Israel: 'Time Running Out' After Iran Satellite Launch

[Purveyor]

Source: Voice of America

By Robert Berger
Jerusalem
04 February 2009

Israel says Iran's satellite launch is a "technological achievement" that points to a growing nuclear threat. A statement by Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak warned that Iran has improving missile technology capable of delivering a nuclear bomb that could hit Israel and beyond.

"The proven capability to launch the satellite, to launch it into orbit, shows something about the missile technology of Iran and it is worrying," said Israel Space Agency chairman and parliament member Isaac Ben-Israel.

Iran says the satellite is for peaceful purposes, but Ben-Israel says that is nonsense.

"If you translate the missile technology, missile capability, to what will happen if they will take the same technology and use it for a ballistic missile, it means that they can deliver a bomb to Western Europe," he said.


Read more: http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-02-04-voa17.cfm

[mike_c]

1. unless Iran is kept in the stone age, Israel will interpret EVERY technological advance...

...as a threat. Every technological advance CAN BE a threat-- what Israel doesn't seem to understand, and neither does the U.S., is that what makes those advances threatening isn't what Iran could do with them, but what Israel or the U.S. makes Iran want to do with them.

[bemildred]

2. I means they can hit anyplace on the planet, theoretically at least.

But so what? Iran is becoming a modern industrialized nation, that's been clear for some time now.

[dbonds]

3. Israel has a hard on for attacking Iran.

Its almost as if they wanted to wipe them off the face of the earth.

[Ticonderoga]

4. Time is running out

For Israel's killing machine. Cry me a river.

[thewiseguy]

5. When was the last time Iran invaded another country?

When was the last time Israel did such a thing?

[Tempest]

6. Israel couldn't defeat Hamas or Hezbollah

And they want to take on Iran?

Good luck with that.

[FarCenter]

7. Hyperventilating diplomats

The rocket is liquid fueled, which requires an involved procedure to ready it for firing. Intercontinental ballistic missiles are now all solid fuel, so that they can be conveniently stored for years and then fired quickly. This is not up to the old Atlas rockets of the '60s.

A liquid fueled rocket would only be useful as a first strike weapon. However, if Iran wants to do a nuclear first strike on Israel, I'd suggest a short range missile launched from a cargo ship in the Mediterranean would be the way to go.

It launched a very light weight satellite. An actual nuclear warhead is heavy, and it has to be designed to survive reentry to the atmosphere and then still explode before it strikes the earth and destroys itself.

[Sandrine for you]

8. Yep baby Israel crying as ever

[daleo]

9. Lots of countries will get nukes and missiles as time goes on

I guess the human race will just have to learn how to make peace with each other. Either that, or MAD on a global scale. The genie is getting far from the bottle.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[anonymous171]

11. Iran develops cure for cancer, Israel says achievement points to growing nuclear threat.

[fascisthunter]

12. right wing psychos... pick your nationality

or religion, they are all psychos.

[Alamuti Lotus]

13. Good, let them squirm

National bullies always hate it when others are not only no longer impressed (scared) by their toys, but are building better ones..

[harun]

14. Good a balance of power in the region is exactly what is needed.

[Every Man A King]

15. When is Israel gonna get rid of its nukes? n/t