Iran is claiming it shot down an American 'spy UAV - Unmanned Aerial Vehicle'. "Fars" Iranian Agency reported this is not the first time Iranian air space has been invaded by the United States. There were similar claims by Iran this time last year. No photos, video or other 'proof' of the UAV has been offered, to my knowledge.
A second U.S. aircraft carrier, the USS John C. Stennis, will arrive in the Middle East in about a month, the first time since the U.S.-led Iraq war in 2003 that the United States will have two carrier battle groups in the region. Kuwait-based daily Arab Times reports that the United States might launch a military strike on Iran before April 2007,and 'the attack would be launched from the sea, while Patriot missiles would guard all Arab countries in the Gulf.'
I'm questioning the April 2007 attack on Iran, but something is going on with the two aircraft carriers in the region. Better safe than sorry. Meanwhile, 'the Israeli army is reported to be developing the world's largest unmanned aerial vehicle, to be used for long-range deployment and destroying ballistic missiles as they are being launched.' the Israel Aircraft Industries had developed Eitan, an unmanned aircraft with a 110 feet of wingspan,
... similar to a Boeing 737 passenger plane. The drone was developed for long endurance and high altitude flights. It will be equipped with several high-tech cameras and missiles that would allow it to identify and intercept long-range missiles as they are being fired on the ground. ... the drone is scheduled to make its trial flights in the next few days. (source)
Israel isn't taking any chances since Iran tested it's Shahab-3 missiles, capable of hitting targets within 1,300 miles radius.
Read about the United States 'Reliable Replacement Warhead' here, the first new nuclear warhead in nearly two decades, which will 'first be mounted on submarine-launched missiles.'
The International Atomic Energy Agency has suspended some technical aid projects in Iran to comply with new U.N. sanctions. Former US ambassador to the UN John Bolton, feeling his freedom from the constraints of his position since resigning, is speaking out loud and clear on many topics. Bolton, an arms control expert, also called for further U.N. Security Council action against Iran for failing to stop its uranium enrichment program.
The rapidly declining country of Russia has 'completed transfers of the Tor-M1 anti-aircraft missile system to Iran, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said yesterday. The Tor-M1 is a high-accuracy missile designed to intercept cruise missiles as well as both manned and unmanned aircraft. Despite U.N. sanctions on Iran, Russia insists that the contract was in line with international law and that the system is for defensive purposes only.'
Who is it that Russia thinks Iran needs protection from? The United States, or maybe Israel? There is no question whose side Russia is on.
On another front, the United States and North Korea will pursue unprecedented talks today, raising hopes of a breakthrough. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, in Germany, said talks may extend to a third day. John Bolton said "Six-party talks have not worked. They are not likely to work. ... I think, realistically over time, the only answer to the North Korean nuclear weapons program is the collapse of the regime and North Korea, and hopefully a peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula..."
Things are not so rosy for Iran's President Ahmadinejad lately. It seems 'conservative lawmakers are speaking out more freely against Ahmadinejad's economic policies since the Iranian elections in December.
Things in the world are heating up. Let's hope we do have UAV's spying on Iran and North Korea. Maybe we have somebody like Jack Bower or members of The Unit out there too.
Related:
Islam - Iran Guard says U.S., Britain, Israel “axis of evil”, Meducat
Hugo and Mahmoud, Jammie Wearing Fool
A Declaration Of War On Islamic Tyranny, The Freedom Fighters Journal
Lost in the Middle East, Vox Verax
“Secret understandings reached between representatives of Israel, Syria”, Syria Comment
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mike LeDuc, I don't know the answer to your question, how long have we been spying on Iran. I would imagine that we have always been spying on Iran as well as other nations who might be a threat to us.
Some countries are more difficult to spy on, and Iran falls into that category.
Posted by: Debbie | May 24, 2007 at 08:10 AM
how long have the usa been spying on iran over nukes.and who approved it.
Posted by: mike LeDuc | May 23, 2007 at 06:48 PM
"no question what side Russia is on..."
Of course not. Russia is on Russia's side. What other side do you expect them to be on? The profitable export of Russian military systems is good business, guaranteeing Russian jobs and Russian economic prosperity. I don't see the US getting in line to buy Russian SAM systems, so they're going to sell them to other nations, including Iran. If the US wants that not to happen they have to either bribe or threaten Russia, and Washington seems to lack the money for the former, and the will for the latter.
Posted by: Diogenes | January 29, 2007 at 07:55 PM