duties as the Deputy Commander (Forward) for Combined Forces Command, U.S. Central Command in January 2003.

Lieutenant General Abizaid was commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in June 1973. He started his career with the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he served as a rifle and scout platoon leader. He commanded companies in the 2nd and 1st Ranger Battalions, leading a Ranger Rifle Company during the invasion of Grenada.

Lieutenant General Abizaid commanded the 3rd Battalion, 325th Airborne Battalion combat Team in Vicenza, Italy, during the Gulf crisis and deployed with the battalion to Kurdistan in Northern Iraq. His brigade command was the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division. He served as the Assistant Division Commander, 1st Armored Division, in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Following that tour, he served as the 66th Commandant at West Point. Most recently, he commanded 1st Infantry Division, the “Big Red One,” in Wurzburg. The 1st Infantry Division formed the core of Task Force Falcon in Kosovo.

Staff assignments include a tour with the United Nations as operations officer for Observer Group Lebanon and a tour in the Office of the Chief of the Staff, U.S. Army. European staff tours include assignments in both the Southern European Task Force and Headquarters, U.S. Army Europe. Lieutenant General Abizaid also served as Executive Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Director of Strategic Plans and Policy (J5) on the Joint Staff and Director of the Joint Staff.

Lieutenant General Abizaid’s military education includes Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced courses, Armed Forces Staff College, and a U.S. Army War College Senior Fellowship at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. In his civilian studies, he earned a Master of Arts degree in Area Studies at Harvard University, and was an Olmsted Scholar at the University of Jordan in Amman, Jordan.

His decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with five Oak Leaf Clusters and the Bronze Star. He earned the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Master Parachutist Badge with Gold Star, Ranger Tab and the Expert Infantryman’s Badge.

Lieutenant General Abizaid is a native of Coleville, California. He is married and they have three children

[duk]

why would a nation develop a missile with an 800 mile range and only accourate to within 3 km. The only thing I can think of it being used for is a nuke, which they "don't have."

The article states it's a single stage which should lend itself to the K.I.S.S. doctrine. An air burst nuke that is within a 3 KM radius is far more effective then a pinpoint ground detonation. Close only counts in horse shoes, hand granades and nukes!

An Iranian nuclear test detonation will change the entire ballance of power in the region. I think the U.S. has already determined Iran is a nuclear power and is positioning itself in the region accorddingly. Like N.K. we are only waiting for the test detonation.

[Binyamin]

If Issa is such a wonderful Arab...

Why does he meet with arch terrorist Arafat and others in Syria?
Why does he claim the terrorist group Hezbollah is legitimate and has never been involved with terrorist activities?
(241 U.S. Marines, CIA Chief Buckley, and Col. Richard Higgins want that answer)
Why does he say "I have a great deal of sympathy for the work that Hezbollah tries to do"
Why did the JDL allegedly target him?
Why was he convicted on a weapons violation?
Why was he charged for felony auto theft multiple times?
Why was he heavily suspected of arson after more than quadrupling his failed business insurance from about $100,000 to $460,000?
Why is his convicted felon brother charged with many of the same type of crimes?

[Calpernia]

Happy 4th to you. Thanks for the follow up. I did get some great info on L.G. Abizaid. I'm am now pleased he will be our new Deputy Commander (no disrespect to Franks, he will be missed).

Hope you had a great day today. We had perfect weather.

[Calpernia]

From Comment #45 Removed by Moderator...

bboogggeeebbbbyyyy....booggeedddyyyyy .


And you think Search4Truth sounds 12?

[sheik yerbouty]

Ethiopia is a CDhristian country. Eritrea, the break away province, is largely Muslim.

[Bobby777]

I'd bet Israel will take out Iran's nuclear program before we do.

by 1999 or so, Israel had already said they would not tolerate nukes on Iranian MRBM's ... F-15's with long range tanks / conformal fuel packs could make the trip ... or, the Dolphin-class submarines ... aye carumba ... that will be a day, though ...

[Bobby777]

funny, we were both replying to this thread after it had been quiet a couple days ... I guess I'm wondering, based on that reading, if Ethiopia is going to have the same types of swarming invasion and oppression that we have seen in the Sudan ... it's not a good thing of course, but I wonder ... FReegards ...