Tehran continues to flex its muscles: As you know Iranian exercises codenamed Great Prophet 4 are being held as Israelis mark Yom Kippur. During drills the Revolutionary Guards Air Force has now successfully fired short medium and long range missiles supposedly to show they can defend themselves against any one any time. Theoretically they can now reach our allies in the middle east including our bases there and can reach Israel and Europe. This is supposed to be good for Iran? Iran test fires two missiles capable of reaching Israel, US bases
Iran has been getting lessons in how to make your “enemies get pissed off, North Korea has shown the way and they didn't get attacked. Mondays launch if it was successful as we are told means it can hit Israel. Iran is as expected being defiant but I do not see anything positive in this for Iran because I hope Obama is not as stupid as Bush and will handle this with kid gloves not a fist.
I am hearing from Republicans that Obama should cancel the upcoming talks with Iran. That is something Bush would do and would be totally counter productive which I would expect would have been his goal. I still believe something can be worked out here but China has to step up. For China, Iran uranium plant no game changer
Russia urges restraint over Iran missile, nuclear reports
Military exercises are normal as Iran points out timing them at the same time Israel celebrates Yom Kippur is of course no coincidence and proves to me that despite Iran's assertions that its missiles and military might are purely for defensive reasons they are designed to show iran will act offensively if they feel the need. That concerns me and our response would worry me.
Here we are at the eve of nuclear talks and Iran has now test fired their long rang missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads if they can get their hands on them and reaching our bases and allies in the middle east as well as Israel and Europe. This is very provocative and I am very pleased that Obama made the decision to cancel Bush's MDS and use the mobile water based aegis system as I would expect they are already in position in the gulf and they are proven and reliable!
Before I finish on this would hope you gloss over what I wrote April 22nd because it is increasingly obvious that Iran is the chink in the armor that is Obama Iran will continue to be increasingly aggressive! Like you I continue to hear how Bush's screw you in your face politics kept the world in check and us safe. Nothing could be further from the truth!
Thank God everyone stayed in check despite Bush's bullying war mongering efforts. I have yet to hear why if Bush knew about the supposedly secret underground facility years ago why he did not say anything? If we knew about it for years then it was not a secret!Is there a real problem here or are we once again creating one where there is none to use it for personal gain. I do not see anything good here for anyone.
In closing there is very different rhetoric coming from Obama compared to Bush who did his best to instigate war with Iran. Ahmadinejad said Obama is a man he can do business with but is Ahmadinejad a man Obama can do business with? The US threatens crippling sanctions on top of the three sets already in place. In the end I have to agree with Ahmadinejad that who are we to tell Iran what they can and can not do? What are our options though?
James Joiner
Gardner, Ma