US warns Russia against selling missiles to Iran

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081223/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_russia_iran

US warns Russia against selling missiles to Iran

By LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press Writer Lolita C. Baldor,

Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 28 mins ago

WASHINGTON – U.S. officials said Monday that they want answers from

Russia on whether it is selling advanced surface-to-air missiles to

Iran, a move the U.S. insists could threaten American troops in Iraq

and Afghanistan. A senior military intelligence official said that

while Moscow has sent out conflicting responses to reports on the

sale of long-range S-300 missiles, the U.S. believes it is taking

place. However, it appears that no equipment has yet been delivered

to Iran, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity

because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Russia's state arms export agency said Monday it is supplying Iran

with defensive weapons, including surface-to-air missiles, but did

not say whether they include sophisticated long-range S-300 missiles.

State Department spokesman Wood said the U.S. is seeking

clarification from Russia.

" We have repeatedly made clear at senior levels of the Russian

government that we would strongly oppose the sale of the S-300, " Wood

said. " As the U.S. government has said before, this is not the time

for business as usual with the Iranian government. "

Iran currently has an antiquated missile defense system, dating back

to the 1960s and 1970s, so the Russian sale would provide Tehran a

much longer range, more mobile and lethal capability. With a range of

roughly 75 miles, the Russian system would allow Iran to reach

coalition forces operating in Iraq and Afghanistan, if the missiles

were moved near the borders.

Both the U.S. and Israel have strongly opposed the sale, saying that

supplying such an advanced anti-aircraft system to Iran would shift

the military balance of power in the Middle East. It also would make

any strike at Iran's first nuclear power plant — which Russia is

helping to build — more difficult.

There have been indications that Russia intends to supply only

defensive weapons to Iran, thus keeping in line with U.N. Security

Council resolutions that impose sanctions on Iran for refusing to

halt its uranium enrichment and prohibit supplying Iran with

materials that could contribute to its nuclear program.

Officials acknowledge that the sale of the S-300 system is not

prohibited by the resolution.

Israel and the United States fear that Iran could use the S-300

missiles to protect its uranium enrichment plant at Natanz or the

country's first atomic power plant now under construction at Bushehr

by Russian contractors.

The U.S. and other nations believe Iran is secretly developing

nuclear weapons, but Iran insists its uranium enrichment program is

intended solely for civilian energy needs.

While the possibility that the U.S. might launch an attack against

Iran's nuclear facilities faded about a year ago, Israel has never

ruled out a strike of its own, and is considered the nation most

likely to take action.

Iran's president has said that Israel should be " wiped off the map. "

The sale of S-300 missiles, said the military intelligence official,

presents a decision point for Israel, since once the anti-aircraft

system is in place it could deter any strike.

[Guest guest]

The U.S. and other nations believe Iran is secretly developing

nuclear weapons, but Iran insists its uranium enrichment program is

intended solely for civilian energy needs.

While the possibility that the U.S. might launch an attack against

Iran's nuclear facilities faded about a year ago, Israel has never

ruled out a strike of its own, and is considered the nation most

likely to take action.

Iran's president has said that Israel should be " wiped off the map. "

The sale of S-300 missiles, said the military intelligence official,

presents a decision point for Israel, since once the anti-aircraft

system is in place it could deter any strike.

I guess like every other piece of news (the facts are we are

powerless to petition the rest of the world to stop being idiots) We

are not making the decisions. we don't like the looks of things but

how do you stop a tsunami? I think you hope that you and those most

like you are there after it subsides. The jews didn't convince

anyione whom did not want to be convinced that Adolf was wrong.

Some happily (many) happily dug the graves and shot the guns.

Believing that those well to do Jew bast#@!S got what they deserved

because the economic crisis was all their fault.

See the resemblence to the costs of Autism. No ASD children are not

making the money nor do they have power or influence. We will be

used by the medical community to play with, by the public to place

responsibility for money woes. We are being used as pawns and unless

we can show that we can (take care of ourselves or our own) or we can

somehow save or entertain the world we are doomed to be used)

I may be yelled at for not rising up, but I know them that stir the

pot seem to have their children taken away.

History does repeat itself. The nature of the majority has to change.

For now the majority is all about stuff and gimmie