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Kiev admits sending cruise missiles to Iran and China
Financial Times ^

Posted on 03/17/2005 12:15:35 PM PST by Alex Marko

Ukraine has admitted that it exported 12 cruise missiles to Iran and six to China amid mounting pressure from other countries to explain how the sales occurred.

Svyatoslav Piskun, Ukraine's prosecutor- general, told the FT that 18 X-55 cruise missiles, also known as Kh-55s or AS-15s, were exported in 2001. Although none of the missiles was exported with the nuclear warheads they were designed to carry, Japan and the US say they are worried by what appears to have been a significant leak of technology from the former Soviet Union's nuclear arsenal.

The X-55 has a range of 3,000 km, enough to put Japan within striking range of the Asian continent or to reach Israel from Iran.

The US embassy in Kiev said it was "closely monitoring" the investigation and wanted the findings of a secret trial made public. The US is critical of European diplomatic efforts to prevent Iran developing nuclear weapons.

Japan fears it could be vulnerable to a nuclear strike from the Asian mainland if the Ukrainian missiles fall into Korean hands.

Kishichiro Amae, Japan's ambassador in Kiev, said he was hopeful that the new Ukrainian government, which took over in January, would explain the case but so far he had received no information.

Mr Amae said the new Ukrainian government had shown its readiness to investigate the previous government's misdemeanours when it indicted three high- ranking interior ministry officers this month for the murder in 2000 of journalist Georgy Gongadze. But he said the cruise missile case was more serious. "If it is handled in secrecy, the new government will lose the confidence of the world."

Mr Piskun's admission that Ukraine sold the missiles is the first confirmation by a government official that the exports occurred. The case was made public last month by a member of Ukraine's parliament, whose account Mr Piskun largely confirmed.

The acquisition by Iran of cruise missiles, if proved, would heighten concerns about its nuclear weapons programme.

Mr Piskun said he understood Japan was concerned that the missiles delivered to China could have ended up in North Korea, although there were no grounds to suspect such a transfer.

Ukraine had about 1,000 of the missiles in its arsenal after the break-up of the Soviet Union.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; Israel; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; Russia; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: armssales; china; embargo; iran; israel; middleeast; northkorea; proliferation; ukraine; waronterror
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To: antoninartaud
The Soviets and their stupid, short-sighted allies, should be informed of a new US policy: if any nuclear weapon lands in US territory, and the delivery system, or guidance system, or other critical piece of high-tech was provided by a third party, that third party receives the same retaliation we reserve for the suicidal nation that attacks us in the first place. MADD with linkage.

SO, if such a thing happened we should launch against Russia, right? Well, you should remember that although a good part of the Russian military machine has atrophied they have not let rust and rot touch their missile forces. They pour billions into those each and every year. Within 30 minutes Armageddon would reign.

A question: PAkistan has several F-16s (the few that managed to get to it before Viper sales were stopped and we withheld the planes they had already paid for). Anyways, Pakistan has several F-16s, and a number have been tweaked to allow them to carry a nuke (specifically the F-16As of Nos 9 and 11 Squadrons at Sargodha have allegedly been modified to carry and deliver a Pakistani airborne nuke in a strike against India). Ok, you know the Pakistanis are crazy. Let's say they attack India, and even though most of those Falcons wouldn't even reach the Indian border without getting shot down by the Indians, let's say one manages to drop its 'egg' on its intended target (or for that matter any target within India's border). Do you think it would be appropriate for India to fume against the US for selling the Pakistanis the F-16s, and to try their best to sneak an Indian nuke into an American city?

In the real world there is a lot of weapons leakage. MOst of the stuff in the world today is Chinese in origin, and before the Chinese copied it most of it came from the then Soviet Union. Thus i can see where you are finding your link from. But just remember that if we nuke a Russian city because Al Queda nuked an American city (most probably using Pakistani nuclear material since Pakistan is the number one place to get such stuff, and Pakistan's nuclear program was basically given to them by China, and decades back it was the Soviets/Russians who helped China develop a working nuclear program, thus, using your logic, putting the 'blame' on Russia). So, if we nuke a Russian city, do you think the Russians will just sit there and say its ok over a bottle of Stoli? Or do you think they will launch at us, and we will launch at them, and the only victor will be China since it will be rid of both Russia and the US.

You can be assured of this. IF an attack ever occured on US soil using WMDs and from a terrorist nation (God forbid), that one of the first things to occur would be communication between the Kremlin and Washington to ensure that there was adequate communication between the two so as to avoid 'misunderstandings.' What is for certain is that Trident SLBMs from our Boomers wouldn't be flying towards Moscow because some nutcase wearing a rag on his head and sitting in some cave was stupid enough to mess with Uncle Sam.

41 posted on 03/17/2005 5:08:36 PM PST by spetznaz (Nuclear tipped ICBMs: The Ultimate Phallic Symbol.)
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To: TChris
You took him too seriously.  It was half a joke.

It was kinda funny, actually.

42 posted on 03/17/2005 5:43:25 PM PST by Psycho_Bunny (“I know a great deal about the Middle East because I’ve been raising Arabian horses" Patrick Swazey)
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To: antoninartaud
Put more bluntly, if Iran uses this missile against the US or it's allies, the Ukraine just insured that we will finish what Stalin began.

Kuchma is long gone. So is Putin and Russia's influence in Ukraine. They are the ones responsible for this. They are the Stalinists.

Yet you root for a Stalinist outcome in Ukraine.

Why don't you take your outrage and direct it appropriately.

43 posted on 03/17/2005 6:39:48 PM PST by FreeReign
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To: Fast1

Like the Squall rocket torpedo that blew up and sank the Kursk? :-P


44 posted on 03/17/2005 6:39:55 PM PST by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: self_evident
...eliminate the people that eliminated those that sold the missles?

Well put.

45 posted on 03/17/2005 6:42:31 PM PST by FreeReign
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To: Spktyr
Yep but they have ones that work and the chicoms allegedly have some now.Imposable to defend against.
46 posted on 03/17/2005 7:28:36 PM PST by Fast1 (Destroy America buy Chinese goods,Shop at Wal-Mart)
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To: Fast1

Yes, except the most common variant is unguided and it's a huge waste of a nuke if you miss. It's also liquid fueled, so it's highly unstable.

There's supposed to be one that slows down and starts searching in a circle if it misses, but I heard that it had an unfortunate tendency to find the launching ship or vessel instead - it's not got external guidance. A wire-guided torpedo from a previously undetected sub is a much better way. And they can't keep a Squall fueled indefinitely, either. It has a lot of problems, and it's only useful as a "I'm going to take you with me" weapon.


47 posted on 03/17/2005 7:32:58 PM PST by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: Alex Marko

now LOOK OUT


48 posted on 03/17/2005 7:34:27 PM PST by timestax
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To: superiorslots

***Chinese will bootleg these into 1000's faster than a new york minute.

The masters of bootlegging.***

Like most stuff made in China, they will break after one use. It's too bad they only need to be used once.


49 posted on 03/17/2005 8:58:29 PM PST by Zeppelin (Keep on FReepin' on.....)
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the previous government's misdemeanours... murder

Murder, a misdemeanor? Wow. ;')
50 posted on 03/17/2005 9:57:57 PM PST by SunkenCiv (last updated my FreeRepublic profile on Sunday, March 13, 2005.)
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To: Alex Marko

That's a huge story, on the surface and even deeper if you think about. I'm guessing the major networks picked this right up and ran it on the evening news... No? Ok, situation normal.


51 posted on 03/17/2005 10:24:13 PM PST by sixmil (In Free Trade We Trust)
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To: Alex Marko
Nice missle.
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/russia/bomber/as-15.htm
52 posted on 03/17/2005 11:14:34 PM PST by rmlew (Copperheads and Peaceniks beware! Sedition is a crime.)
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To: COEXERJ145
That looks like a photo of a B model, whereas the one they sold is the older A model......20-year-old stock.....it was a sea-launched version that supposedly malfunctioned and sank the Sierra-class SSGN Kursk.

The note at the linked info page says the design dates to the late 70's/early 80's.

Subsonic....big profile.....non-sneaky....don't look like that big a threat (unless you don't know they're coming).

The real bad news is that if they can carry a 200-kt Soviet warhead, it probably is capable of mounting a small, crude fission device.

53 posted on 03/17/2005 11:39:51 PM PST by lentulusgracchus ("Whatever." -- sinkspur)
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To: naturalized
Yes. Reread definition no. 2.

Maybe, but I think its a stretch.

54 posted on 03/18/2005 6:52:35 AM PST by TChris (Lousy homophobic FReeper troll, religious right, VRWC member)
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To: Psycho_Bunny
You took him too seriously. It was half a joke.

Ummm.. I don't think so. Besides, other posters had used the term in the same way. In any event, its no big deal. I just thought I'd clarify that they meant "reverse engineer".

55 posted on 03/18/2005 6:55:38 AM PST by TChris (Lousy homophobic FReeper troll, religious right, VRWC member)
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To: Alex Marko
It appears that this missile was built in violation of the START accord (trust but verify):

May 1990 - At a ministerial meeting in Moscow, Secretary Baker and Foreign Minister Shevardnadze agree:
- To a 600-kilometer range threshold for ALCMs.
- That the first 150 U.S. heavy bombers can carry up to 20 ALCMs but will be counted as carrying 10, and the first 210 Soviet heavy bombers can carry up to 12 ALCMs but will be counted as carrying 8. After the first 150 U.S. or 210 Soviet heavy bombers, the discount will disappear.
- To limit nuclear SLCMs to 880 in number in a separate, politically binding agreement.
Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START I) Chronology

56 posted on 03/18/2005 7:34:38 AM PST by jriemer (We are a Republic not a Democracy)
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To: Rebelbase
It would be tracked on radar and it would have a signature.
57 posted on 03/18/2005 7:47:45 AM PST by KingofQue
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To: KingofQue

How can you radar track a sea-skimming missle below the horizon?


58 posted on 03/18/2005 7:51:09 AM PST by Rebelbase (Member, National Rightwing Alternative Media Blog Mafia.)
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To: Rebelbase

HawkEye


59 posted on 03/18/2005 8:32:49 AM PST by Chode (American Hedonist ©®)
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To: Chode

You think Hawkeye is active right now along the entire US coastlines? This is a sneak attack where I'm talking about the possibilty of being caught unaware.


60 posted on 03/18/2005 8:37:57 AM PST by Rebelbase (Member, National Rightwing Alternative Media Blog Mafia.)
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