Iran Says Would Confront U.S. Jets in Its Airspace

Reuters ^ | February 19, 2003

[Mossad1967]

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's defense minister said on Wednesday its forces would "confront" any U.S. aircraft that used its airspace during possible strikes on neighboring Iraq. Iran, branded a sponsor of terrorism by Washington, opposes any military operation against Iraq and has repeatedly urged Baghdad to cooperate with U.N. arms inspectors "to remove any pretext" Washington might use to launch a war.

"We will defend our airspace and will not let America violate our airspace while attacking Iraq," Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani told reporters.

[plymaniac]

I am sure there is still a lot of work to do in Afghanistan.

In my opinion, the first objective of the Bush Plan was to eliminate Afghanistan as an asset controlled by the terrorists. That's basically been achieved.

The second objective is to establish Afghanistan as a pro-US nation, regardless of leadership or form of government. That's what we are trying to achieve now.

The third objective will be to establish a healthy and independent capitalist democracy. This appears to be the type of society that doesn't engage in, or welcome, terorism.

[graycamel]

What are you talking about?? The Israelis want us to go after Iran before Iraq. Even they say that Iran is a bigger purveyor of terrorism. Our government isn't doing anything to please foreign countries, except allow more inspections to make the French happy.

[freedumb2003]

LOLOLOL

[TXnMA]

I am sure the prospect of a confrontation with Iran's air force has our USAF and USN guys shaking in their boots.

Wonder if the mullahs are going to use those Iraqi jets that bugged out to Iran when our air forces made Iraqi skies too hot for them last time?

[Per-Ling]

Open-Source Iranian Air Force:

F-4D
J7II (F7 China)
F1 Mirage (Iraqi/French) flown over during Gulf War
T-33
MiG 23 (from Iraq/Gulf War)
MiG 27
MiG 29
F-5 E/F
F-14
Su-22 (40 from Iraq/Gulf War)
Su-24
Su-25

Granted, not a formidable air force, but it ain't Iraq. Those Mig 29s are top-notch platforms.

[TXnMA]

Nice target drone photo...

[Robert_Paulson2]

nations who are busy finding women to stone for committing adultery, and castrating their little girls for the glory of allah don't have time for no stinkin' jet airplane maintenance...

I find their threats... ridiculous on one hand and pathetic on the other, as I consider that 302 of their most dedicated soldiers, paid in blood for their lack of competence in the arena of powered flight.

I guess every little doggie has their day. They have to bitch at somebody, may as well be us, right?

[ez]

Note that Iraq is the least Muslim of all the Arab world , it is the most western of them all and yet it is Iraq we seek to destroy ...

Iraq is the most socialist, however.

[Porterville]

Cool; I hope we settle all these old scores.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

The empty can makes the most noise. Line 'em up.

[snooker]

>>>and speak and Indo-European langauge not a Semitic one like Arabic

Iran's language is called Farsi. I would bet there are a lot of good jokes to follow.

snooker

[Destro]

Farsi is one of many if I remember - I don't remember if all the other Iranian langauges qualify as distinct languages or just Farsi dialects.

[PhilDragoo]

Journal of the Air Force Association:

Today, Iran has only about 150 aging US-built aircraft left. These include 66 F-4D/Es and 25 F-14-A/Bs, which are about 60 percent serviceable, according to a net assessment drawn up by Cordesman. Iran has long tried to evade the US embargo on parts for these airplanes by purchasing through third parties.

The backbones of the Iranian air force today are 24 Su-24 Fencers and 30 MiG-29 Fulcrums. These Soviet-era aircraft are about 80 percent serviceable, claims Cordesman. If Iran acquires a nuclear weapon, the Fencers could be used as an interim delivery capability, pending perfection of an adequate ballistic missile.

Iranian units also include 14 RF-4E and five P-3F reconnaissance aircraft. The air force has a limited aerial refueling capability. Air defense relies mainly on 100 Hawk missiles from the Shah's era, with a scattering of newer, shorter-range Soviet- and Chinese-made models.

Iran has about 25 F-14s dating from the Shah's reign. Third-party purchasing has helped keep some of the Iranian fleet in service, despite the US embargo on replacement parts.

[PhilDragoo]

The US State Department has judged Iran the world's most active state sponsor of terrorist acts, with both Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Ministry of Intelligence and Security providing planning, funds, and weapons.

And 302 of those fellows are in Allah's anteroom.

Let's see, three hundred two times seventy-two vermin equals twenty-one thousand seven hundred forty-four vermin.

[Per-Ling]

Yeah, there are a few different languages in Iran. Turkish, Arabic, and the Persian dialects of Birjandi, Khorasani, Larestani, Shirazi, Delijani, Jewish Esfehani, Behdini, Bakhtiari, Lori, Aftari, Semnani, Keladarshti, Mazandarani, Gilaki, Taleshi, Pashto, and Dari. A linguists playground!

[snooker]

Farsi is the offical government language. I know, we sold them printers. It's a bitch to make them printers print that script.

snookers.

[Poohbah]

Iran should be first, not Iraq. Iran is the real enemy.

When Iraq goes, Iran goes up in revolution.

Unfortunately we have a bunch of neo-cons who are in bed with the Likud in our government. Americans shouldn't have to fight and die for Israel.

Aren't you late for a cross-burning?

[DUH]

just some iranian pilots, our wonderful AMERICAN pilots can send away in a blaze ... to a blaze ... and not having to worry about them later.

[Grampa Dave]

We and Israel could divide up their planes for training shoots. It would be like an expert shooting skeet. I can just hear the Israeli, US and UK pilots hollering "Pull!" to signal the Iranian target planes to do something stupid.

That would take about 1.2 days to splash or crash everyone of them.

Iran, Syria and N. Korea will have to go up to the Deli and take a number and wait their turn.