Iran Is Successful In Its Missile Launch -- Is Missile Defense The Answer For The West?

Iran's official news agency, IRNA, said the satellite was launched using a Safir-2 rocket, pictured at a launch pad at an undisclosed location on Monday. Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Iranian Satellite Launch Raises Anxiety As White House Aims For Nuclear Deal -- Times Online

President Obama’s ambition of bringing Russia in from the cold was graphically underlined when Iran announced that it had successfully launched its first home-built satellite into orbit, using a rocket that the West believes is part of its long-term ballistic missile programme.

His hopes of winning Russian goodwill also suffered a blow when the Kremlin effectively snatched a key US military base in Central Asia.

The two developments helped to explain why Mr Obama is anxious to usher in a new era of diplomacy with Moscow. Russia, he believes, is central to a series of US foreign policy challenges including efforts to persuade Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions and for Russia to open military supply routes to Afghanistan.

Read more ....

More News On Iran's Successful Missile Launch

Iran's satellite spells potential ICBM threat, experts say -- Space Daily
Europe could be within Iranian missile range: officer -- Sapce Daily
Iran zooms into space with 50-year-old technology -- Washington Times
Iran Launches Satellite in a Challenge for Obama -- Missile Defense
Iran satellite launch raises tension, says Miliband -- The Guardian
Iran rocket puts West under new pressure -- New Scotsman
Iranian satellite launch prompts fresh concern -- The Independent

My Comment: Supporters for missile defense received a big boost for their program today when Iran successfully launch its first satellite into space. Even though the technology used is 50 years old .... the message is clear .... Iran now has the capability to use these missiles to strike any European and/or Asian target.

NATO and the U.S. can respond to this "possible threat" in two ways. Continue developing a missile defense program for Europe (and Israel), or work with the Russians in curtailing Iran's nuclear program. President Obama is right when he publicly acknowledges the need for Russian cooperation in addressing crisis like Afghanistan , North Korea, and Iran .... but it appears that the Russians are not listening.

Russian pressure on closing the American Air Base in Kyrgyzstan, the gas crisis that put much of Europe in a deep freeze, the fallout from the Georgian war .... these events show that Russia is following an independent course .... and in some cases .... a hostile course to U.S. and European interests.

In regards to Iran and missile defense, Russia now has two options to look at. They can continue assisting Iran in the development of their nuclear program, but this will only result in an expansion of the U.S. missile defense program in Europe ..... or ..... work with the U.S. in curtailing Iran's nuclear ambitions.

The ball is now in the Russian court. But does President Obama have the ability to convince the Russians to play along is something that we are going to know about in a very short period of time.