And The Candidates Respond

Showing the true lack of perception of reality that has characterized the Presidential campaign orchestrated by the media this year, CNN reports McCain, Obama slam Iran’s missile test

(CNN) — Sen. John McCain said Wednesday that Iran’s missile test shows the need for an effective missile defense system, while rival Sen. Barack Obama believes it shows aggressive diplomacy, combined with sanctions, is necessary.

“Ballistic missile testing coupled with Iran’s continued refusal to cease its nuclear activities should unite the international community in efforts to counter Iran’s dangerous ambitions,” McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential candidate, said in a statement.

“Iran’s missile tests also demonstrate the need for effective missile defense now and in the future, and this includes missile defense in Europe as is planned with the Czech Republic and Poland,” the statement said.

Obama, who has faced criticism for saying he would hold talks with enemies of the United States, released a statement Wednesday calling for direct diplomacy and tougher sanctions.

“Now is the time to work with our friends and allies, and to pursue direct and aggressive diplomacy with the Iranian regime backed by tougher unilateral and multilateral sanctions.”

” … These missile tests demonstrate once again that we need to change our policy to deal aggressively with the threat posed by the Iranian regime. … Iran now poses the greatest strategic challenge to the United States in the region in a generation.”

Obama also said he will continue to push for an incentive package that seeks to deter Iran from its nuclear goals.

Senator McCain needs to consult with the Pentagon about Iranian capabilities. If he just read the Wikipedia entry on the Shahab-3 he would understand why the Russians aren’t buying the location of tracking radar in the Czech Republic, and that the missile was designed to evade the current anti-missile systems, including the better Israeli Arrow-2 system. If Iran can do it, imagine what a large country with a lot of precision equipment can do.

Maybe, if Israel and the US, who have nuclear weapons, stopped threatening Iran with annihilation every other day, Iran wouldn’t feel the need to have missiles.  They didn’t start buying missiles until the US-backed Iraqis started using them against Iran.  You remember, Senator, back when Saddam was out best friend ever.

As for Senator Obama, he’s is just as clueless as McCain.  Iran’s nuclear goals since the US first sold the Shah on the benefits of nuclear power, are to replace as many oil burning power plants as necessary with nuclear plants.  The air in Tehran is almost as bad as Mexico City or Beijing from the smog of burning fossil fuels.

The Iranians have uranium and they are not going to go the same route they went with oil, providing the raw materials and then having to pay to have them refined for use, because that leaves them vulnerable to cut-offs.  They want the entire process in country, and I don’t see them budging based on what the West has done to them on refined petroleum products.  They know that the West will cut them off whenever it suits them.

Objectively, the West, especially the US, are the ones with the credibility problem, not Iran.