Iran test fires a 'new' missle
 

Iran continues to develop its weapon systems.

http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8708211020

Unless they suddenly skip a generation and develop an actual ICBM class warhead I will not worry. Until then I HIGHLY doubt they can fit a REALLY heavy warhead (Like the NK version) on these sticks.

Defence against what? an invasion of camels from Afganistan???

I think it's just try to raise the oil price as Iran, as well as other OPEC countries would like to see the oil price back at $100 barrel.

Oh....and I can just see the US and (hopefully) the rest of the western world putting up with that sort of crap :lol:

Don't tell me you have never heard the suggestion of various countries invading Iran.
Everyone is after them!

Where I Iranian I would be wanting all the security I could get and a little more.

Striking at Iran and invading Iran are two separate things.

Agents in warheads, wether they be nuclear or biological, eventually can be delivered by other means as well, and terrorists smuggling these things has always been a greater concern for me. Even a nuclear armed Iran is less the danger, than the possibility - that I take for a certain - that this would mean Iranian proliferation of nukes to factions that you do not wish to see with such a capacity, and it would provoke a nuclear amrs race as well. Saudi Arabia and Egypt would launch their own programs in a reaction to Iran, which is more or less open not only their rival, but enemy. In fct there are clear indications reported since three years that both countries already are at it, especially the Saudis. Thus, the missile test itself should not be overestimated in importance. Wether or not the Iranians are capable to produce these nasty kind of addons for it - that is the decisive question. and while missiles work fast in delivering them, they are not the only carrier option.

If there ever will go off a nuke in the West, it most likely will have entered the country as part of a regular delivery of items of international trade. Maybe it travels by ship, and is declared as a refrigerator. Or it is split into parts and reconstructed in the target country. This danger is far more serious than a dozen of Iranian nuclear missile. and this scenario, and the nuclear arms race it would cause in the ME, is the reason why nukes for Iran shall not be alloweed, at no cost - even at cost of taking the worst case options. I'm already pissed with Pakistan, I do not want to get a second Pakistan which may behave even worse.

That they can seal the strait, you better take as guaranteed. Some floating mines, some hidden land-based missiles, one or two subs in hidden wait, or some rubber boats operating in the dark to get within striking range for Panzerfausts or suicide attacks - and that's it. Asymmetrical war is great for the weaker side, and much less expensive.

Latest news is that this test was a failure, a 'mid flight error' and the missle failed to reach its target.

No, no failure, it exactly went to where Allah decided to lead it to - so everything according to the great plan. :doh:

Nope I reckon Tomahawk strikes and repeated/precision air strikes (fed by satellite data, AWACS etc) to name just two, would put paid to any threat within striking distance of the Stratecically important Strait of Hormuz.

The stakes (loss of oil flow) to the west are far too high for half baked measures.

Iran would suffer a swift and decisive beating to reiterate what was at stake.

The alternative scenario would quite clearly be an intolerable and unacceptable situation for the US and her allies.

I hope it never comes to this mind......but you can only push your adversary so far before a reaction results.

As you alluded to earlier, I believe there are western dependants/countries in the region that privately would welcome Iran being brought back into line (non nuclear capability).

So, it missed the ground, did it? :rotfl:

Couldn't someone make this into a "Command and Conquer" scenerio? Let us "geeks" figure out how to get it done, and then sell the idea to Washington. :-?

"How about a nice game of Chess..." :rotfl:

Wonder if anyone will get that quote.

Wargames (1983) http://www.psionguild.org/forums/ima...es/whistle.gif

[sarcasm on]
Ach...?
[sarcasm off]

Never heared that Tomahwks are used to explode drifting sea mines, or to take out undeteced targets like a three man missile crew, or an explosive-loaded speed-boat moving in in the dark.

Also, airborn and orbit-born detection has limits.

Jim, you see it too easy, and very much so. Mining a strait is simple. Getting it clear again or move through it - that is the tricky part. And never I have heared or read a serious military experts putting serious doubts on the Iranian's capability to close the straits, if they want. Ignroing the mines, the place is infested not only with Silkworms, but more modern chinese missiles as well. If you think you get a tanker (or a task force) through that needle's eye with the Iranians not wanting that, then you are dreaming. Even for a sub it probably would be a risky operation under wartime conditions, due to the shallow water.

One step/point at a time if I may :lol:

Sea mines....they have to lay them first and even if they do, it shouldn't be too hard to clear a navigation channel.

Speed boats in the dark....infra red/night vision/radar/listening sensors. I should also imagine they won't be launching from nearby because of the 'eye in the sky' looking down on them....certainly able to give sufficient early warning of movement.

Iranian missiles...leave them to the airforce and the tomahawks. It might also mean Special Forces pay the odd visit.

Your right, airborne detection does have it's limits, but the allied capability is far in excess of what the Iranians can pit against it....and that is a 24/7 capability.

I should imagine most of the Iranian capability is already tagged should there ever be the need for a pre-emptive surgical strike at the first sign of them becoming a threat to the oil route.

I suppose the only way to see who is right here would be if the situation over there deteriorates to such a serious level.

One thing I am sure of....the US in particular and hopefully the west in general will never allow the Iranians, a country currently under so much suspicion of preparing for wrongdoing, to cut off the supply of oil.

Skybird's right, Jim. The constant mirror imaging of Iranian defensive thought - the assumptions that they will keep everything neat and tidy in the Western way and hold tight while we sail in and blast them - is likely why blue forces have suffered unacceptable losses against Iran-like red forces in some war scenarios I have been told about. The technological superiority of the West is granted but it must also be granted that Iran would pull out the stops and play dirty. Planners need to use some imagination:

I would expect that Iranian officials have their fingers on the pulse of Middle Eastern tensions and would when to execute a good pre-emptive plan to welcome the West. Expect maybe civilian-flagged freighters or pleasure craft with bellies full of mines and missiles sent to some port in Qatar before the fireworks kick off. Iranian submarines should be sortied in advance, as well, to hide in some deep pocket of the Gulf and wait things out until blue task groups are confident in their security.

I think the result of those things would probably create enough confusion and muck-ups in communication long enough to roll out the SCUD launchers that would probably be hidden inside mosques....

Many thought the same about attacking Bin Laden, and look at how that ended up.

But, what about the political side of a potential war? I notice nobody has mentioned intervention by the Russians. If they United States were to attack the IR, Russia would almost certainly take the side of the Iranians to protect their oil investments (and Russia is a big customer for Iran). Imagine the consequences of that...

I must get out my old Victory Games box of Gulf Strike... Too bad it's rules do not cover asymmetrical warfare.

Has it ever been turned into a PC strategy game?

http://www.sweetkiss.net/~sk006/wzc/...GulfStrike.png
http://www.sweetkiss.net/~sk006/wzc/...ulfStrike5.png
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a2...f/IMG_1320.jpg

That was pretty huge a map in size!

A quarter of a century ago. My God...

Politics asid for one minute:

Gulf Strike was a great early game.....I might still have it up in my loft. :rock:

http://img49.imageshack.us/img49/741/img1320vw4.jpg

Back OT:

Your all wrong...the West would still win hands down :lol: