Now would be a good time to do something about that reactor. Yep. A sincere missile launch was a desperate act to secure an election win by Ahmadinejad.
The moderates must be kicking his butt, big time. But, the missile launch, desperate act or not, is significant.
One has to ask how long do we let the 'pip-squeak' get away with it. Same thing with Osama bin Laden. By allowing these idiots continuance of their 'reign' only provides more problems for The West, not less.
Iranian launch is a success, Pentagon says (Click title to entry - thank you)
The Associated PressPosted : Wednesday May 20, 2009 14:42:36 EDT
WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates has confirmed that Iran conducted a successful ballistic missile test.
U.S. officials had said as much earlier Wednesday, but without putting their names to the information. Gates was asked about the reports during congressional testimony.
He said that the successful test involved a missile with a range of approximately 2,000 to 2,500 kilometers. He said that because of chronic engine problems, the range is probably on the lower end of that scale.
Gates says he cannot say whether the test missile hit its intended target.
Unit to leave Baghdad ahead of deadline (click here)
By Hamza Hendawi - The Associated PressPosted : Wednesday May 20, 2009 14:55:40 EDT
BAGHDAD — As his U.S. partners prepare to move, an Iraqi army captain pleads with his American counterpart to leave behind a generator so his soldiers can have electricity when city power fails.
Capt. Nathan Williams and 150 soldiers from 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, are getting ready to leave their base in Baghdad’s Hurriyah neighborhood May 30 — one month ahead of the deadline for all U.S. combat forces to transfer from Iraqi cities to garrisons outside the towns....
Yeah, I think US Troops might move out of Baghdad ahead of schedule to let the Iraqi leadership we aren't interested in a war with Iran, only to disable its reactor. Moving troops out of Iraq will de-escalate the conflict within Iraq and Iran. It will give an impetus, a clear signal to the people of both countries they won't have to 'put up with' American troops any longer. It should de-escalate the 'signal' to Iran there will be no war and will provide an understanding their will be no conflict between the USA and Iran.
There is something a little more interesting about the article above, too.
...But like many other Iraqi units, the battalion in Hurriyah suffers from supply problems, which make it difficult to operate effectively on its own....
...He pleaded with Williams to persuade his superiors to leave behind one of the generators they have been using at the Finnish-built bomb shelter the Americans have called home since November....
Why exactly are our troops there? For USA national security purposes OR as a supply of equipment to the Iraqi military. Bought and paid for by the American people with $US and blood. I doubt seriously USA soldiers are needed in Iraq. I don't believe the USA dollar is needed in Iraq either.
Blackwater does it AGAIN !!!!!
Military: Xe contractors violated gun policy (click here)
By Heidi Vogt - The Associated PressPosted : Wednesday May 20, 2009 6:07:32 EDT
KABUL — Four U.S. contractors for the company formerly known as Blackwater were not authorized to carry weapons when they were involved in a deadly shooting in Afghanistan this month, the U.S. military said Tuesday.
The men — accused of opening fire on a vehicle in the capital May 5 — have charged that their employer, now called Xe, issued them guns in breach of the company’s contract with the military. One Afghan was killed in the shooting, and two others wounded.
Xe declined to comment on the weapons or the contract....
Below are more non-combat deaths. Training mission before they might face combat. Is there actually a difference?
3 confirmed dead in nighttime Seahawk crash (click here)
By Andrew Scutro - Staff writerPosted : Wednesday May 20, 2009 13:41:35 EDT
Three Navy members were killed in the nighttime crash of an HH-60H Seahawk helicopter off the coast of San Diego, a Navy spokesman confirmed.
Coast Guard boats and aircraft scanned Pacific Ocean waters about 13 miles south of San Diego on Wednesday morning for the two remaining crew members , authorities said.
The helicopter crashed Tuesday just before midnight, said Lt. Sean Robertson, a Navy spokesman at the Pentagon. The helicopter, from Carrier Air Wing 11, was returning to the aircraft carrier Nimitz after a combat search and rescue exercise.
The crash occurred 76 nautical miles from Nimitz, which is at sea conducting a pre-deployment composite training unit exercise, Robertson said.
Names are being withheld pending family notification, Robertson said.
The incident is under investigation.
