by Mark Silva
Is this Iran's response to President Barack Obama's call for a positive response to U.S. overtures for negotiations by the end of this year?
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says he has test-fired a new advanced missile with a range of about 1,200 miles, far enough to strike Israel and southeastern Europe. The solid-fuel Sajjil-2 surface-to-surface missile is a new version of the Sajjil missile which Iran said it had successfully tested late last year with a similar range.
Obama, meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week, declared that he is ready to seek stronger international sanctions against Iran if it does not agree to talks about curbing its nuclear program. And he said, after his Oval Office meeting with the Israeli leader, that he expects a positive response from Iran by year's end.
In an interview with Obama featured on the cover of Newsweek -- Obama on Obama -- magazine editor Jon Meacham says he pressed the president about how he might prevail upon Israel to avert a pre-emptive strike against Iran, which claims it is enriching nuclear material for a civilian power-generating program that Israel, the U.S. and European allies view as a cover for bomb-building.
Obama said he cannot presume to tell Israel what's in the best interest of its own national security, and that, with Iran, Israel faces an "existentialist'' threat. Obama, who played host to Netanyahu this week, will meet with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak separately at the White House next week, and plans an address to the Muslim world from Cairo in early June.
All of this could make this one extraordinarily critical year for the pursuit of peace in the Middle East and the larger world as well.
Comments
You mean to say that Obama's talkie-talkie didn't intimidate the Iranians?
What a surprise......
Posted by: Former Democrat | May 20, 2009 8:52 AM
There stll this little thing call "Mutually Assured Destruction", right?
Sounds like the Iranians are looking for a little spotlight to validate themselves. All the news in the Middle East this week has been centered around the Israeli / US Meetings. Of course Ahmadinejad claimed this now. Little dogs bark at big dogs all the time. Most big dogs could care less.
Posted by: kg123 | May 20, 2009 9:12 AM
What will it take, Tel Aviv to be a radioactive hole in the ground for Obama to stop stammering and take the Iran threat seriously? Sanctions? What a laugh. They're violated every day a week by our "allies" in Europe.
How about a UN condemnation? That and 4 bucks gets you coffee at Starbucks. We obviously have a Jimmy Carter clone back in the White House.
Posted by: Derrick | May 20, 2009 10:07 AM
Posted by: Former Democrat | May 20, 2009 8:52 AM
Bush's invasion and occupation in Iraq didn't intimidate the Iranians either. All that saber-rattling was laughed at by the Iranians who are smart enough to know that "cowboy diplomacy" is pretty much useless.
Posted by: BC | May 20, 2009 10:27 AM
Posted by: Derrick | May 20, 2009 10:07 AM
So Derrick, what's your answer? War?
Posted by: Mel | May 20, 2009 10:38 AM
From Bush to Obama=Out of the frying pan into the fire.
Posted by: Niki Carlo | May 20, 2009 10:46 AM
You mean to say that Obama's talkie-talkie didn't intimidate the Iranians?
What a surprise......
Posted by: Former Democrat | May 20, 2009 8:52 AM
Here is a surprise.......The way Bush has dealt with Iran did even less. But it felt good....didn't it cowboy?
Posted by: bill r. | May 20, 2009 11:30 AM
Obama has no answer n either way u look at it its a lose lose situation. What the US should do is how the russians did with georgia wait till theres one small mistake n strike and cripple the tehran. Obviously he doesnt respond to talks just threatens back. This will never get resolved with sanctions n all what the US needs to do is better our communications with countries that have strong ties to Iran ie china & russia, the only real 2 countries we would have to worry about if we struck. Then again i probably sound like a maniac who would push the red button. Which i would
Posted by: cliff | May 20, 2009 1:07 PM
But it was just a test right? ;)
http://www.newsy.com/videos/iran_launches_potential_threat
Posted by: Jess | May 20, 2009 2:03 PM
Gosh!!!! How did Iran become so relevant in the world?
"W"
Posted by: bill r. | May 20, 2009 2:26 PM
Somebody should tell "bill r.", "B.C." and the rest of the Rip Van Winkle lefties to wake up and realize that their man Obama is president, not Bush. And that this Iranian missile launch happened during Obama's regime.
And if they really, really believe Obama is the right man for the job, perhaps they should try (just once) to defend his (failing) policies.
Posted by: Former Democrat | May 20, 2009 5:03 PM
Gosh!!!! How did Iran become so relevant in the world?
Jimmy Carter.
Posted by: george | May 20, 2009 5:08 PM
BillR,
Remeber Iran, this was the EU's contribution to the war on terror. Negotiating with these mopes.
Israel - fire up the jets. It's up to you
Posted by: Terry | May 20, 2009 5:54 PM
Terry, what do you think will happen in Iraq if either the US or Israel goes to war against Iran? What do you think will happen in Afghanistan?
Posted by: Mel | May 20, 2009 6:40 PM
Mel,
Might tick off some of the Shia in Iraq, but would make the Sunnis and Kurds rather happy.
Afghanistan - some of the cockroaches currently in hiding might pop their head out of their cave.
How do you think the US and Israel will feel if they negotiate and the missles take off?
Which of the two do you think has the worse outcome?
Posted by: Terry | May 20, 2009 10:25 PM
Diplomacy, unilateral talks, speaking engagements at Columbia University, and an occasional professorship at the University of ILL @ Chicago. This is now how you deal with terrorists/former terrorists in the US.
Please expedite the CA bailout! The meter is running and time is wasting. Undocumented workers vote Dem and need funds fast! Next up, the Pension Bailout; followed by Social Security, Medicaid, & Free National Healthcare! US government largess is amazing.
Posted by: ObamabotsACTIVATE | May 20, 2009 11:46 PM
Terry, how do you think the US could handle a revived war in Iraq, a worsening war in Afghanistan and a new war with Iran all at the same time? Pakistan could go over the edge as well. I think that could be a pretty bad situation, don't you?
Iran knows that if they ever launched on Israel that Israel would nuke them off the face of the earth, Just like the Soviets knew the same thing about the US during the cold war. A shooting war with Iran will make no one safer.
Posted by: Mel | May 21, 2009 7:43 AM
The "Mutually Assured Destruction" doctrine only works if neither side believes that it is ushering in the end times by creating chaos. In other words, both sides need to fear destruction for MAD to work.
Posted by: Saul W | May 21, 2009 9:02 AM
Mel,
I think your assumption of increased warfare in Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan is wrong. A well placed bombing of Iran's nuclear facility probably wouldn't cause a retaliation. We've have history to back that as Israel as bombed nuke facilities in Iraq and Syria before - and not a peep from them or their friends.
However, assume you are correct. I don't think the loon that runs Iran real cares if Israel would wipe Iran off the map as long as Israel is gone. He is waiting for his 72 virgins (for his sake, I hope their male).
As far as the possibility of increased escalation, this time conduct the war from 30,000 feet.
Posted by: Terry | May 21, 2009 12:20 PM
Terry, haven't you learned yet that counting on the best case scenario when planning a war is not a very bright move?
It's also obvious that you have no idea what you are talking about if you think a few bombing runs from 30,000 feet can eliminate Iran's nuclear or rocket capabilities completely.
Posted by: Mel | May 21, 2009 1:18 PM
Mel,
Never mentioned anything about a best case scenario. Yes I think some well placed bombing would take care of Iran's Nukes.
As far as conducting a "few bombing runs at 30,000 feet", I'm just boring that strategy that Clinton used in Bosnia
Posted by: Terry | May 21, 2009 4:08 PM