Iran’s Launch of Solid-propellent Rockets

By Bill ~ May 21st, 2009 @ 8:26 am

I’m sure that you’ve heard about Iran’s recent test launch of what has been described by Defense Secretary Robert Gates as the longest-range solid-propellant missile it has launched yet. The missile has a range of up to 1,500 miles, which puts Israel, U.S. bases in the Mideast, and parts of Eastern Europe within striking distance.

The White House reaction? “Obviously, that’s concerning,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said of the launch. Obviously that’s concerning? Duh. How long are we going to let Iran work towards building an atomic bomb and a delivery system for that bomb? How close are we going to let them get to a finished product? I realize that the last thing we need is yet another war in the Middle East. I’m not sure that we have the military resources to fight such a war, but I do believe that we have the ability to “surgically” take out Iran’s nuclear facilities. “Iran just keeps going in the wrong direction. We want them to engage with us, to talk about how we can make the region more stable. This is just a step in the wrong direction. U.S. patience is “not infinite”, Mr. Gibbs said.

Of course, we are going to talk to Iran, and send them to their room without supper. Our reaction to this growing threat reminds me of a movie I saw once. Two cowboys were about to engage in a fist fight. One of the cowboys, knock this rock off my shoulder and the other cowboy did. Then the first cowboy said, jump over this line, and the second cowboy did. This continued until the second cowboy got brave enough to start the fight. Are we going to wait that long? The consequences will be much higher than consequences of a movie fist fight.

On a more serious note, Obama has not ruled out military action if diplomatic efforts fail to resolve the nuclear row. Israeli leaders have raised U.S. concern by hinting at pre-emptive strikes if they decide diplomacy has failed. Iran has said it would respond to any attack by targeting U.S. interests and America’s ally Israel, as well as closing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for world oil supplies.

Our friends Israel recognize the threat and danger of Iran’s efforts to obtain nuclear capability and have expressed a willingness to deal with the issue. However, we continue to hold them back. CIA director Leon Panetta recently acknowledged that he had traveled to Israel to meet Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and warn him against a strike on Iran. The CIA chief said that he “felt assured” Israel would not break ranks with Washington’s strategy. “Yes,” he said, “the Israelis are obviously concerned about Iran and focused on it. But they understand that if Israel goes it alone, it will mean big trouble. Netanyahu knows that for the sake of Israeli security, they have to work together with others.” We can only hope that our inaction doesn’t mean even bigger trouble.