Iran says it tests missile, Israel within range

[thundley4]

Iran's Revolutionary Guards tested their medium-range Shahab-3 missile at an undisclosed location in July 2008. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says Iran has test-fired a new medium-range surface-to-surface missile

"TEHRAN, Iran – President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran test-fired a new advanced missile Wednesday with a range of about 1,200 miles, far enough to strike Israel, southeastern Europe and U.S. bases in the Middle East.
The announcement will not reassure the U.S. government, coming just two days after President Barack Obama declared a readiness to seek deeper international sanctions against Iran if it shunned U.S. attempts to open negotiations on its nuclear program. Obama said he expected a positive response to his outreach for opening a dialogue with Iran by the end of the year.
"Defense Minister (Mostafa Mohammad Najjar) has informed me that the Sajjil-2 missile, which has very advanced technology, was launched from Semnan and it landed precisely on the target," state radio quoted Ahmadinejad as saying. He spoke during a visit to the city of Semnan, 125 miles east of the capital Tehran, where Iran's space program is centered.
Ahmadinejad is running for re-election in a June 12 vote and has been criticized by his opponents and others for antagonizing the U.S. and mismanaging the country's faltering economy." Link

On a side note.
"Obama to Iran: End of Year to Begin Talks
2009-05-19 03:21am
President Barack Obama on Monday gave Iran a rough deadline of the end of the year to respond to diplomatic overtures made by the U.S. to settle differences regarding Tehran's suspected nuclear weapons program.

In doing so, Obama held out the possibility that Washington would impose new, tougher sanctions on Tehran, "to ensure that Iran understands we are serious."

Obama made his comments following talks with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, in which he stressed Israel's concern over Iran's suspected atomic bomb program.

Iran has denied it is seeking to build weapons of mass destruction, but Israel and the U.S. believe Iran's current nuclear power program is a cover for weapons-making.

In the Oval Office with Netanyahu, Obama said he hoped the U.S. could make progress in talks with Iran. But he stressed there was a limit to Washington's patience.

"The important thing is to make sure there is a clear timetable, at which we point we say these talks don't seem to be making any serious progress," Obama said." Link

Yeah, I think Iran is ready and willing to negotiate.

[NHSparky]

At least they didn't try to Photoshop it like the last missile launch.  Be interesting to see what the boys in Qatar have to say about the trajectory on this launch.

[thundley4]

At least they didn't try to Photoshop it like the last missile launch.  Be interesting to see what the boys in Qatar have to say about the trajectory on this launch.

I'm wondering if our military was able to use some of the more sophisticated tracking systems, unlike with NK's recent launch of a "satellite".

[Wineslob]

Dinnerjacket is none too smart. Israel just might make him and his cohorts see if that prophet really is at the bottom of that well....

[Hawkgirl]

Israel is going into it's final stages of planning for their Iran launch any day now...

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

Israel is going into it's final stages of planning for their Iran launch any day now...

CIA director Leon Panetta on Wednesday said that Jerusalem knew it needed to coordinate its strategy on Iran with other nations and was aware of the fact that launching an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities would mean "big trouble."

Acknowledging that he had recently traveled to Israel in order to meet Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and warn him against striking Iran, the CIA chief told Global Viewpoint that he "felt assured" Israel would not break ranks with Washington's strategy.

"Yes," he said, "the Israelis are obviously concerned about Iran and focused on it. But [Netanyahu] understands that if Israel goes it alone, it will mean big trouble. He knows that for the sake of Israeli security, they have to work together with others."

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1242212421175&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Personally, I'm incredulous that Bibi could be brought to heel on such an existential threat. Part of me wonders if:

A) the admin is using the same tactic it has used on the stimulus bill and healthcare...claiming support from those that do not, in fact, support it

B) the admin knows full well Israel may strike and if so they're looking for diplomatic cover to abandon Israel, i.e. "We warned them not to do it and they LIED to us!"

This leaves Bibi in a rough place. If he confirms the conversation Iran is off the hook as far as threats of military strikes. If he calls Panetta a liar then Israel is essentially on its own without so much as a facade of support from a president who spent more than 2 decades listening to an anti-semitic preacher.

[thundley4]

Israel is going into it's final stages of planning for their Iran launch any day now...

They don't have much choice. 0Bama is pushing for a 2 state solution and forcing Israel to accept that, but that's never going to happen when most of the Arab world wants Israel gone from the map.

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

They don't have much choice. 0Bama is pushing for a 2 state solution and forcing Israel to accept that, but that's never going to happen when most of the Arab world wants Israel gone from the map.

I think many of them are shifty enough to take Israel--with its presumed nnukes and missile defense--over an expansionist Iran any day.

Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if some of them aren't funnelling money to Israel to bolster those defenses in exchange for coverage under the umbrella.

The silence from the Arab governments during Israel's latest excursions into Gaza and Syria has been thundering.

[thundley4]

Personally, I'm incredulous that Bibi could be brought to heel on such an existential threat. Part of me wonders if:

A) the admin is using the same tactic it has used on the stimulus bill and healthcare...claiming support from those that do not, in fact, support it

B) the admin knows full well Israel may strike and if so they're looking for diplomatic cover to abandon Israel, i.e. "We warned them not to do it and they LIED to us!"

This leaves Bibi in a rough place. If he confirms the conversation Iran is off the hook as far as threats of military strikes. If he calls Panetta a liar then Israel is essentially on its own without so much as a facade of support from a president who spent more than 2 decades listening to an anti-semitic preacher.

A) Yes, there is a high probability that Panetta, and by extension the administration is lying.

B) 0Bama has been quite willing to make room under the bus for political expediency, no reason to change now.  He had the majority of Jewish people in this country, and I seriously doubt that will change. Many of them seem to be stuck on stupid.

[thundley4]

I think many of them are shifty enough to take Israel--with its presumed nnukes and missile defense--over an expansionist Iran any day.

Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if some of them aren't funnelling money to Israel to bolster those defenses in exchange for coverage under the umbrella.

The silence from the Arab governments during Israel's latest excursions into Gaza and Syria has been thundering.

You might be right about that.  The US had pretty broad support against Saddam during the first Gulf War.

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

B) 0Bama has been quite willing to make room under the bus for political expediency, no reason to change now.  He had the majority of Jewish people in this country, and I seriously doubt that will change. Many of them seem to be stuck on stupid.

They needed a Passover story to shake them from their past slumber...

...I just don't want the US assuming the role of Egypt this time around.

 

[thundley4]

They needed a Passover story to shake them from their past slumber...

...I just don't want the US assuming the role of Egypt this time around.

 

You don't mean where Anwar Sadat was assassinated, do you? 

[Hawkgirl]

OR  the U.S is publicly condemning any action on the part of Israel, while supporting the attack secretly...not the first time.

[JohnnyReb]

Dinnerjacket is none too smart. Israel just might make him and his cohorts see if that prophet really is at the bottom of that well....

Yeah, he's supposed to come back from that hole in the ground.....but the Joooos might just try to blow him right out Ima Dinnerjackets a$$hole.

[tarock]

"Yeah, I think Iran is ready and willing to negotiate.
In my honest opinion, in 62 yrs. of observing Persia, Iran, unless we want to fight ALL Isamic terrorists, we may as well stay home as we don't have a lot of luck in assuaging foreigners towards our lifestyle.
   Besides with Bambi as POTUS, who knows what the U.S. will be in three more years of progressive rule. My guess is find a place to be outside the continental US and save your money, current passport, don't look back, and relocate...............

[diesel driver]

Mamood Amadingynutjob needs to be given a one-way ticket to hell so he can talk directly to his "prophet" face to face....

[Jim]

I think the 0 would be glad for Israel to address this and he'll get to be the supreme diplomat when somehow everyone backs down over the attacks seemingly like it was all worked out beforehand.

one thing is certain, Binji will wind up on the best side of the deal.  the 0 needs some sort of international win, any sort of one.