IRAN ARMS – AT 11:44 A.M. ET:   While America cuts its defense budget, Iran continues to build its missile program.  Strikingly, that program is not part of the current nuclear negotiation with Iran.  That has left many observers in dismay, since the program includes ICBM's, which are only built to carry nuclear weapons.  But Barack is on the case.  From AFP:

Tehran (AFP) - Iran on Sunday unveiled two new missiles and two new drones it said have been added to its arsenal, in a ceremony attended by President Hassan Rouhani.

The Ghadir (Mighty), with a range of 300 kilometres (185 miles), is a ground-to-sea and sea-to-sea missile, the official IRNA news agency said.

It is in the same family as the Ghader or Qader cruise missile, which has a range of 200 kilometres.

The other missile unveiled on Sunday, the Nasr-e Basir (Clear Victory), is equipped with a seeker homing head. Its range was not given.

The new Karar-4 (Striker) drone can track and monitor enemy aircraft, the agency said, while the Mohajer-4 (Migrant) drone is designed to perform photographic and mapping missions.

Iran has developed a major missile programme in addition to producing different types of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), including attack drones.

The United States, whose Fifth Fleet is based in Sunni-ruled Bahrain across the Gulf from the mainly Shiite Islamic republic, has repeatedly expressed concern about these two programmes.

Rouhani on Sunday sought to allay such fears.

"Iran has no intention to interfere in, dominate or attack other countries or plunder their resources," he said in a speech broadcast on state television, adding that the country's military doctrine was defensive.

"But at the same time we will stand up to any aggression," he added.

COMMENT:  Recently the Iranians produced a video showing a simulated attack on an American aircraft carrier.  Clearly, they have our navy in mind when developing these missiles.   The Iranians are not stupid, they're not backward, they're not Third World. They're becoming an advanced nation with a fanatical regime, and they are a serious threat.  With nuclear weapons, that threat will be magnified many fold.

March 8, 2015