Clinton: Iran May Spark Mideast Arms Race
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday that a nuclear-armed Iran is "going to spark an arms race" in the Middle East.
In an appearance before a Senate Appropriations panel, Clinton reiterated that the Obama administration opposes Iran getting a nuclear weapons capability and that it is relying for now on diplomatic pressure to stop it.
After reports that Iran has conducted a missile test, which was later confirmed by the Pentagon, Clinton said that a wide array of threats, including attempts by terrorists to obtain nuclear weapons, represent a "daunting" challenge for the United States.
The Iranians claimed the test launch was a success and Defense Secretary Gates agreed, saying "It was a successful flight test. The missile will have a range of approximately 2,000 to 2,500 kilometers," reports CBS News correspondent David Martin reports
That's 1,200 to 1,500 miles - more than enough to reach Israel and even parts of Europe, Martin reports. But the Iranians don't yet have a reliable weapon.
"Because of some of the problems they've had with their engines we think at least at this stage of the testing we think it's probably closer to the lower end of that range," Gates said.
At the same time, Iran continues enriching uranium, although not yet to bomb-grade levels. The CIA estimates Iran could have a nuclear weapon sometime between 2010 and 2015. But both the U.S. and Israel have launched covert operations designed to through sand in the gears by supplying faulty parts or designs, Martin reports.
Clinton also described a nuclear capability in Tehran as an "extraordinary threat," and said the U.S. goal is "to persuade the Iranian regime that they will actually be less secure if they proceed with their nuclear weapons program."
The secretary said she did not expect there would be any significant progress in getting Iran to enter into discussions on incentives to abandon a nuclear program at a time when there is a campaign there for the presidency.
"Our goal is to persuade the Iranian regime that they will actually be less secure if they proceed with their nuclear weapons program," Clinton told the Senate panel headed by Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.
She said that while there is a lot of discussion about timetables, "the goal is the same: a nuclear armed Iran with a deliverable weapon system is going to spark an arms race in the Middle East" and the greater region.
"That is not going to be in the interest of Iranian security," Clinton added. "At the same time, we see a growing recognition among a group of countries that they do not want to see this reality take place."
She said that she didn't know when the U.S. might "see some openness and some willingness to engage on this very important issue," but likely not during Iran's election season. "But we are going to pursue our diplomatic efforts," Clinton said.
Earlier Wednesday, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran test-fired a new advanced missile with a range of about 1,200 miles, capable of reaching Israel and U.S. Mideast bases.
The announcement comes less than a month before Iran's presidential election and just two days after President Barack Obama declared a readiness to seek deeper international sanctions against Tehran if it did not respond positively by year-end to U.S. attempts to open negotiations on its nuclear program.
U.S. officials are hoping for a more moderate government after elections in June. But the real powers in Iran are the mullahs and they aren't up for election, Martin reports.
Analysts said the launch was likely intended for domestic consumption ahead of the June 12 elections, rather than a message to the U.S., which has criticized Iran's past missile launches as stoking instability in the Middle East.
"But I don't think the Obama administration and other nations will look at this as a constructive sign," said Patrick Clawson, deputy director for the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
"Iran's long range missile test is not only provocative, but it puts both President Obama and the Security Council in a difficult position," said CBS News Foreign Affairs Analyst Pamela Falk from the U.N. "After three rounds of sanctions that have not worked, the best hope for a peaceful settlement continues to be for Iran to negotiate its way back to an inspections program."
"With Iran's election in less than a month, the situation might change," added Falk. "But Israel's new Prime Minister is pressing for more U.N. sanctions and Iran's current President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is more defiant than ever."
© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. In an appearance before a Senate Appropriations panel, Clinton reiterated that the Obama administration opposes Iran getting a nuclear weapons capability and that it is relying for now on diplomatic pressure to stop it.
After reports that Iran has conducted a missile test, which was later confirmed by the Pentagon, Clinton said that a wide array of threats, including attempts by terrorists to obtain nuclear weapons, represent a "daunting" challenge for the United States.
The Iranians claimed the test launch was a success and Defense Secretary Gates agreed, saying "It was a successful flight test. The missile will have a range of approximately 2,000 to 2,500 kilometers," reports CBS News correspondent David Martin reports
That's 1,200 to 1,500 miles - more than enough to reach Israel and even parts of Europe, Martin reports. But the Iranians don't yet have a reliable weapon.
"Because of some of the problems they've had with their engines we think at least at this stage of the testing we think it's probably closer to the lower end of that range," Gates said.
At the same time, Iran continues enriching uranium, although not yet to bomb-grade levels. The CIA estimates Iran could have a nuclear weapon sometime between 2010 and 2015. But both the U.S. and Israel have launched covert operations designed to through sand in the gears by supplying faulty parts or designs, Martin reports.
Clinton also described a nuclear capability in Tehran as an "extraordinary threat," and said the U.S. goal is "to persuade the Iranian regime that they will actually be less secure if they proceed with their nuclear weapons program."
The secretary said she did not expect there would be any significant progress in getting Iran to enter into discussions on incentives to abandon a nuclear program at a time when there is a campaign there for the presidency.
"Our goal is to persuade the Iranian regime that they will actually be less secure if they proceed with their nuclear weapons program," Clinton told the Senate panel headed by Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.
She said that while there is a lot of discussion about timetables, "the goal is the same: a nuclear armed Iran with a deliverable weapon system is going to spark an arms race in the Middle East" and the greater region.
"That is not going to be in the interest of Iranian security," Clinton added. "At the same time, we see a growing recognition among a group of countries that they do not want to see this reality take place."
She said that she didn't know when the U.S. might "see some openness and some willingness to engage on this very important issue," but likely not during Iran's election season. "But we are going to pursue our diplomatic efforts," Clinton said.
Earlier Wednesday, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran test-fired a new advanced missile with a range of about 1,200 miles, capable of reaching Israel and U.S. Mideast bases.
The announcement comes less than a month before Iran's presidential election and just two days after President Barack Obama declared a readiness to seek deeper international sanctions against Tehran if it did not respond positively by year-end to U.S. attempts to open negotiations on its nuclear program.
U.S. officials are hoping for a more moderate government after elections in June. But the real powers in Iran are the mullahs and they aren't up for election, Martin reports.
Analysts said the launch was likely intended for domestic consumption ahead of the June 12 elections, rather than a message to the U.S., which has criticized Iran's past missile launches as stoking instability in the Middle East.
"But I don't think the Obama administration and other nations will look at this as a constructive sign," said Patrick Clawson, deputy director for the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
"Iran's long range missile test is not only provocative, but it puts both President Obama and the Security Council in a difficult position," said CBS News Foreign Affairs Analyst Pamela Falk from the U.N. "After three rounds of sanctions that have not worked, the best hope for a peaceful settlement continues to be for Iran to negotiate its way back to an inspections program."
"With Iran's election in less than a month, the situation might change," added Falk. "But Israel's new Prime Minister is pressing for more U.N. sanctions and Iran's current President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is more defiant than ever."
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Too bad the US canceled the Airborne Laser program. That plane could have been put on patrol over Afghanistan and shot down anything Iran shot up.
Since we canceled it we should atleast GIVE the aircraft with it's laser to Israel. It will only get chopped up and sold for scrap metal anyways. Let the Israeli's play God and vaporize people on the ground and shoot down incoming nuclear missiles.
It[Islamofascism] is here, whether you like it or not, and many have not yet grasped these 'holier-than-thou' Islamofascist's willingness to destroy the entire world in the name of Allah - their brand-named god.
We are dealing with irrational, religiously delusional madmen here!
With the advent of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction being acquired by Iran and/or other Islamofascists...
...the Free Western World must take all preventative measures today - TODAY - while the cost to us is relatively low!
Posted by mrjustice1
You are a moron....plain and simple. Islamofacism? Let me ask you...where did Islamofacism come from? How did it get here?
It is you and those like-minded, naive individuals, who are facilitating the rise of fascist regimes, as well as permitting (in this current world stage) Iran and Islamofascism to spread...
... up until it comes right into your face, snatching away your freedom of speech, your freedom of thinking, your freedom of life as we once knew it. It will then be too late for you to exercise your 'option to prevent'.
I'm sorry for you and for those who fail to recognize Islamofascism and the evil intentions of the current maniacal, power-hungry, Iranian regime!
THE CURRENT EVIL, MANIACAL, RELIGIOUSLY FANATICAL,
ISLAMOFASCIST IRANIAN REGIME IS TO ALL OF HUMANKIND!
Posted by mrjustice1
So, I asked you a question earlier....but you just ignored it. You called me someting...care to elaborate? Care to provide background or anything at all? Nope? Well, just like a right winger....providing NOTHING, and calling everyone else EVIL. Tell me scooter...you can label many in our own country as Evil, Maniacal, and RELIGIOUS FANATICS...considering what you just posted, you appear to be one of them. See, that is the funny part of all of this...the closest group to the Islamic terorrists in the country...are right wingers. They are practically the same people
Exmaple 1:
WOE IS TO THOSE THAT FAIL TO REALIZE WHAT GRAVE DANGER
THE CURRENT EVIL, MANIACAL, RELIGIOUSLY FANATICAL,
ISLAMOFASCIST IRANIAN REGIME IS TO ALL OF HUMANKIND!
Posted by mrjustice1
Example 2:
The blind and self-destructive AmeriKKKan support for evil Zionism is the main problem the world faces. Iran is an island of stability, honour and decency in the whole Islamic region. Iran has always stood up for the rights of the underdog. That is the Shia tradition. The savagery of the child killing Zionist scum with US taxpayer supplied weapons makes all decent people sick. The Zionists are also destroying AmeriKKKa as its bankrupt economy implodes from lost Islam phobic wars.
Posted by motezaesavand
See - two wackjobs...on two sides of the spectrum...but BOTH are nothing but wackjobs. Nothing different at all.