Iran test fires medium-range missile in Gulf

[Viva_La_Revolution]

(Al Jazeera) Iran has successfully test fired a medium-range surface-to-air missile during navy war games taking place near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the official IRNA news agency has reported.

"This medium-range surface-to-air missile is equipped with the latest technology to combat radar-evading targets and intelligent systems which try to disrupt missile navigation," Mahmoud Mousavi, spokesman for the manoeuvres, was quoted as saying on Sunday.

He said it was the first time Iran had tested the missile, which was "domestically designed and built".

Mousavi also said that the 10 days of war games were to end on Monday with all ships and submarines exercising a new tactic to practise the closure of the strait "if Iran's navy so chooses".

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/01/2012111100508239.html?utm_content=automateplus&utm_campaign=Trial6&utm_source=SocialFlow&utm_term=tweets&utm_medium=MasterAccount

[Fearless]

1. "domestically designed and built"... how much did China do for this one I wonder?

[bahrbearian]

5. I wonder how much Nuclear Capabilities we gave Isreal, not to mention Arms.

[Fearless]

7. I did not say it didn't go both ways.

However I am saying that the actions that Iran are taking currently are needlessly aggressive.

[crim son]

9. Needlessly aggressive?

Perhaps Iran should do what Iraq did, and allow inspectors in, publicly destroy whatever crappy old weaponry it has and basically humiliate itself. THAT will keep us from invading, right?

[Fearless]

20. Two wrongs do not make a right.

[Ghost Dog]

34. What

do you claim is "wrong" about what Iran is doing?

[Fearless]

35. Potentially holding the world's oil supply hostage will

Harm hundreds of millions of people and could bring down the already fragile world economy. Maybe oil supplies wouldn't be totally cut off but even a 10-20% slowdown would drastically impact Western Europe, which is already teetering as well as hurt the US economy. It would likely send us into a third economic dip. Then there are just those who won't be able to afford heating oil or to fuel their cars and suffer physically or economically because of that.

The US is wrong for its idiotic threat-a-week quota against Iran. And Iran is wrong to essentially threaten to bring the world economy to a screeching halt.

[bahrbearian]

13. LOL, agressive like being surrounded by invading armies, that are beating the drums of war.

[Fearless]

21. See post 20.

[bahrbearian]

22. Thats all you got

Neener Neener Neener

[Fearless]

24. ... n/t

[FogerRox]

18. China probably hasnt sold any weapons to Iran since the sanctions were put in place

In fact Iran is known to buy CPU's in the EU to be used in Military apps.

Some background

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/FogerRox/4

[Mopar151]

28. I bet it needs the GPS satellites..... n/t

[lunatica]

2. Iran's weapons capabilities is what will keep us out of a war with them

I hate to say that, but it's true. No one needs nuclear weapons anymore. Just have a sizable arsenal of modern weapons and no one will really mess with you.

The US likes to go to war with countries which have been stripped of weapons or have been softened up through crippling sanctions and shock and awe bombing for days on end. Or war with a country that still lives in the Middle Ages.

[truth2power]

15. We only attack those who are weak. I don't think anyone should have nuclear weapons...

but if I were head of the military in Iran I would direct their scientists to work with all deliberate speed to build a nuclear capability.

Sadly, that's the only way any country can protect themselves, these days, from US terrorism.

[FogerRox]

16. Those rebuilt 30+ yr old T-72 tanks scare the crap outta me

Given lead time I suppose Iran could ressurect these 20-30 yr old jets.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iran/airforce.htm

16 former Iraqi Mirage F-1EQ circa '80's


Su-24MK out of production 1992, cheap version of Su-24. During Gulf War Iraqi's flew 24 to Iran.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-24

Su-25K, built between 1984-1989
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-25

Iran has tried to develop their own planes, these 3 development programs have not yet yielded and significant production numbers.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iran/shafaq.htm
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iran/azarakhsh.htm
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iran/saeqeh.htm

Iran has also tried to produce its own light battle tank, it is not known if production reached significant numbers.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iran/weapons.htm

[lunatica]

29. 20 year old weapons are perfectly lethal

Iran just tested a medium range missile during their war games in the Strait of Hormuz

http://www.democraticunderground.com/101414805

And it will get support from China and Russia.

Iran isn't Afghanistan or Iraq.

[hack89]

33. Not against modern American weapons - ask Iraq about that. nt

[lunatica]

39. Iraq didn't have any weapons worth anything

A decade of having international inspectors destroy weapons and the US jets shooting Iraq pilots down in the so-called no fly zone left Iraq with nothing but pop guns to fight with.

Iran is nowhere close to being as devastated by the US and its allies and that's because China a Russia support it, and because they can use their weapons against us and our allies. We don't like fighting war with armed and organized enemies. We like to soften them up first by having no fly zones and sanctions. Then finally going in and doing the shock and awe bombing of Baghdad for days on end.

And what was the point? To terrorize them and keep them terrified of the bombings. It didn't matter that the city was full of innocent civilians.

Yeah, sure, by all means ask Iraq.

[hack89]

40. Iran has no modern weapons in any quantity

They have been under an arms embargo for decades - an embargo that Russia and China have observed for most parts. They have ancient US combat aircraft they can't get parts for, old soviet tanks with an abysmal combat record and no modern radars that can detect US cruise missiles.

They are much worse off than Iraq was when they were crushed.

[FogerRox]

36. A solid fuel missile, 40+ yr old technology

[hack89]

30. But they don't have a sizable arsenal of modern weapons

Iran has a long history of announcing new weapon systems that never materialize or are just minor modifications to old systems. Iran's military is old, worn out and poorly maintained - the results of a very long arms embargo.

They are much worse off than Iraq was in 1991 or 2003. They have nothing to detect or stop American cruise missiles - which means we could land a devastating first blow if we wanted.

That being said, I do not support an attack on Iran - the political and economic consequences are too unpredictable.

[HopeHoops]

3. I'm not going to lock this, but it really belongs in the I/P group or GD.

The main reason I'm not locking it is because it is an ambiguous subject with respect to the purpose of the forum. Iran is definitely a part of the I/P issue, and has been vocal about it. But their military "show of strength" is relevant to the US as well. Tough call. I invite other hosts and admins to comment on my view.

It is also a "more than 12 hours old" story, even though the link isn't. But nobody else has posted it here.

[Cooley Hurd]

4. If this story goes, then every story about the Middle East should go, as well...

...because they ALL can be traced back to the original complaint about how Israel treats the Palestinians, and our association with Israel.

You're on a slippery slope there, HH....

[bahrbearian]

6. +1 Perfect!

[HopeHoops]

23. That's why I didn't lock it. We'll see.

[Posteritatis]

26. Yeah, equating "Israel" and "the entire greater Middle East" is absurd. (nt)

[FogerRox]

17. Certainly GD

And the same story has been showing up for years. I used to put a lot of effort into debunking the fairy tales:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2905881

[Zorro]

8. Hope Iran test fires a few more SAMs

[FogerRox]

19. Iran has some SA 6's that are 35+ yrs old

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2K12_Kub

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/FogerRox/4

[tabasco]

10. Invade now!

Or learn Iranian and sharia law!!

[USA_1]

11. Kudos to Iran (if true)

We keep getting so many false reports that you have to wonder if it is true.

Iran has a right to advance science in any way it sees fit. Nobody stops any other country from pursuing the advancement of science and this is the same approach the world should take with Iran.

[oberliner]

31. How are medium range missiles an advancement of science?

I don't understand this comment.

[onehandle]

12. Another hint of skirmish this year. nt

[bahrbearian]

14. Well you know it is an election year.

[on point]

25. Sound self defense exercise given US and Israel threats of aggression

[oberliner]

32. What an odd response

Test firing missiles and threatening to close down waterways is a positive development?

[sarcasmo]

27. This story was on the local news tonight. The war drums are beating louder.

[dipsydoodle]

37. Monday - Iran test fires battleship-sinking missile

Iran's military posturing in the Persian Gulf escalated on Monday after it test-fired a cruise missile it claimed could sink a battleship with a single strike.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/8988203/Iran-test-fires-battleship-sinking-missile.html

[Zorro]

38. I guess we better keep our battleships out of that area!