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Russians help Iran with missile threat to Europe
Telegraph ^ | October 16, 2005 | Con Coughlin

Posted on 10/15/2005 5:35:47 PM PDT by West Coast Conservative

Former members of the Russian military have been secretly helping Iran to acquire technology needed to produce missiles capable of striking European capitals.

The Russians are acting as go-betweens with North Korea as part of a multi-million pound deal they negotiated between Teheran and Pyongyang in 2003. It has enabled Teheran to receive regular clandestine shipments of top secret missile technology, believed to be channelled through Russia.

Western intelligence officials believe that the technology will enable Iran to complete development of a missile with a range of 2,200 miles, capable of hitting much of Europe. It is designed to carry a 1.2-ton payload, sufficient for a basic nuclear device.

The revelation raises the stakes in the confrontation between Iran's Islamic regime and the West - led by the United States and European countries including Britain.

Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, clashed with Russian officials over Iran's nuclear programme during a visit to Moscow yesterday, saying that Teheran must fulfil its obligations under the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty.

She was later expected to urge President Vladimir Putin to back a referral of Iran to the United Nations Security Council.

A senior American official said Iran's programme was "sophisticated and getting larger and more accurate. They have had very much in mind the payload needed to carry a nuclear weapon.

"I think Putin knows what the Iranians are doing."

Iran is believed to be hiding its weapons development behind its nuclear power programme, for which it receives Russian support, and has refused to suspend uranium enrichment or to allow full UN inspections.

John Bolton, the US ambassador to the UN, told BBC2's Newsnight that Iran was "determined to get nuclear weapons deliverable on ballistic missiles it can then use to intimidate not only its own region but possibly to supply to terrorists".

Iran's longest-range missile is the Shahab 3, which, with an 800-mile range, could hit Israel. The North Korean deal will allow the Iranian missile to reach targets far into Europe - including Rome, Berlin, and much of France.

North Korea has developed a missile, the Taepo Dong 2, that could reach America's west coast, based on the submarine-launched Soviet SSN6. Modifications allow it to be fired from a land-based transporter and this technology is being smuggled to Teheran with Russian help.

Russians have provided production facilities, diagrams and operating instruction so the missile can be built in Iran. Liquid propellant has been shipped to Iran. Russian specialists have also been sent to Iran to help development of its Shahab 5 missile project, which the Iranians hope to have operational by the end of the decade.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; Russia; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: ahmedsabatgold; axisofevil; axisofweasels; backstabbers; bombbombbombbombiran; bush; coldwar2; commies; europe; iran; iranianmissiles; irannukes; iranvenezuelaaxis; missilecrisis; northkorea; putin; rice; russia; terrorism
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1 posted on 10/15/2005 5:35:48 PM PDT by West Coast Conservative
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To: West Coast Conservative

quote-Russians have provided production facilities, diagrams and operating instruction so the missile can be built in Iran. Liquid propellant has been shipped to Iran.----

if this is true it must border on sheer wackiness by the Russians. How do they justify such support.? Unbelievable


2 posted on 10/15/2005 5:39:21 PM PDT by birg
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To: birg
if this is true it must border on sheer wackiness by the Russians. How do they justify such support.? Unbelievable

Exactly, do these missiles only fly westward?

3 posted on 10/15/2005 5:41:10 PM PDT by demsux
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To: demsux


Apparently so.... as far as the Ruskies are concerned.


4 posted on 10/15/2005 5:47:32 PM PDT by birg
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To: demsux

Why are we treating this as news? They've been supplying Iran with this type of technology for some time and lord knows who else...our so-called allies.
Who is China supplying? while we're at it?

Oh yeah, and Germany and France?


5 posted on 10/15/2005 5:50:09 PM PDT by CBart95
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To: West Coast Conservative

The damn Russians have a lot of nerve helping the worst Islamic terrorist rouge state on the face of the earth with gaining long range offensive nuclear weapons. Yet we are told now Moscow is our friend (?)


6 posted on 10/15/2005 6:01:03 PM PDT by M. Espinola (Freedom is never free)
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To: West Coast Conservative
Follow up question for everyone. During this upcoming winter where Syria, Iran, Hamas and Hizballah are finally confronted by an Allied force - which side will the Russians back?
7 posted on 10/15/2005 6:03:00 PM PDT by M. Espinola (Freedom is never free)
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To: CBart95


I guess it is all about the moola.. ching ching
Welcome to the real world


8 posted on 10/15/2005 6:04:19 PM PDT by birg
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To: M. Espinola


They will "abstain" from "voting".
Seriously though, they feel there is a need to always maintain a counter-balance of some sorts to keep the world "stable" somewhat. Can't say i agree with them....


9 posted on 10/15/2005 6:06:22 PM PDT by birg
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To: West Coast Conservative

We should take Iran's oil and gas fields, a small area and modest task. We would put revenues in trust. This would stop this nonsense in its tracks. If we don't act soon, Iran will have deliverable nuclear abilities and it will be too late.


10 posted on 10/15/2005 6:10:59 PM PDT by Praxeologue
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To: birg

Considering all the problems Russians have with jihaadism on their borders, why on earth would their leadership help the mullah dictatorship in Iran?


11 posted on 10/15/2005 6:11:02 PM PDT by Frank T
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To: Frank T

To get Europe to stop being EU...or to get Europe to assist them in killing off the militants.


12 posted on 10/15/2005 6:16:44 PM PDT by Dr Stormfist
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To: West Coast Conservative

Tough to figure out which side to root for on this one.


13 posted on 10/15/2005 6:20:49 PM PDT by Dilbert56
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To: West Coast Conservative

F'in Commies


14 posted on 10/15/2005 6:39:03 PM PDT by spanalot
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To: Tailgunner Joe; GarySpFc

ping


15 posted on 10/15/2005 6:41:33 PM PDT by Stellar Dendrite ( Mike Pence for President!!! http://acuf.org/issues/issue34/050415pol.asp)
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To: birg
I guess it is all about the moola..

You're right. It's all about the money.
Putin's probably afraid of in'sultan' the mullahs.

16 posted on 10/15/2005 6:43:24 PM PDT by melt (Someday, they'll wish their Jihad...Jihadn't.)
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To: birg
Moscow arming to the teeth the crazed, jihad happy Iranian mullahs will not make world "stable", just the opposite.
17 posted on 10/15/2005 6:59:17 PM PDT by M. Espinola (Freedom is never free)
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To: Frank T
Answer = $$$$$$$

Russia is working of a deal to build 20 nuclear power plants in Iran - worth a bundle in "hard currency".

Likewise mother Russia has always coveted the concept of being a major player in the ME - particularly when it comes to wanting to exercise a degree of control over ME oil - it's their way of strategically counterbalancing the EU and the US.
18 posted on 10/15/2005 7:02:22 PM PDT by VRWCTexan (History has a long memory - but still repeats itself)
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To: West Coast Conservative

Russia is a whore selling all she has left to sell to anyone willing to buy it.

This is not the first time an insecure Russian state has allied with those who intend to destroy her; but it could well be the last time.

Iran needs only time, and that is the one thing the west is apparently willing to grant.


19 posted on 10/15/2005 7:11:59 PM PDT by mmercier (so it goes)
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To: West Coast Conservative
WTF are they thinking? Especially with this going on:

Russia's Islamic revolt is spreading

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1503182/posts

20 posted on 10/15/2005 7:21:50 PM PDT by Ken H
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