Iran begins war games, ahead of August 22

Is Iran's President Ahmadinejad making plans for August 22, or just  'getting “ready to thwart” all “plots” against the Islamic Republic' because they believe 'no army in the world could match Iran’s regular armed forces, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and its affiliated organs'.  The war games begin this weekend, but Iran has made sure everyone understands that they have no date set to end these maneuvers.

AKI reports that Teheran is to begin, on Saturday, a series of missile launch tests ... The missiles being launched from border provinces is designed to maxmize the range. If they were launched from central Iran each missile would have to travel at least 500 miles before it left the country. Since there is no chance of any pre-emptive strike against Iran by the time the intended targets realize what has happened it would have been to late.

Iran seems to have two missiles ready, the Shahab - 3, 1,200 mile range and the Shahab-4 of approximately 2,000 miles, though I have no idea of how many of each. The Shahab - 4 could perhaps reach Berlin, the main financial and industrial supporter of Moscow’s war effort. Both missiles have been manufactured in Iran for at least two years.

Earlier this year Asharq Al-Awsat reported that Teheran had a Judgement Day strategy in case Iran were attacked first by either the U. S., Israel or both. Since that is obviously not going to happen Teheran has now changed its strategy to offense,  ...  This is an obvious, and very ominous show of strength that is meant to send a message to the UN Security Council and to anyone else either opposed to Iran or seen as an obstacle to the Islamic revival, ... source

More:

Saturday sees the start of a major military exercise by Iran's armed forces. 'Iran said yesterday that it would launch a series of huge war games, or military practice manoeuvres. They were "aimed at introducing Iran's new defensive doctrine", said a military spokesman, General Mohammad Reza Ashtiani. For all the liberal use of the word 'defensive', this is hardly a friendly stunt. The war games - dubbed 'Blow of Zolfaghar', in reference to a sword that belonged to Imam Ali, one of the most revered figures of Shia Islam - are designed to show that Tehran is standing up to the superpower. "Our army is ready to defuse all plots against the Islamic Republic of Iran", Ashtiani added. Iran is all too aware of the US forces on its borders in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Interior Ministry also said this week that Iran would boost patrols on its borders - while adding that this was merely to target drug smugglers.'

'"The military exercises will be launched in many provinces especially West Azerbaijan, East Azerbaijan, Kordestan, Sistan-Baluchistan, and Khorasan," Ashtiani told a press conference.

The manoeuvres will involve the army's ground and air forces, the general added. "'We should show Iran's military capability to the enemies," he said. "No army in the world can confront Iran's army, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, and Basij (voluntary) forces," he noted.'

Meanwhile Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki continues to preach the familiar gospel of Iranian nuclear inviolability: "We regard Resolution 1696 as illegal and politically motivated, and it has no value for us ... The Security Council should protect nations' rights, not deprive them of their rights ... The Islamic Republic of Iran will not back down on its legitimate rights under any circumstances."

At the same time Mottaki maintains that "the proposal to suspend enrichment activities, which we regard as illogical, can be discussed in serious negotiations." Iran has announced that it will respond to the proposal on August 22.

Do we really need to wait for their response?  deWinter at Die Welt

 

The 'exercises would begin on Saturday in the south east of the country. "It will continue in the whole of Iran, stage by stage for an unspecified period,"' according to Ashtiani. 

Is all this just for show, for public relations?  Is it just a coincidence these maneuvers are taking place the weekend before August 21 and August 22?  Is this just Ahmadinejad displaying his military feathers like a peacock displays his feathers for all to see and admire?  I say let's keep both eyes on this strange bird.

Cross posted at In the Bullpen, Hycience and Freedom's Zone. Linked with The Discerning Texan, "Iran Testing Surface to Surface Missiles during "War Games""

Jack Bauer fact for today:  Jack Bauer doesn't interrogate, he shoots the suspect until he finds another suspect he needs information from.

Comments

[Mehr Kalami]

When in early 1978 the Trilateral Commission of James Earl Carter and other Internationals decided that the Shah of Iran should be toppled in order to prevent another Industrial and Economic Power (Iran) in the world, they found Ruhollah Khomeini, a virtually unknown fanatic mullah to replace him; to drag Iran into the dark ages and create a hell in West Asia. Mullah Khomeini volunteered to become the "political prostitute" of these wretched and wicked Internationals. Now these same very mullahs are just returning the favor a-la-mode frankenstein. The mullah regime in Tehran must be ousted even if violently, to save the region and the world from a global inferno. The only alternative is to oust this murderous regime and to bring about the restoration of Constitutional Monarchy. It is a clear and a known fact that that the majority of the Iranians (at least 90 percent....NINETY PERCENT) vehemently hate and passionately despise this anti-human regime consisting of mullahs (most of them are the black turbaned ones; "Seyeds" of arab origin. Seyeds are the most hated people in Iran today. This is a FACT!!! They are not Iranians. They are Arabs!!!!)
Mehr Kalami

[Nado]

We know that something could happen, when Jesus is coming back very soon.

ARE YOU SAVED? ARE YOU READY?

[Angel]

Now we are all in dread of Aur 22..we are allowing them to destroy our lives!..I linked to this post..excellent. :)