JERUSALEM — Iran has received a first batch of BM-25 surface-to-surface missiles that put European countries within firing range, Israel's military intelligence chief, Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin, was quoted as saying in the Haaretz daily on Thursday.And, in case for some reason you forget why this is a big deal...
The missiles, purchased from North Korea, have a range of 1,550 miles and are capable of carrying nuclear warheads, Haaretz reported.
Yadlin has warned of the new Iranian missiles in several recent interviews to the media. Iran already has missiles capable of reaching Israel, but the BM-25 missiles are a significant upgrade over its existing top of the line missiles — the Shihab-4 and Shihab-3.
Israeli concerns have been heightened in recent months by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's calls to wipe Israel "off the map."What's sad about this is that Israel has to resort to saying, "These missiles could hit Europe!" Nobody cares that the missiles could hit Israel - but Europe...?! Now the question is only if the Europeans care enough. Do they really think they're at risk also? If yes, they might actually do something. If not...
Well, Israel better be ready to take matters into its own hands.
I don't know how significant this is but Gen Yadlin was one of the eight who flew to Iraq in 1981.
ReplyDeleteYou might also be a little interested in:
http://www.jcpa.org/brief/brief004-8.htm
Woah - no time to read the whole thing now, but that's fascinating. I like the 95-96% line. :)
ReplyDeleteIsrael cannot act alone. It simply does not possess planes that will permit it to bomb Iran (not to mention the numerous scattered sites that exist, buried under mountains of concrete). It would be a suicide mission.
ReplyDeleteThe only way for it to happen is in concert with the US.
JDub - I wonder about that. If they have proper intelligence and data, can they pull another Iraq?
ReplyDeleteThough in all likelihood you are correct. It troubles me that people are so anti-Bush that they will be knee-jerk against any attack, no matter how necessary - and then, it will be too late.
You would have to think the purchase of these missiles will raise alarms in Europe, and perhaps raise support for stiffer actions against Iran than EU countries are willing to take presently.
ReplyDelete