US News
US missile defence chief: Iran can strike most of Europe
Jul 22, 2008, 0:54 GMT
Washington - Iran probably can already hit most of Europe and even Britain with a ballistic missile, even though it has not demonstrated the capability, the Pentagon's missile defence chief said Monday.
'I personally believe, based on what I've seen, that right now Iran has the ability to reach most of Europe. Right now. And they just haven't demonstrated it yet,' Lieutenant General Henry Obering said in an interview with Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.
Obering heads the Pentagon's Missile Defence Agency, which is building the missile shield that the Bush administration wants to deploy to Poland and the Czech Republic to counter the Iranian threat.
US intelligence estimates have said that Iran could have the capability of hitting the United States by 2015, but the Islamic state's growing technological know-how adds to the sense of urgency for Washington to finalize the agreements with the two Eastern European countries, Obering said.
'That's one of the things that we're very worried about,' he said.
The Czech Republic and United States have already concluded an agreement for the hosting of a radar site. The deal is pending parliamentary ratification in Prague.
Washington and Warsaw are still trying to work on an agreement to base 10 interceptors in Poland, but negotiations have dragged out over demands that the United States invest in Polish air defences.
The lengthy process with the Poles will not cause major delays in the timetable to deploy one or two interceptors by 2011 and the full set by 2013. Obering said that the original goal of fielding the system earlier in those years will now be pushed back but won't slip into the following years.
'We are going to be later than we expected,' Obering said.
Russia fiercely opposes the anti-missile deployment and has threatened to target the Czech and Polish sites. The United States argues that the system would be too small to undermine Moscow's strategic deterrent.
COMMENT
blog comments powered by DisqusLatest Headlines in US
- 1. Mitt Romney Addresses Tea Party Summit Pictures
- 2. Seven injured as US Navy plane crashes into apartments
- 3. At least three injured in US Navy plane crash
- 4. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, others to face death penalty trial
- 5. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, four others to face death penalty trial
Older Talkback
page: 1
'US intelligence'
That has got to be the greatest oxymoron of all time.
lol...yeah..they showed them rockets being launched and they looked like some chinese made 4th of July pop-bottle rockets...but all I can say is that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad better be looking for a Bunker in the next two weeks..and be dug in before November 12th 2008.
..until one minute after they have the capability.
will be dagerous, once he has the capability to think. There is nothing on the threat horizon because he has destroyed his brain with drugs.
'These monkeys have cried 'wolf' too many times.'
No that would be wiping Israel off the map... not wolf.
Firstly, your post lacks cohesiveness. Exactly what is your point?
Secondly, precisely what would be wrong with wiping Israel off the map?
'@not even close'
Eat sh*t and die.
Must be getting close to having bloggers register on this site. Must be getting close to having missiles reach all areas of the planet. Must be that threats manifest themselves in various ways.
Let Europe develop its own missile defense/defence. But they better build plenty, for some nation may be pointing its warheads right at them.
It is so clear few people in the US military command have a brain to use .So Iran can hit Europe with a missile .That is perhaps rnough to scare the neocons shitless,but fortunately not the rest of the world .So what ?Iran is about the power of Finland,both on economical and miltary basis .Furthermore even the US intelligence agencies found out there is no nuclear program directed to military use in Iran.Third and final argument ,except the US military and of course SP4 there are very few people thinking that Iran would be so stupid to launch a single missile or even a few to Europe .On what purpose,with what consequences ?the whole concept is mindboggling and can only originate in a neocon idiot's brain.Pathetic idiots these people are,completely void of any sense of realistic behaviour .These people are the real warmongers,not the powerless Iran with ,as I will repeat,the power of Finland .Can anybody except a neocon idiot sincerely think a strike from such power is possible ?I think not.Please leave Europe alone,...
And all the time this 'problem' is being studied and planned for, the U.S. is falling apart.........priorities anyone??
The military as the enemy. Convenent for the libnazi culture of blame.
The libnazi manifesto says you should believe in your enemies but pillory your patriots. This sad, sick manifesto rots from within. We have seen it with that pathetic excuse Carter, enabling Chavez and lengthening the captivity of the Columbian hostages. The libnazi elite of America, enabling Castro as he keeps his people a slave nation. Clinton and his empty treaty with N. Korea that Bush the bucket boy has to clean up.
Iran, while a small nation, has an evil ruling cabal and loads of free cash. Are they a threat today? Perhaps not, but in the day and age we live in, who wants to ponder a nuclear Iran?
Our best example is N. Korea. Here is a nation, far poorer than Iran who suddenly has nuclear capability, if not a weapon, and it instantly changed the sit rep in the region. Kim now has a way to stay in power, endlessly bargaining for position, with his nuclear capability. Now visualize iran, far more motivated, with far more resources, and the oil hedge, plus their postion on the map, that stymies action by their adversaries. Do they have a military nuke program? Not until the minute they can fission material. Go play with your semantics, I'll take a common sense, West Point opinion any day of the week.
No thanks, Tonny. Like socialized health care, socialized defense just kills too many people. If the last 100 years in Europe has taught us anything, that would be it.
Let me tell the twad on the 1st page that the US military is very advanced and has no real equals, but let me say this statement.
You want to hear a REAL oxymoron Mr. Moron?
How about 'peaceful muslim' you surrender monkey?
You idiots always love to insult America, Christianity, and anything remotely modern and advanced.
Well, I just insulted islam and enjoy it.
PS The biggest lie told to the world in recent years is that 'islam is a religion of peace.?
It is more a religion of 'pieces' and it is proven everyday on the news.
'It is so clear few people in the US military command have a brain to use .So Iran can hit Europe with a missile .That is perhaps rnough to scare the neocons shitless,but fortunately not the rest of the world .So what'
It doesn't scare anyone 'shitless'. I hope they wipe you off the map tonny.
'Iran, while a small nation, has an evil ruling cabal and loads of free cash.'
To rewrite it so it is factually correct: 'US has an evil ruling cabal and loads of free cash.'
A reasonable person must conclude that if steps A,B,C,D,E, and F are necessary to produce a misssile launched nuclear weapon by a state that is, plainly a terrorist enabler, it is better to interdict the process at A than F.
All this other potty-talk directed at SP is just that.
Let the Middle East have at it. Maybe they can blow up the area and it can be started fresh.
'All this other potty-talk directed at SP is just that.'
Now that we have heard from the SPdrugaddict fan club, we can get back to reality. It would be interesting to see if someone flushed the crap out of EssPee's head, if there is anything else in there. Like a coherent thought.
That was the talk I was refering to.
If I want truth, I go to a philosopher. If I want crap, I just wait for you to open your mouth.
Well sunshine, you get philosophy from me. For crap look to SP4 or in the mirror.
And the article is about............??
This is great news from the intelligence chief. We should encourage Iran to develop their mid-range missle technology so that all of Europe will be within their target area. We could pay the madman behind the axis of evil to attack Europe with nuclear missles, and wipe out all the commie-sympathizing vermin inhabiting the region. Then there will be more oil for us, with all those useless consumers eliminated. There will be even more oil for us after we annihilate Iran as 'punishment' for its attack on Europe. This seems like a stategy the commander in chief would be proud to accomlish. After some hard work, his legacy will be insured.
page: 1
to get back to reality...Jul 22nd, 2008 - 01:40:35
in the mean time they have demonstrated that they can barely get the things out of their own back yard. This is just another example of the Bush/Cheney cabal bringing out another talking head to spout the paranoid party line. These monkeys have cried 'wolf' too many times. They are now a circus sideshow. Everybody who has a brain laughs at their antics.
Report this comment