Iran has successfully sent its first domestically made satellite into orbit, the country's president announced Tuesday, claiming a significant step in an ambitious space program that has worried many international observers.
The satellite, called Omid, or hope in Farsi, was launched late Monday after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gave the order to proceed, according to a report on state radio. State television showed footage of what it said was the nighttime liftoff of the rocket carrying the satellite at an unidentified location in Iran.
Iran is known to fib about such things, so I'd wait until believing this. This would be significant because it would demonstrate the ability to loft a nuclear warhead to distant targets.
Rumors that the satellite detonated near an Israeli pizza parlor killing 5 and wounding 23 are believed to be pure wishful thinking on the part of the mullahs of Iran.
In related psychopathic ruler-with-missiles news, North Korea is getting ready to light up a long-range missile capable of reaching as far east as our West Coast:
Analysts say reports that Pyongyang is preparing a missile test reflect the communist regime's efforts to attract President Barack Obama's attention as he formulates his North Korea policy.
Obama told Lee that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would visit Seoul in mid-February. South Korean intelligence has spotted a train carrying a long, cylinder-shaped object — believed to be a long-range missile — heading to Dongchang-ni, a new missile launch site on North Korea's west coast, the Yonhap news agency reported.
Intelligence indicates the missile is likely a long-range Taepodong-2 model, Yonhap said. The North could complete preparations for a missile launch within one or two months, the report said, citing unidentified officials.
I think we should attract their attention right back by shooting the missile down. Can our Aegis ships intercept the damn thing on the way up? That would sure be nice. Better yet, have the Japanese do the job, since the missile will surely go over Japanese territory, while we watch over it all ready to dissuade North Korea from taking any counter-action against Japan.
The nutballs are still out there and still a threat to our security. It's as if the soothing balms of hope and change have no effect on thug rulers!
I wonder how this affects the president's views on building missile defenses?
