Iranian missiles in South America
Germany’s Die Welt had a major story that was overlooked last week:
Iran plans to build a missile base in Venezuela
Iran plans to place medium-range missiles on Venezuelan soil and to deepen the strategic cooperation with the regime of Hugo Chávez. “Welt Online” learned from Western security sources that an agreement between the two countries was signed during the last visit of the Venezuelan president to Tehran on October 19. The previously undisclosed contract provides for the establishment of a jointly operated military base in Venezuela and the joint development of ground-to-ground missiles.
The agreement follows a recommendation of the Supreme Security Council of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and religious leader Ali Khamenei a few months ago. According to information of this newspaper, the Security Council had proposed a joint military facility on Venezuelan soil to increase the deterrent power of Iran against the West. The cooperation would be a way for Iran to establish a strategic base in the South American continent – in the United States’ backyard.
“Welt Online” learned that Venezuela has agreed to allow Iran to establish a military base, which would be manned by Iranian missile officers, soldiers of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and Venezuelan missile officers. The base is mainly as a storage location for a strategic Iranian weapons reserve. In addition, Iran has given permission for the missiles to be used in case of an emergency. In return, it says in the agreement that Venezuela can use the basis for “national needs”. This would increase the threat to neighbors like Colombia. Iran also pledged to help Venezuela in rocket technology expertise, such as intensive training of officers.
Also planned is the joint development of a ground-to-surface missile, based on the extensive experience of the Iranians. The agreement also provides for Iranian Shahab 3 (range 1300-1500 km), Scud-B missile (285-330 kilometers) and Scud-C missiles (300, 500 and 700 km) on the new base to relocate, and four mobile launchers.
(h/t Joel via Israel Army Radio Online)
Dozens of “aid” planes filled with missiles to Hezbollah?
In the wake of the Wikileaks revelation that Iranian Red Crescent planes sent to Hezbollah during the Lebanon war were “half filled” with missiles, one may wonder how many planes are we talking about?
One hint: The war lasted from July 12 to August 14. Here is a report from Radio Free Europe from August 1:
The fifth consignment of Iranian aid destined for Lebanon arrived in Damascus on July 23, IRNA reported. The two aircraft carrying medicine and medical equipment from the Red Crescent Society came on the heels of four other aid shipments, Iranian Charge d’Affaires in Syria Ghazanfar Roknabadi said.
If there were two planeloads in each consignment, and the fifth one was on July 23rd, that averages out to roughly a planeload a day.
If half of the cargo were indeed missiles and other weapons, that means that Iran may have smuggled 16 cargo planes worth of missiles during the war via the Iranian Red Crescent – and possibly dozens more in the months following.
I don’t know, but Geneva might consider this a war crime. Perhaps protocol 1, article 38?
It is prohibited to make improper use of the distinctive emblem of the red cross, red crescent or red lion and sun or of other emblems, signs or signals provided for by the Conventions or by this Protocol. It is also prohibited to misuse deliberately in an armed conflict other internationally recognized protective emblems, signs or signals, including the flag of truce, and the protective emblem of cultural property.
Can’t wait for HRW and Amnesty and the UN to jump on these revelations and strongly censure Iran for this crime. Any hour now.
Open Thread: North Korea Deploys Surface to Air Missiles in Yellow Sea
For general discussion and debate about politics, the economy, sports, and whatever else tickles your fancy.
Possible talking point: North Korea has deployed surface to air missiles to the Yellow Sea.
Ricochet Podcast #45: Cruise Missiles
This week we cram muscle shirts, pat downs, Thanksgiving, and North Korean aggression into one audio file. Peter gets the inside scoop on the National Review cruise from Rob (live from the Miami airport) and James. Then we get serious with John Bolton to discuss North Korea’s missile attack on the south. Will the TSA handle Rob’s junk? Tune in and find out. For links and music from this podcast or to comment directly to us, please visit us at Ricochet.com.
What Missiles Can’t Solve
Gregory Johnsen comes out against drone strikes in Yemen. He doesn't think there's a purely military solution to Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP):
The model for defeating AQAP should come not from Pakistan but rather from Saudi Arabia. From 2003 – 2006 Saudi Arabia waged a multi-faceted war against another branch of the terrorist organization, also calling itself al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.
That campaign combined the hard fist of military and police power with the softer approach of encouraging qualified Islamic scholars to challenge al-Qaeda’s claim that it represented Islam. But most importantly it used al-Qaeda’s mistakes against itself, leading to a public backlash that left the terrorist organization nowhere to hide. This new branch of AQAP in Yemen has to be exposed in the same way. Before any military action can succeed, the group will have to be delegitimized in the eyes of the Yemeni public.
The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan
That missile’s not mine – By Mohammad Sagha
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a… what, excatly? That’s been the question on everyone’s mind since a
California news crew picked up footage
on Monday of what looked like a missile flying through the scenic Pacific sunset.
Some have speculated it was an accidental missile launch from a U.S. submarine, or an even more daunting missile test from the Chinese navy.
A statement released by the Department of Defense adressed the mystery but did little to clarify, stating "We are aware of the unexplained [vapor trail]… at this time,
we are unable to provide specific details."
As of yet, no officials are claiming responsibility for
the launch, and the U.S. Air Force and Navy have denied any involvement.
Despite concerted media digging, there is only a slew of speculation
– but no solid answers.
I’m going with a "balloon boy returns" hypothesis.
Netanyahu: “Today we are experiencing difficulty flying near the Gaza Strip since they have in their possession anti-aircraft missiles”
But deep down, they really, really want peace. And they’re starving in the world’s largest concentration camp, but somehow they have been able to scrape together enough pennies to buy some food for their families anti-aircraft missiles.
“Netanyahu: Terrorists in Gaza have anti-aircraft missiles,” from the Jerusalem Post, October 18 (thanks to Weasel Zippers):
Speaking at a Likud meeting, PM expresses concern over weapons in the Strip “that can take down an aircraft en route to Ben Gurion airport.”
Speaking at a Likud meeting Monday afternoon, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu expressed concern that aircraft flying near the Gaza Strip may be exposed to anti-aircraft systems.
“Today we are experiencing difficulty flying near the Gaza Strip since they have in their possession anti-aircraft missiles,” explained Netanyahu. “Imagine that there are no security arrangements, and there will be missiles that can take down an aircraft that is en route to Ben Gurion airport.”
“I heard Abu Mazen’s interview yesterday,” Netanyahu said in reaction to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s interview to Channel 1 on Sunday. “I would rather talk to him face to face. The interview took place seven minutes from here. A direct conversation can advance the resolution to the conflict.”
Netanyahu added that, “the discussion on new [settlement] building is only an artificial obstacle.” “Even the Palestinians say that the building is insignificant and barely has an effect on a final-status map,” explained the prime minister. “I say it has no impact at all.”
Netanyahu continued to say that, “If the Palestinians want to continue the conflict, they can find a way. But if they want to solve it, I have ways of doing it. The security problems are real, so the solutions must be real and not just on paper.”…
But of course, the Palestinian Arabs don’t want to solve the problems. They want to continue the conflict. The jihad doctrine allows for nothing else.
Here’s why the UN appointed that alien emissary: Aliens have deactivated British and US nuclear missiles, say US military pilots
Most of know that aliens are here: Obama, Biden, Kerry, Boxer, Obama’s aunt … but here’s the scoop from the front line:
The beings have repeated their efforts in the US and have been active since 1948, the men said, and accused the respective governments of trying to keep the information secret.
The unlikely claims were compiled by six former US airmen and another member of the military who interviewed or researched the evidence of 120 ex-military personnel.
The information they have collected suggests that aliens could have landed on Earth as recently as seven years ago.
I’m, um, speechless.
Russia calls off sale of missiles to Iran
From BBC:
A top Russian general has confirmed that a sale of S-300 air defence missiles to Iran will not go ahead because of UN sanctions.
Gen Nikolai Makarov, head of the general staff, told reporters the missiles were “definitely” subject to new sanctions introduced in June.
At the time, Russia’s foreign minister said the S-300 deal was not affected.
Possession of S-300 systems would enhance Iran’s defence of its nuclear facilities against attack from the air.
“They are definitely subject to sanctions.”
Asked if Russia had torn up its contract with Iran, he replied: “We’ll see. That will depend on how Iran behaves.”
Not that Russia has an ethical problem selling missiles to rogue states:
Russia will complete the delivery of anti-ship missiles to Syria this year and may sell more arms to the Mideast nation after assessing the impact on the regional balance of power, Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said.
“All weapons within the earlier contract will be delivered by year end,” Serdyukov said in an interview in Moscow. Syria has made new requests “that are being considered at present,” he said. “Pre-contract work can last a few months to a few years. There is no guarantee a contract will be signed in the end.”
IAEA: Iran crosses critical line for nuclear-arming missiles
Yeah, thanks. Putzes (is that the plural of “putz”?).
When this finding failed to elicit any response from the US or Israel, DEBKAfile’s military sources report, NATO secretary-general Anders Fogh Rasmussen hurried over to Washington Sunday, Sept. 12 with a call to action for President Barack Obama: “Based on their (Iranian) public statements we know that Iran already has missiles with a range sufficient to hit targets in Europe, and they don’t hide the fact that they want to further develop their capability.”
Barry’s response? A few hundred million dollars to Europe to work on a missile shield. So I guess a nuclear-armed Iran is OK with him. How very sad. And dangerous.
Rent-This-Missile Ad Agency Donates Two ‘Missiles’ To Protest Against Manhattan Mosque
Need a missile for your next corporate event or political rally? Have we got the guys for you.
The missile appeared in several photos of last weekend’s protests against the planned Islamic community center in downtown Manhattan. It’s pointed at the sky, wrapped in a poster that reads, “Ground Zero Mosque — Religion Preying On Freedom.”
The owner of the missile is an ad agency called JetAngel, which until recently was a charity that carted decommissioned missiles and jet cockpits to children’s hospitals to cheer up the kids. But now, as the agency’s owner describes in a CraigsList ad, it’s “now turning in to an advertising business.”
From its sales pitch:
Our goal is to ‘re-commission’ these aircraft to share the excitement of jet flight and engage the public by telling the stories that make up our history. In doing so, we can also provide a new venue for national advertisers and sponsors that has no equal in reaching consumer attention.
The owner, Arye Sachs, is looking for people to volunteer to cart one of his missiles back and forth to the site of the proposed mosque, starting on Sept. 2.
He is “donating” two missiles, and his time, “to fight the proposed mosque on Ground Zero.”
On the web site printed on the missiles — whatdoyoumakeofthis.com — Sachs has posted a long rant against the proposed mosque.
“This proposed Mosque is clearly to instigate and mock non-radical fundamentalist Americans living and visiting this sacred area. As such, this must be stopped,” it reads, in part. Sachs also says any protests are “NOT about a one day event or one day protest. This must be a long protest campaign to halt all those involved in the request and approval process of that mosque.”
Sachs, in another CraigsList posting this month, described himself as JetAngel’s “Chief Fun Officer.”
And this: on its web site, JetAngel notes that it’s had trouble securing some decommissioned aircraft since Sept. 11, 2001. But not to worry: “We have developed contacts in European and Middle Eastern countries that are still flying these airplanes and may have some cockpits available soon.”
Sachs was not immediately available for comment.
Islam – Ground Zero – Missile – Arts – Military
TPMMuckraker
Rent-This-Missile Ad Agency Donates Two ‘Missiles’ To Protest Against Manhattan Mosque
Need a missile for your next corporate event or political rally? Have we got the guys for you.
The missile appeared in several photos of last weekend’s protests against the planned Islamic community center in downtown Manhattan. It’s pointed at the sky, wrapped in a poster that reads, “Ground Zero Mosque — Religion Preying On Freedom.”
The owner of the missile is an ad agency called JetAngel, which until recently was a charity that carted decommissioned missiles and jet cockpits to children’s hospitals to cheer up the kids. But now, as the agency’s owner describes in a CraigsList ad, it’s “now turning in to an advertising business.”
From its sales pitch:
Our goal is to ‘re-commission’ these aircraft to share the excitement of jet flight and engage the public by telling the stories that make up our history. In doing so, we can also provide a new venue for national advertisers and sponsors that has no equal in reaching consumer attention.
The owner, Arye Sachs, is looking for people to volunteer to cart one of his missiles back and forth to the site of the proposed mosque, starting on Sept. 2.
He is “donating” two missiles, and his time, “to fight the proposed mosque on Ground Zero.”
On the web site printed on the missiles — whatdoyoumakeofthis.com — Sachs has posted a long rant against the proposed mosque.
“This proposed Mosque is clearly to instigate and mock non-radical fundamentalist Americans living and visiting this sacred area. As such, this must be stopped,” it reads, in part. Sachs also says any protests are “NOT about a one day event or one day protest. This must be a long protest campaign to halt all those involved in the request and approval process of that mosque.”
Sachs, in another CraigsList posting this month, described himself as JetAngel’s “Chief Fun Officer.”
And this: on its web site, JetAngel notes that it’s had trouble securing some decommissioned aircraft since Sept. 11, 2001. But not to worry: “We have developed contacts in European and Middle Eastern countries that are still flying these airplanes and may have some cockpits available soon.”
Sachs was not immediately available for comment.
Islam – Ground Zero – Missile – Arts – Military
Russian Deployment of S-300 Missiles Threatens U,S. Interests in the Caucasus
On Wednesday, Gen. Alexander Zelin, the commander of the Russian Air Force,
Since then, Russia recognized breakaway Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent republics. According to Zelin, the task of the air defense systems is “to prevent violation of Abkhaz and South Ossetian airspace and to destroy any aircraft intruding into their airspace
However, there is much more than the defense of Abkhazia to the Russian deployment. Taken together with the S-300 base in Armenia, it extends the strategic air space over South Caucasus and over parts of the Black Sea, furthering Russian control.
The response from the Obama Administration was faint. P. J. Crowley, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State and State Department spokesman said: “I believe it’s our understanding that Russia has had S-300 missiles in Abkhazia for the past two years.” He later claimed that this is “not necessarily” a new development. This is another example of the Obama Administration’s “don’t let your missiles interfere with my reset policy” approach.
However, with this move Russia is yet again flagrantly violating the August 2008 ceasefire agreement, negotiated by French President Nicolas Sarkozy. It called upon both countries to withdraw troops to pre-war positions and restore status-quo ante bellum. In addition, Russia has built up to five military bases in Abkhazia and South Ossetia in the past two years alone.
Although the range of the system is about a 120 miles, the deployment has to be seen in the context of recent Russian policies in the Caucasus. Moscow negotiated a contract extension for basing troops in the Armenian Gyumri military base till 2044. It will assume joint control over Armenian borders. As the leading member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, Russia controls air space over Armenia. Now Moscow is
There is a clear strategy behind these actions. While Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Most importantly from the perspective of the United States, Russian actions are aimed at denying the United Space airspace and over-flight options. The surveillance aspect is no less important—depending on the actual deployment of the air defenses: associated radars will be able to picture or “paint” much of western Georgia and the adjoining Black Sea coastline. The ultimate objective for Moscow is to become an uncontested hegemon in the South Caucasus. And of course this has potential implications in case of an Iranian contingency.
The Russians are committed to deployments in the Caucasus that lead to the strategic denial of U.S. power projection in that region. This bears on the U.S.’s future ability to resupply Afghanistan; to use power to disarm a nuclear Iran; to ensure energy supply from the Caspian; and to help pro-Western friends and allies. These are hardly great accomplishments for the Obama “reset” policy”.
