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Iranian Saber-Rattling

[Institute for National Security Studies-Tel Aviv University] Yiftah Shapir - On July 9, the Iranian media announced the launching of nine missiles of various types as part of an exercise which coincided with an exercise by the Persian Gulf fleets of the U.S. and British navies off the coast of Bahrain. The Iranian announcement involved quite a degree of exaggeration. The long-range missile launched appears identical to missiles whose photographs have already been shown in the past. Technologically speaking, it is not feasible to extend the range of such a missile from 1,300 up to 2,000 kilometers without far-reaching changes in the missile's structure. Perceptive observers noticed a great resemblance between the launches portrayed this time and those shown as part of the exercise in November 2006. They pointed out the possibility that some of the missiles seen in the pictures were added to the original ones with graphics software. What was shown on television looked like a military display designed to impress observers, emblematic of an alarming trend towards increasing saber-rattling. The Iranian demonstration of power should be seen as an attempt to deliver a message to both Israel and the U.S. - that Iran will be capable of responding. Most of all, however, the launch demonstration was designed for internal needs. The photographs were apparently aimed at calming the anxious Iranian citizen and at raising his spirits.
2008-07-25 01:00:00
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