Iran launch is 'troubling'

[mOOey]

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The White House said on Sunday that Iran's announcement that it had launched a home-built rocket into space was "troubling" because such technology could also be used for ballistic missiles.

"The Iranian development and testing of rockets is troubling and raises further questions about their intentions," spokesperson Gordon Johndroe said as US President George W. Bush spent time on his Texas ranch.

"This action and dual use possibilities for their ballistic missile program have been a subject of IAEA discussions and are inconsistent with their UN Security Council obligations," Johndroe said, referring to the International Atomic Energy Agency — the UN nuclear watchdog.

He spoke after Tehran said it had sent a home-built rocket carrying a dummy satellite into space on Sunday, in a move that could further exacerbate tensions with the West over its nuclear drive.

"The Safir (Ambassador) rocket was successfully launched. All its systems ... are Iranian made," Reza Taghipour, head of Iran's space agency, told state television, adding that a "test satellite was put into orbit".

"We have paved the way for placing a satellite in space in future," state television said, showing images of the pre-dawn rocket launch.

Western governments suspect Iran is trying to build an atomic weapon and have voiced concern that the technology used in the Islamic republic's space program could be diverted to military use, claims denied by Tehran.

Sunday's development came amid an international standoff over Tehran's long-standing refusal to suspend uranium enrichment, a process necessary to make nuclear fuel but which can also be used to make the core of an atomic bomb.

AFP

As if the Russia-Georgia-USA thing wasn't enough. Everybody's stirring up **** these days.

/Hopes it's hot air. Hopes it's hot air. Hopes it's hot air.

 

[Alan]

Some people are only now realising the **** has hit the fan. At least 7 years behind the rest of us

 

[Nod]

Who would have thought that embargo countries can create things on their own, without buying it all from the US?

 

[mOOey]

Some people are only now realising the **** has hit the fan. At least 7 years behind the rest of us

There's always hope.

 

[GreenPunkt [clone of Skeptik]]

Who would have thought that embargo countries can create things on their own, without buying it all from the US?

It gives them a strong incentive to do it themselves. SA, Israel, China, India, Pakistan and Iran all did it. Buying stuff from the US makes them dependent on that country which is ultimately what they would like.

 

[rza]

It is only a matter of time before the biggest war man has ever seen erupts. Russia, Iran, Arabs and EU vs US, UK and Israel.

 

[Nod]

It gives them a strong incentive to do it themselves. SA, Israel, China, India, Pakistan and Iran all did it. Buying stuff from the US makes them dependent on that country which is ultimately what they would like.

I know. But it makes out job as IT in a multi-national pure hell.

 

[mOOey]

It is only a matter of time before the biggest war man has ever seen erupts. Russia, Iran, Arabs and EU vs US, UK and Israel.

Wouldn't the EU be on the other side of the vs?

 

[koosbeer]

Russia supplies a large amount of EU's power so I think EU will back Russia

 

[PeterCH]

The Iranian rocket was built with NK assistance, and is modelled
on the SCUD. It's two stage but of very limited payload, in fact
it can only lift up an object smaller than the original Russian SPUTNIK.

I wouldn't be troubled by this.

 

[mOOey]

Russia supplies a large amount of EU's power so I think EU will back Russia

Makes sense. Don't bite the hand that feeds you.

 

[PeterCH]

Russia supplies a large amount of EU's power so I think EU will back Russia

EU will condemn USA until they are threatened by Iran/Russia/PRC in which case they will
cower back to the US and beg for protection.

 

[GreenPunkt [clone of Skeptik]]

Russia supplies a large amount of EU's power so I think EU will back Russia

Russia has been supplying cheap gas to much of Europe and E. Europe. They want to charge market rates, which is why there is so much upset from Ukraine who have been given very cheap energy up till now. They don't want to be defendant on pipelines through Russia, which is where Georgia comes in. A pipe goes across that country. The Russians don't want to be seen to have their hand on the OFF switch so they won't tamper with supplies unless necessary.
It's very much about oil from the US/EU perspective but less so from Russia.

 

[mOOey]

The Iranian rocket was built with NK assistance, and is modelled
on the SCUD. It's two stage but of very limited payload, in fact
it can only lift up an object smaller than the original Russian SPUTNIK.

I wouldn't be troubled by this.

Then tell uncle Bush.

 

[icyrus]

Russia supplies a large amount of EU's power so I think EU will back Russia

Yeah they just sign those military alliances for a lark nowadays.

 

[PeterCH]

Then tell uncle Bush.

Just because they have junk tech, doesn't mean they are not
working on improving it. This is just a stepping stone, and
done more for propaganda, but they're building rockets
not buidling more schools/hospitals for their people.

The US missile shield should work well against all these threats
(like this one).

 

[Alan]

It is only a matter of time before the biggest war man has ever seen erupts. Russia, Iran, Arabs and EU vs US, UK and Israel.

Hardly. More likely smaller proxy wars.

 

[Akai]

LOL at the US.

So now Iran cannot have missles? HAAHAHHAHAH!! Now the United Snakes of America can launch their missles into Iran and Iran cannot have missiles to launch themselves. Skewed sense of humour those american have.lol

 

[PeterCH]

LOL at the US.

So now Iran cannot have missles? HAAHAHHAHAH!! Now the United Snakes of America can launch their missles into Iran and Iran cannot have missiles to launch themselves. Skewed sense of humour those american have.lol

The Iranian government has made numerous threats, in fact virtually everything they say about the West contains threats - usually of destruction. It is therefore obvious that powers like America want to
protect themselves. As said the ABM interceptors are one way, although
I don't think those are really against Iran but serve a dual purpose -
to show it to Russia (with which I agree) and also to maybe less so
defend against hostile single digit launches of rockets at Western assets.