Free Republic

CAIRO – A Western military official says the United States has test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads during a joint military exercise with Saudi Arabia. The official said the Trident missile launch was carried out Wednesday in the kingdom but would not give a precise location. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. The U.S. has been strengthening missile defenses in the Gulf to help counter any possible missile strike from Iran.

The report described the launch of an "improved Sejil 2 missile" as successful and said the missile had a range greater than 1,250 miles — putting Israel and U.S. bases in the Gulf within reach. The launch came after Israel's military intelligence chief said Tuesday that Iran is close to a "technological breakthrough" that would enable it to build nuclear weapons. Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin said Iran has enough nuclear material for a warhead and is close to being able to build one. He didn't specify the new technology or say when he expects Iran to reach such a capability....

Report: N. Korea Test-Fires Two Missiles Wednesday March 08, 2006 9:28am TOKYO (AP) - North Korea fired two surface-to-air missiles near its border with China and they apparently landed in North Korean territory, a Japanese news agency reported, citing security sources. Kyodo News agency cited an "Asian security source" as saying the missiles were fired by mistake in the direction of China during a military drill, and the missiles appeared to have landed in North Korean territory. But the agency also cited a "Western military source" as saying the short-range missiles were test-fired in an eastern direction from the North's...

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistan successfully test-fired its longest-range, nuclear-capable missile Saturday. The test comes two days after Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited Pakistan to encourage its peace process with neighboring India. There was no immediate reaction from New Delhi. The Shaheen II missile has a range of 1,250 miles and it successfully hit the target, said Maj. Gen. Shaukat Sultan, a spokesman for the Pakistan army. He did not say where the test was conducted. President Gen. Pervez Musharraf witnessed the test and congratulated the missile's developers, the military said in a statement. "This missile which incorporates an...