"DSK" wrote in message
. ..
NOYB wrote:
I'm serious in what I said.

C'mon, even you don't think you're serious

... Iran is using the World's diplomatic pussyfooting in order to buy
more time in developing nukes that can fit on a Shahab-5 warhead that can
reach the Eastern US. I'll reserve comment as to what the proper US
response should be...lest you think that I'm "trying hard to go over the
top".


What is a Shahab-5?


The Shahab-5 is a multiple stage fuel rocket claimed as an
intermediate-range missile. The missile is believed to be based on the North
Korean Taep'o-Dong 1 and Taep'o-Dong 2. As a result of its likely
inaccuracy, the missile's utility is probably restricted to attacking
population centers or spreading radiation rather than hitting military
targets. The missile is thus probably more of a blackmail or terrorist
weapon than a military asset.

The Shahab-5 is still in development and is not slated to enter service in
Iran until about 2005. There is little concrete information regarding its
capabilities, other than that it will likely consist of two or three
liquid/solid propellant stages.



The integration of technology from the North Korean Taep'o Dong 2 missile
into the Shahab-5 represents a substantial security concern for the United
States. The Shahab-5 represents a significant technological leap for a rogue
state, and is a stepping stone to the development of an ICBM. Effectively
doubling the strike capacity of Iran, even as it continues its nuclear
weapons program, places most of Europe, Russia and Asia within range. The
United Kingdom, a staunch ally of the United States, is completely
vulnerable to an attack, as are a number of key US allies. The development
of a nuclear warhead for the Shahab-5 and Shahab-6 will undermine the
ability of the United States to operate in the region and give Iran
considerable political leverage. The potential of the transfer of this
technology to other rogue states or terrorist groups is also substantial.
Iran's military is known to support terrorist groups and the Iranian
government has little control of its own missile force.

The Shahab-5 has the shorter range of the new class of long range missiles
being produced by Iran in conjunction with North Korea. Like the Shabab-6,
the Shahab-5 owes most of its technology to the North Korean Taep'o-Dong 2,
which in turn is largely derived from technology from the People's Republic
of China.



Why do you expect it to have greater than a 7x improvement on range over
the Shahab-3?

Because it's based on multiple-stage technology from North Korea that has
already been deemed capable of striking the US West Coast.




http://www.command-post.org/nk/2_archives/014415.html

As for Iran developing nuclear potential, I agree that it's ridiculous.
They're sitting on the world's largest supply of oil, they don't need
nuclear power.

What's the nost practical way of preventing it?

A full aerial assault on every known or suspected nuclear production
facility within Iran.