Iranian Missile Launch Confirmed

Machinamentum · 05-21-2009, 08:14 PM

U.S. officials confirmed the launch, while arms-control experts debated its significance. Several described it as evidence of continuing progress in Iran's missile program, if not a breakthrough. Iran fired a similar missile last year.

Iran's ability to build a solid-fuel rocket suggests an increasing sophistication in its missile program, because solid fuel offers advantages over Iran's previous liquid-fuel program, several experts said. For one thing, liquid-fuel rockets are more vulnerable to preemptive strikes because it takes hours or even days to fuel them. Solid-fuel rockets can be launched faster and are more mobile, the experts said.

The missile was launched from a site in Semnan province, where Iran's missile and space programs are headquartered and Ahmadinejad was born. Ahmadinejad visited the province Wednesday as part of a series of trips by government officials to Iran's 30 provinces ahead of the June 12 presidential election.

Reporters touring with Ahmadinejad saw corkscrews of smoke on the horizon near the Alborz mountain range early Wednesday. Hours later, Ahmadinejad announced the news to a crowd of thousands of people gathered for a speech in the city of Semnan. He said the missile struck its intended target, but he did not specify where the target was.

"The rocket went into space, returned to Earth and hit its target," Ahmadinejad said to raucous cheers in a soccer stadium lined with posters bearing his image.

The crowd of men and women, separated by sex according to Shiite Muslim tenets, repeatedly chanted "Ahmadinejad, we love you!" and "Ahmadinejad, we will vote for you!" during his 45-minute speech, which was aired live on Iranian television.

Ahmadinejad said the test was an important scientific achievement and a blow to those trying to thwart Iran's development with weapons and threats.

"We send them a message: Today the Islamic Republic of Iran is running the show," Ahmadinejad said in his speech. "We say to the superpowers, 'Who of you dare to threaten the Iranian nation? Raise your hand!' But they all stand there with their hands behind their backs."

Gary Samore, the top White House counterproliferation official, said the missile was "a significant step forward in terms of Iran's capability to deliver weapons."

But some experts said the missile was a new version of an existing missile that was successfully tested late last year and has a range of about 1,200 miles.

"The last launch, in November, didn't work as well, so here we have what appears to be a series of tests to try to master the technology and make it better," said David Albright, a former U.N. weapons inspector and president of the Institute for Science and International Security.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...=moreheadlines

Orion11 · 05-21-2009, 09:51 PM

yeah, this is expected.

jus gotta remember that everything that is happening....

is supposed to happen...

even if we cant see the why.

oldpaganfreak · 05-21-2009, 10:32 PM

iran has every right to defend itself against israeli/u.s. agression.
maybe this will make them think twice before expanding their oil war to include iran.

BROOK · 05-21-2009, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldpaganfreak

iran has every right to defend itself against israeli/u.s. agression.
maybe this will make them think twice before expanding their oil war to include iran.

You are righ about that...better not to be sitting ducks

Machinamentum · 05-21-2009, 11:31 PM

The IMF really want's a Federal Reserve in Iran and if Iran knows anything about the Fed their going need them nukes. Is this the final few countries that are rebels to this IMF empire? Are we no different then the German population during WW1,WW2. Is StarWars Episode 3 going to be the fairytale to further keep us ignorant in their conquest for empire?

Humble Janitor · 05-22-2009, 04:14 AM

It's hypocritical for a western nation like the US to want to disarm other countries of their nukes.

We have to set that example at home. If we don't, it's nothing but hypocrisy and ******** and should not be taken at face value.

05-21-2009, 08:14 PM	#1
Machinamentum Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 413	Iranian Missile Launch Confirmed U.S. officials confirmed the launch, while arms-control experts debated its significance. Several described it as evidence of continuing progress in Iran's missile program, if not a breakthrough. Iran fired a similar missile last year. Iran's ability to build a solid-fuel rocket suggests an increasing sophistication in its missile program, because solid fuel offers advantages over Iran's previous liquid-fuel program, several experts said. For one thing, liquid-fuel rockets are more vulnerable to preemptive strikes because it takes hours or even days to fuel them. Solid-fuel rockets can be launched faster and are more mobile, the experts said. The missile was launched from a site in Semnan province, where Iran's missile and space programs are headquartered and Ahmadinejad was born. Ahmadinejad visited the province Wednesday as part of a series of trips by government officials to Iran's 30 provinces ahead of the June 12 presidential election. Reporters touring with Ahmadinejad saw corkscrews of smoke on the horizon near the Alborz mountain range early Wednesday. Hours later, Ahmadinejad announced the news to a crowd of thousands of people gathered for a speech in the city of Semnan. He said the missile struck its intended target, but he did not specify where the target was. "The rocket went into space, returned to Earth and hit its target," Ahmadinejad said to raucous cheers in a soccer stadium lined with posters bearing his image. The crowd of men and women, separated by sex according to Shiite Muslim tenets, repeatedly chanted "Ahmadinejad, we love you!" and "Ahmadinejad, we will vote for you!" during his 45-minute speech, which was aired live on Iranian television. Ahmadinejad said the test was an important scientific achievement and a blow to those trying to thwart Iran's development with weapons and threats. "We send them a message: Today the Islamic Republic of Iran is running the show," Ahmadinejad said in his speech. "We say to the superpowers, 'Who of you dare to threaten the Iranian nation? Raise your hand!' But they all stand there with their hands behind their backs." Gary Samore, the top White House counterproliferation official, said the missile was "a significant step forward in terms of Iran's capability to deliver weapons." But some experts said the missile was a new version of an existing missile that was successfully tested late last year and has a range of about 1,200 miles. "The last launch, in November, didn't work as well, so here we have what appears to be a series of tests to try to master the technology and make it better," said David Albright, a former U.N. weapons inspector and president of the Institute for Science and International Security. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...=moreheadlines

05-21-2009, 09:51 PM	#2
Orion11 Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,098	Re: Iranian Missile Launch Confirmed yeah, this is expected. jus gotta remember that everything that is happening.... is supposed to happen... even if we cant see the why.

05-21-2009, 10:32 PM	#3
oldpaganfreak Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: great northern boreal forest Posts: 440	Re: Iranian Missile Launch Confirmed iran has every right to defend itself against israeli/u.s. agression. maybe this will make them think twice before expanding their oil war to include iran.

05-21-2009, 11:31 PM	#5
Machinamentum Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 413	Re: Iranian Missile Launch Confirmed The IMF really want's a Federal Reserve in Iran and if Iran knows anything about the Fed their going need them nukes. Is this the final few countries that are rebels to this IMF empire? Are we no different then the German population during WW1,WW2. Is StarWars Episode 3 going to be the fairytale to further keep us ignorant in their conquest for empire? Last edited by Machinamentum; 05-21-2009 at 11:34 PM.

05-22-2009, 04:14 AM	#6
Humble Janitor Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 3,201	Re: Iranian Missile Launch Confirmed It's hypocritical for a western nation like the US to want to disarm other countries of their nukes. We have to set that example at home. If we don't, it's nothing but hypocrisy and ******** and should not be taken at face value.