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US deploys anti-missile radar in Israel
The US has reportedly deployed an advanced anti-missile radar system in Israel in an attempt to prepare Tel Aviv for a war on Iran.
The X-band radar, installed in the Negev desert, has a range of more than 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles). It is operated by a permanent 120-strong US Army staff, the Israeli state radio reported.
An Israeli Defense Ministry official, however, rejected the report. The source told AFP that he did 'not know about such a deployment'.
In late July, a senior Pentagon official had said that US Defense Secretary Robert Gates agreed to explore deploying a powerful missile defense targeting radar in Israel.
"The idea here is to help Israel create a layered missile defense capability to protect it from all sorts of threats in the region, near and far," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
An X-band radar is a powerful phased array radar that can target the warhead of a long or medium range missile in space. The US has deployed one in Japan and plans to install a larger X-band radar in the Czech Republic.
The decision to deploy the radar was finalized during Israeli Defense Minister's recent visit to the US.
The radar will be able to receive data from US Defense Support System satellites. The US has reportedly deployed an advanced anti-missile radar system in Israel in an attempt to prepare Tel Aviv for a war on Iran. ... more -
0bama's Missile Defense Flip Flop
Seems like 0bama can't decide whether he's for or against missile defense.
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Moscow threatens Washington with S-300 sale for Iran
The S-300 is one of the most advanced multi-target anti-aircraft-missile systems in the world today and has a reported ability to track up to 100 targets simultaneously while engaging up to 12 at the same time. It has a range of about 200 kilometers and can hit targets at altitudes of 27,000 meters.
Iran's acquisition of the system would vastly upgrade Iranian defenses against any air strike on its nuclear sites, Pentagon adviser Dan Goure was quoted by the British newspaper as saying. "This is a system that scares every Western air force," he added.
"If Teheran obtained the S-300, it would be a game-changer in military thinking for tackling Iran. That could be a catalyst for Israeli air attacks before it's operational," he said.
George Friedman, director of Stratfor, a leading US private intelligence agency was quoted by the Telegraph as saying that if the S-300 became operational, it would effectively rule out an IAF strike and seriously complicate any US air raid.
In early August, a top defense official told The Jerusalem Post that if Russia goes through with the sale of the S-300 to Iran, Israel will use an electronic warfare device now under development to neutralize it and as a result present Russia as vulnerable to air infiltrations.
Friedman said Moscow was saying that if US and Western Europe don't stop meddling in its sphere of influence, the S-300 deal would go ahead.
"Back Georgia and Ukraine for NATO membership and you'll see the S-300 sent to Iran. It is a very powerful bargaining chip and a major deterrent to US actions in the region. Moscow is playing very strategically on America's obsession with Iran," the UK paper quoted Friedman as saying.
While Russia has denied that it sold the system to Iran, Teheran claimed last year that Moscow was preparing to equip the Islamic Republic with the S-300 systems. Iran already has TOR-M1 surface-to-air missiles from Russia.
Mixed media reports have emerged recently regarding the possible delivery of the system to Iran. In July, Reuters quoted a senior Israeli official who said the system would be delivered to Iran by the end of the year. In response, the Pentagon released a statement rejecting the assessment and saying that the US did not believe Iran would get it in 2008.
According to the Israeli defense official who spoke to the Post, "no one really knows yet if and when Iran will get the system."
The Telegraph said that a senior US intelligence official who recently returned from the Middle East said Russia had reportedly struck a tentative deal to sell the S-300 to Iran. There are reports that Russia has already moved some basic components for the system to its close ally Belarus, ready for possible transfer to Iran.
"Moscow cannot simply threaten to strike the deal," the official told the British newspaper. "Iran certainly thinks it has a deal. And the Israelis believe that a deal has been reached but that they can still block it."
On Saturday, Iranian Deputy Chief of Staff General Masoud Jazayeri warned that Should Israel or the United States attack Iran, it would be the start of another World War.
On Friday, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Reza Sheikh Attar, said Iran had increased the number of operating centrifuges at its Natanz uranium enrichment plant to 4,000, pushing ahead with the nuclear program despite threats of new UN sanctions. The S-300 is one of the most advanced multi-target anti-aircraft-missile systems in the world today and has a reported ability to trac... more -
Missile defense: Washington and Poland just moved the world closer to war
The signing on August 14 of an agreement between the governments of the United States and Poland to deploy on Polish soil US ‘interceptor missiles’ is the most dangerous move towards nuclear war the world has seen since the 1962 Cuba Missile crisis.
Far from a defensive move to protect European NATO states from a Russian nuclear attack, as military strategists have pointed out, the US missiles in Poland pose a total existential threat to the future existence of the Russian nation. The Russian government has repeatedly warned of this since US plans were first unveiled in early 2007. Now, despite repeated diplomatic attempts by Russia to come to an agreement with Washington, the Bush administration, in the wake of a humiliating US defeat in Georgia, has pressured the government of Poland to finally sign the pact. The consequences could be unthinkable for Europe and the planet.
The preliminary deal to place elements of the US global missile defense shield was signed by Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Kremer and US chief negotiator John Rood on August 14. Under the terms, Washington plans to place 10 interceptor missiles in Poland coupled with a radar system in the Czech Republic, which it ludicrously claims are intended to counter possible attacks from what it calls “rogue states,” including Iran.
To get the agreement Washington agreed to reinforce Poland’s air defenses. The deal is still to be approved by the two countries’ governments and Poland’s parliament. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said in televised remarks that “the events in the Caucasus show clearly that such security guarantees are indispensable.” The US-Polish missile talks had been dragging for months before recent hostilities in Georgia.
The Bush White House Press spokesperson, Dona Perino, stated, officially, “We believe that missile defense is a substantial contribution to NATO’s collective security.” Officials say the interceptor base in Poland will be opened by 2012. The Czech Republic signed a deal to host a US radar facility on July 8.
The signing now insures an escalation of tensions between Russia and NATO and a new Cold War arms race in full force. It is important for readers to understand, as I detail painstakingly in my book, to be released this autumn, Full Spectrum Dominance: The National Security State and the Spread of Democracy, the ability of one of two opposing sides to put anti-missile missiles to within 90 miles of the territory of the other in even a primitive first-generation anti-missile missile array gives that side virtual victory in a nuclear balance of power and forces the other to consider unconditional surrender or to preemptively react by launching its nuclear strike before 2012. Senior Russian lawmakers said on Friday the agreement would damage security in Europe, and reiterated that Russia would now have to take steps to ensure its security.
Andrei Klimov, deputy head of the Russian State Duma’s international affairs committee, said the deal was designed to demonstrate Warsaw’s “loyalty to the US and receive material benefits. For the Americans, it is an opportunity to expand its military presence across the world, including closer to Russia. For NATO, this is an additional risk . . . many NATO countries are unhappy with this, including the Germans and the French.”
Klimov called the agreement “a step back” toward the Cold War.
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More at link. The signing on August 14 of an agreement between the governments of the United States and Poland to deploy on Polish soil US ‘intercep... more -
Ukraine offers satellite defence co-operation with Europe and US - Russians Outrag...
Ukraine inflamed mounting East-West tensions yesterday by offering up a Soviet-built satellite facility as part of the European missile defence system. Ukraine inflamed mounting East-West tensions yesterday by offering up a Soviet-built satellite facility as part of the European missil... more
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US missile deal enrages Russia
Eric Margolis: It's like August, 1914 - a movement of great powers towards war. Part 1
With the signing of an agreement between Washington and Warsaw to erect a missile defence system in Poland, echoes of the cold war between Russia and the United States are hard to ignore. The agreement comes hot on the heels of the conflict between Russia and Georgia.
As contributing editor for The American Conservative and Sun Media, and Founding Committee member of The Real News Network Eric Margolis says: "The reason I was drawn to [The Real News] was the fact it seemed to me to be the voice that I and many others had been looking for."
See Part 2 at: http://current.com/items/89210345_russian_general_threa...
See Part 3 at: http://current.com/items/89213226_russians_checkmate_us...
See Part 4 at: http://current.com/items/89220467_dems_onside_with_bush... Eric Margolis: It's like August, 1914 - a movement of great powers towards war. Part 1 ... more -
US and Poland Agree to Missile Defence Deal
Poland and the United States struck a deal that will see a missile defence battery in the ex-communist state and deepen military ties, a plan that has infuriated Moscow and sparked fears in Europe of a new arms race.
"We have crossed the Rubicon," the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Thursday, referring to US consent to Poland's demands after more than 18 months of talks.
In an interview on news channel TVN24, Tusk said the United States had agreed to help augment Poland's defences with Patriot missiles in exchange for placing 10 missile defence interceptors in the eastern European country.
He said the deal also includes a "mutual commitment" between the two nations to come to each other's assistance "in case of trouble."
The clause on mutual assistance appeared to be a direct and potent reference to Russia, which has threatened to aim missiles toward Poland - a former Soviet satellite - if it agreed to host the US site.
Washington says the system, which does not yet work, is needed to protect the US and Europe from possible attacks from so-called rogue states, including Iran.
However, Poland has all along been guided by fears of a newly resurgent Russia.
Russia's lightning-quick incursion into Georgia, along with its bombing of military outposts and airfields there, has underlined a palpable fear in the region of Russia's renewed vigor and confidence.
In past days, Polish leaders said that the war justified Poland's demands that it get additional security guarantees in exchange for allowing the site on its soil.
But after the deal was announced, both US and Polish officials attempted to play down any connection to the Georgian war Poland and the United States struck a deal that will see a missile defence battery in the ex-communist state and deepen military ties,... more -
U.S. and Poland sign missile shield deal
WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland finally agreed on Thursday to host elements of U.S. global anti-missile system on its territory after Washington improved the terms of the deal amid the Georgia crisis.
The preliminary deal was signed by deputy Polish Foreign Minister Andrzej Kremer and U.S. chief negotiator John Rood. It still needs to be endorsed by both governments and the Polish parliament.
The signing comes after Prime Minister Donald Tusk had been holding out for enhanced military cooperation with the United States in return for consent to host 10 interceptor rockets at a base in northern Poland.
Washington says the interceptors and a radar in the Czech Republic would form part of a global "missile shield" protecting the United States and its allies from long range missiles that could in the future be fired by Iran or groups such as al-Qaeda.
"We have crossed the Rubicon," Tusk said just before the deal was signed.
"We have finally got understanding of our point of view that Poland, being a crucial partner in NATO and an important friend and ally of the United States, must also be safe."
Officials said the deal included a U.S. declaration that it will aid Poland militarily in case of a threat from a third country and that it would establish a permanent U.S. base on Polish soil in a symbolic gesture underlining the alliance. WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland finally agreed on Thursday to host elements of U.S. global anti-missile system on its territory after Washin... more -
Bush Seeks 12 Billion to Waste on Obsolete Missile Defense
Bucking the wishes of top Pentagon officials, Bush is pushing one of the largest military buildups in history.
Will Congress back this senseless spending? Is this about our safety or is the administration using our fear of being attacked to gain wealth on huge military spending contracts (again)? Bucking the wishes of top Pentagon officials, Bush is pushing one of the largest military buildups in history. ... more -
Iran continues test firing; missiles have 2,000km range
Iran test-fired more missiles overnight, Iranian news media reported Thursday, one day after it tested a long-range Shahab-3 (shahab is Farsi for 'meteor') in the Persian Gulf region.
Iranian media say Thursday's test-fire of missiles was a continuation of exercises that began Wednesday, above.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has said that the missiles involved were medium and long-range.
The Iranian news agency Fars said the launches, near the Persian Gulf, were a continuation of Wednesday's maneuvers and that the missiles hit their targets successfully.
The test came only hours after U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the United States is determined to prevent Iran from threatening its interests or those of its allies.
At a news conference in the Georgian capital of Tblisi, Rice said the United States has been working with allies to "make certain that they are capable of defending themselves" against any threat from Iran.
"We take very strongly our obligation to help our allies defend themselves and no one should be confused about that," Rice said.
"These are all elements of America's intention and determination to prevent Iran from threatening our interests or the interests of our friends and allies, and I don't think the Iranians are too confused, either, about the capability and the power of the United States to do exactly that," she said.
The forces of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had test-fired a Shahab-3 missile and several others during war games in the Persian Gulf, an Iranian commander said Wednesday.
The Shahab-3 has a range of about 2,000 km, putting all of Israel, Turkey, Pakistan and the Arabian peninsula within striking distance. From Iran the missile's reach extends from southern Russia to the Horn of Africa, from south-eastern Europe to Nepal. See where Iran's missiles could strike »
The Iranian exercises came a month after Israel conducted a military drill in the eastern Mediterranean involving dozens of warplanes and aerial tanks.
Iran and Israel have been engaged in an escalating war of words: Iran has accused Israel of trying to destabilize the republic, while Israel has not ruled out military action to halt Iran's nuclear aspirations.
Iran's missile tests prompted condemnation from the United States and Israel. It is believed the longer-range Shahab-4 missile, when finished, would have the capability to hit parts of Europe, a U.S. intelligence official said.
Rice encouraged Iran to "get on the right side of the international community" by accepting a package of incentives put forward by China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States -- the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council -- as well as Germany.
Iran "ought to be talking about that, not about threats against America or threats against America's allies because frankly it's not going to do them any good."
Meanwhile Israel was due Thursday to display an advanced aircraft that is capable of spying on Iran. Israel's Army Radio told CNN that the Eitam airplane is a "practical answer" to recent Iranian "threats."
But Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) -- which manufactures aircraft for both military and civilian use -- said the plane exhibit is not connected to Israel's recent "tensions" with Iran.
Rather, the airplane is being shown near Ben Gurion International Airport, southeast of Tel Aviv, because it will be at the prestigious Farnborough International Air Show in southern England next week, an IAI spokeswoman said.
The plane, a Gulfstream G550 business jet that has been modified with sophisticated intelligence-gathering systems, was unveiled last year and is already part of the Israeli Air Force's fleet. Iran test-fired more missiles overnight, Iranian news media reported Thursday, one day after it tested a long-range Shahab-3 (shahab i... more -
Russia & China against weapon deployment in space
China and Russia have put a treaty forward to the United Nations proposing the banning of weapons from space and also stating satellites should not be attacked in times of war.
" The draft proposed by Moscow and Beijing bans the deployment of any arms in space, as well as the use of force against satellites. It also relates to space property, overall security, and arms control. "
Both sides stated "The sides are in favour of the peaceful use of space, but are against the deployment of weapons in space or a space arms race," in a declaration after discussing their stances in Beijing. Many partners in the UN have agreed with the proposal except the United States, as they have been developing a " new generation " of missile defence systems widely seen as a renewal of their SDI " star wars " program from the 1980's.
In any case this is a perfectly logical proposal for our race as all of our conflicts are internal on our planet. We don't want to start screwing space and our orbit up any more than we already have with satellite pollution. China and Russia have put a treaty forward to the United Nations proposing the banning of weapons from space and also stating satellit... more -
US wants to INCREASE ITS MISSILES!
Nato countries have just said they will back a new US agenda to create a missile defense program in Eastern Europe.
...We are so hard on any country that speaks the word "weapon" or "nuclear" yet look at us! - we want to create ANOTHER missile defense base! Why do those other countries want to acquire weapons?? To protect themselves from US "defense" bases all over the world! Nato countries have just said they will back a new US agenda to create a missile defense program in Eastern Europe. ... more -
U.N. weighs a ban on weapons in Space, but U.S. still objects
GENEVA — The Russian foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, on Tuesday presented a Russian-Chinese draft treaty banning weapons in space to the United Nations Conference on Disarmament, an idea that was quickly rejected by the United States. GENEVA — The Russian foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, on Tuesday presented a Russian-Chinese draft treaty banning weapons in space ... more
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