WASHINGTON, July 9, 2008
U.S. Analyzes Latest Iran Missile Threat
U.S. Calls On Iran To Cease Further Tests; Says Missile Defense Shield Needed
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Fears Over Iran Missile Tests
Tensions are mounting in the Middle East, as Iran launched an aggressive missile test, suggesting a possible threat to Israel and other U.S. interests. Lara Logan reports.
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Iran Displays Strength
Iran's military is conducting war games. Several missiles were test fired during maneuvers to show the country is strong enough to strike back if attacked. Tara Mergener reports.
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This image from Iranian Television shows a Shahab-3 missile being launched, which officials have said has a range of 1,250 miles and is armed with a 1-ton conventional warhead. (AP Photo/Iranian TV via APTN)
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The White House called on Iran to refrain from any more tests. And Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the tests were more evidence of the need for the U.S. missile defense system.
It will remain unclear how significant the test was until it is fully analyzed, said Defense Department officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk publicly about the ongoing assessment.
Analysts said an early assessment showed that U.S. tracking systems detected seven missile launches, including a version of Tehran's longer-range Shahab-3, which officials have said has a range of 1,250 miles.
If true, that would put several key U.S. allies within range: Pakistan, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, parts of Eastern Europe and Israel - Iran's number one enemy, reports CBS News Chief Foreign Affairs correspondent Lara Logan.
"It's ideally suited for attacking targets in Israel. It's got just the range you need for it," John Pike of Global Security told CBS News.
Intelligence analysts were studying data from radar, satellites and other tracking systems to determine the distance it traveled, look at its accuracy and so on, one official said.
Gates said he had not been informed whether the test showed a capability beyond what the U.S. already has seen from Iran.
Nevertheless he said: "I think this certainly addresses the doubts raised by the Russians that the Iranians won't have a longer-range ballistic missile for 10 years to 20 years.
"The fact is they've just tested a missile that has pretty extended range," Gates said.
Analysts assessed that the launches were part of what they called "troop training." That is, the test came during Iran's "Noble Prophet" exercise - an exercise also held twice in 2006, each time including multiple missile launches.
One defense official said it appeared to be the latest volley - a "tit-for-tat" - in recent escalating threats and counter-threats between Israel and Iran over Tehran's nuclear program. The Israeli military last month held a military exercise that some officials suggested was practice for the possibility of bombing Iranian nuclear facilities; the U.S. and allies on Tuesday ended a five-day exercise on protecting oil infrastructure in the Gulf.
Gates said that while there is a "lot of signaling going on" with the rising rhetoric, he said he does not think the U.S. is closer to a confrontation with Tehran. And he repeated that the Bush administration strategy is to focus on "the diplomatic and economic approach to dealing with Iran," rather than using military force.
Iran says the program is for energy and the U.S. and others allege it is to develop nuclear weapons.
In Congress, Undersecretary of State William Burns said Iran is trying to foster the perception that its nuclear program is advancing.
But Iran's "real progress has been more modest," Burns said in testimony to a House committee. Iran has not yet perfected uranium enrichment and U.N. sanctions have hurt its ability to obtain technology for missile programs, he said.
Committee Chairman Howard Berman, a Democrat, said that "stopping Iran's nuclear threat is our most urgent strategic challenge."
"No one knows precisely when Iran will produce a nuclear bomb," Berman said in his opening statement. "But it will be soon."
A White House spokesman called Wednesday's tests "completely inconsistent with Iran's obligations to the world."
"They should also refrain from further missile tests if they truly seek to gain the trust of the world," Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the National Security Council, said in Japan where President George W. Bush is attending the Group of Eight summit.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, on a visit to Malaysia, told a news conference Tuesday that the U.S. and Israel were "focusing on propaganda and psychological war."
"Before, it would be considered as a serious issue," he said, speaking through an interpreter. But Iranians are so used to the threats that they now treat it as a "very funny show. ... These type of wars are considered as a funny joke."
He added, "I assure you that there won't be any war in the future."
But even as Ahmadinejad and other Iranian officials have dismissed the possibility of attack, Tehran has stepped up its warnings of retaliation if the Americans - or Israelis - do launch military action, including threats to hit Israel and U.S. Gulf bases with missiles and stop oil traffic through the vital Gulf region.
On Tuesday, Rice and Czech counterpart Karel Schwarzenberg signed a deal allowing the U.S. to base anti-missile defenses in the Czech Republic. The system would place radar interceptors there and missiles in Poland.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters that Iran "has an active missile program as is evidenced by these launches today and it underscores the importance of pursuing a number of different tracks to deal with various threats emanating from Iran." He said a missile defense system is one way and diplomatic efforts at ending Tehran's nuclear program is another.
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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See all 1035 CommentsWHY IS THIS IN THE NEWS?
THE ISRAELI RUN AMERICAN MEDIA THAT IS WHY!
Posted by liamys at 06:07 AM : Jul 09, 2008
Remember the axis of evil?...........Iran is still on that list.
Launched From Strait Of Hormuz; Calls It Reply To U.S., Israeli Threats"
I"ve seen this story before with SADDAM HUSSEIN and everyone knows how it ends. The Iranian people will suffer a destruction they are not asking for and AHMADINEJAD , if we catch him, will be sent to gallows.
Launched From Strait Of Hormuz; Calls It Reply To U.S., Israeli Threats"
Thats why I"ve said that we will have to nuke IRAN in the next few months. They have a lot of blind missiles that can cause a lot of damage so we must nuke them first.
Posted by oledakota
Exactly the opposite. The US, angry that their puppet, Shah Reza Pahlavi was overthrown, and replaced by hardline Islam cleric Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeni, goaded Iraq into attacking Iran, which led to an 8-year war, with the US supposedly on the side of Saddam''s Iraq.
That is, until Saddam figured out that via the Iran-contra scandal, the US, using Ollie North as the broker, was also selling weapons to Iran.
With friends like that, who needs enemies?
No wonder he was a socialist.
Posted by BagdadsHere2 at 07:10 AM : Jul 09, 2008
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Dude, that dream is over. Besides, you''re the one who help Saddam build roads.
Posted by oledakota
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When did we save Iran from Iraq? I dont remember.
"Thats why I''ve said that we will have to nuke IRAN in the next few months. They have a lot of blind missiles that can cause a lot of damage so we must nuke them first." - BhagdadsHere2
Posted by BagdadsHere2
Your story is missing a few details, like the part where Iraq was already devastated by "desert storm," and unable to mount even a token defense, whereas Iran has not been "softened up", and thus will not be as easy a proposition as Iraq.
Also Iraq had no ability to close the straits of hormuz, choking off the oil supply (even temporarily) sending oil prices to double their current prices, and sending the US into economic collapse.
Also the war mongers have no lies to tell that would justify a legal commencement of military hostilities, as there is no "clear and present danger" to US land or citizens.
Also, the US body count will be far greater than Iraq. Using nuclear weapons will not kill them all, and those who survive will be extremely motivated, and justified to resist the US aggression, which would make the US a pariah in the international community.
The consequences of your thinking will be too much for the US to bear, it will result in the economic collapse of the US, within a month of the commencement of hostilities.
Posted by bladan58Z at 07:16 AM : Jul 09, 2008
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The Irani missiles use sophisticated Russian satellite technology???????????????That was funny. Theres nothing sophisticated made in Russia. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
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Poor buddy, your dream is over. The Dems are kicking your butt, the terrorists are kicking your butt, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey and Afghanistan are kicking your but.
Poor RINOLosers. HAHAHAHAHA!!
They''d be doing the world a favor git''n rid of that dome.
Remember the ''axis of evil''? N. Korea got off that list by out-smarting the id.iot chimp in charge! So, what was the REAL basis for that list?
Bush''s list of "evil-doers" was just a gimmick to work you mo.rons into a lather so you''d be happy to die serving his oil buddies and war profiteers.
Posted by brianbwb at 07:19 AM : Jul 09, 2008
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If we go to war with IRAN I can keep my car in the garage a few months. We cant surrender to Iranian nuclear blackmail, besides if a nuclear missile falls from the sky right where those nuts AYATOLLAHS are meeting would solve the problem, without leaders the Iranians would give up the nuclear ambitions.
Remember Abu Musabi Al-Zarqawi? He was sleeping when a 200 pounds bomb hit his house.
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Sorry baggyboy. It''ll never happen. What ahoot.
The flaw in your reasoning is that you assume Iran has nuclear warheads, which even the IEC says they don''t, and won''t for at least another ten years. Nagasaki was leveled by a nuclear explosion, and even then it did not kill all of the victims.
Also, the Israeli and the Japanese have already demonstrated that they can intercept missiles with high accuracy, it is doubtful that even one missile could get through.
At least, if Iran launches, they will give absolute reason to be considered hostile, and all countries within range of their missiles would end that threat, there is still no reason that we should be involved in matters that are none of our business, remember, our constitution requires proof of "clear and present danger" to the US, and not anyone else.
Iran''s 1 ton conventional warhead is like a firecracker compared to the half megaton warheads that hit Hiroshima and Nagasaki, there is no similarity whatsoever.
-Does Shaul Mofaz, who happens to be an of Iranian Descent Israeli, call his cousin Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to discuss strategy in order to jack up the Oil Price? Both idiots and both their people should remove them from power. They both are irresponsible clowns playing with their citizens'' life!
Posted by underdogus01 at 07:31 AM : Jul 09, 2008
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But not by the US. No war. No Invasion. Sorry. Request denied.
That would make it an Israel-Iran problem, and no reason that US soldiers should be involved.
But, seriously, Dinny, you''d better watch it. You''re already a corner of the "axis of evil" as decreed by the Chimp in Chief. If you don''t watch your step, Congolisa is going to designate you an "outpost of tyranny." C''mon, shape up, be a "beacon of freedom."
Posted by underdogus01 at 07:31 AM : Jul 09, 2008
Uh Huh? You bettcha!! ROFLMAO IF we don''t get the fascist republican''s out of office YOU''D better get used to a LOT more of the same Sparky. YOU DO know that the Enemy that attacked us is rebuilt and as strong as ever don''t you?? I''d say the situation in the Middle East?? Well I think BUTT WHOOPIN is putting it two mildly.. Bush and his "Plan"... the SAME "Plan" supported by McSame... well FAILURE is the best way to describe it when this President visits the nation YOU call the "Front" in your War in open day light without helmets and flack jackets and YOUR guys have to fly in under cover of dark... YEP that pretty well describe FAILURE better than anything at hand. SIEG HEIL BUSH
Remember Abu Musabi Al-Zarqawi? He was sleeping when a 200 pounds bomb hit his house." Posted by BagdadsHere2
Your car will be permanently "garaged" because the collapse of the US economy will mean that there will be hyperinflation, the cost of food, clothing, and fuel hits unaffordable levels, power grids will not get fuel to run, public (and most private) transportation will halt, your grocery stores will be looted, and unable to restock, and the usual local mafias will war to establish local control over the remnants of what used to be your town.
Don''t forget, Iran has family members in the US, who, even though they ran from their country, will not take kindly to their relatives who didn''t make it out, being vaporized.
And you seem to think that some people squabbling on the other side of the world is worth it...
Btw, how are the Iranians "blackmailing" us?
A couple of months ago he called the Iran threat "tiny".
Today he''s saying the threat from Iran is "great".
I think this lastest flip flop now makes him the "mother of all flip floppers" and today it will be announce that John, I rich your not, Kerry will past the "Flip Flop torch" to Obama.
Obama....say no to a Jimmy Carter second term.
If I were a Hillary supporter I''d really be pissed. Obama is trying to "slide" to the center in positions that Hillary supported and at the time Obama condemned.................strange guy.
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Posted by underdogus01 at 07:47 AM : Jul 09, 2008
What kind of reasoning is that?
If Obama is elected this country is finished.
The West?
The IAEA has concluded that Iran has no nuclear weapons, and since they are representatives of many "west" countries, how does the author of this article substantiate this claim?
They are nor our democracy, they pay no taxes, it''s people are not US citizens, and so the US constitution says you are wrong.
If you feel that Israel needs your help defending itself, then go there and help defend them, Me and mine are not obligated to the defense of any other country than our own.
Obama said "threat tiny...in comparison to the Soviete Union."
That is true! The Soviete Union was a much greater threat then these small countries like Iran, Venezuela etc. Even your beloved Ronnie sayed that the Soviet Union was a huge "EVIL EMPIRE"
So go back to listening to your talking points from junkyard dogs like Sean Hannity. Even Rush Limbaugh understood what he said which is why he doesn''t stoop to that level of stupidity.
Come on Republicans! You''re smatter then this!
Then get ready for the end, because if McSame gets in, we are also finished, the difference being McSame will bring about our demise much sooner.
They could put some WMD on them but then their own destruction by Isreal would be automatic.
I''m Not scared.
An Iran response is just what Isreal wants from the US after they remove their nuke installations. How does nov 26-27 sound to you guys??
Apparently not.
Not that we might not see it, but it is just that we have no reason to be a part of it. this is between Iran and Israel, your family and friends (and mine) have no need to die.
They meat-head purposely selects words from Obama to make it seems like he flip-flops or doesn''t know what he''s talking about.
Sean Hannity knows that the avereage "white working class" so called "bitter Americans" do not have a vast vocabulary or rhetorical skills like Obama. So therefore Hannity plays on that and uses it in his smear games.
You don''t listen carefully to what Obama is saying because you''re listening for an excuse instead of listening at the full context of what he''s saying.
But even when W says something rhetorical that makes no sense then Hannity is there to fully qualify and explain what the President says.
"You''re a Great American". Give me a break!
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