Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Iran Successfully Tests Missiles Capable Of Reaching Israel

The Iranian government's announcement that it had tested medium and long-range missiles with a maximum range of 1,250 miles is quite unsettling to Israel. How the candidates for U.S. president react to this news is very important to this ally. A headline in the Israel Insider says it all: "Obama wants to discuss 'em, McCain wants to down 'em." Obama's call for "diplomatic engagement with Teheran and threats of sanctions to try and persuade the Iranians to act nicely" isn't sitting well in Israel as you might expect. "His call for negotiations came as a senior Iranian advisor was quoted as saying that Tel Aviv will be first target to burst into flames," the Israeli news magazine says. McCain's response to the missile test was more well-received. "Ballistic missile testing coupled with Iran's continued refusal to cease its nuclear activities should unite the international community in efforts to counter Iran's dangerous ambitions," McCain said. "Working with our European and regional allies is the best way to meet the threat posed by Iran, not unilateral concessions that undermine multilateral diplomacy."

8 comments:

Unknown said...

I have yet to hear a satisfactory explanation for why we care what Israel thinks or why Israel's national security issues are our concern.

Jon E. Easter said...

I'm sure that Israel wants us to rush in with guns blazing. That would sure stabilize the Middle East. Direct diplomacy is not appeasement, and it's required here.

Gary R. Welsh said...

Uh, Jon, when a senior Iranian official is saying Tel Aviv is a prime target for the missiles and the leader of the country says he wants to wipe your country off the face of the map, a pre-emptive strike may be the only way of assuring your survival, don't you think?

Vox Populi said...

If Israel launches a pre-emptive strike on Iran, they will be the direct cause of World War III. Hopefully their politicians are smarter than the neocons in this country like John Dubya McCain.

varangianguard said...

Vox, now really.

Vox Populi said...

I think America's blind support for Israel has cost us dearly in that region, and that if Israel launches a first-strike on Iran they will have doomed us all. You think oil pries are high now...

Anonymous said...

Uh, Jon, when a senior Iranian official is saying Tel Aviv is a prime target for the missiles and the leader of the country says he wants to wipe your country off the face of the map, a pre-emptive strike may be the only way of assuring your survival, don't you think?

How easy to say knowing full well the military won't have anything to do with you.

Jon E. Easter said...

If we would have pre-emptively struck Cuba in 1962 over sabre-rattling, we'd still be dealing with the fallout...literally.