“As regards the features and specifications of the new missile, Vahidi said Qader is an anti-ship cruise missile with a range of 200km [about 125 miles] and enjoys a short launch time and is able to hit all naval vessels, including frigates and warships, as well as onshore enemy targets” as reported in “Asian Defense News.”

Secretary Panetta told David Ignatius of the Washington Post that Israel is likely to attack Iran as early as April.  I reason (hopefully) that this is part of a well-orchestrated, joint rhetorical strategy with Israel to avoid war with Iran.  Israel has made similar, consistent statements, alluding to the “summer.”  I would not take this as mere posturing.

Meanwhile, instead of sobering up to war-with-America reality, the Islamic Republic government seems determined to provoke a war it is certain to lose—dramatically, and quickly.  Is Iran developing a 6,000 prototype ICBM putting the US in its range?  The United States cannot accept that from a government spewing a constant stream of “Death to America.”  At some point, you take the rhetoric as authentic.  When the voiced intent matches the combat capability….

I am more concerned about tactical nuclear missiles, range-enhanced and slipped to within striking distance of our coast. (more…)

Someone please explain to me why the American taxpayer is involved in this naval missile shield defense of Europe?  If it’s not important enough for continental European countries to put up on their own behalf, why are we funding this?

It’s time to re-valuate the NATO anti-communist alliance, and get our debt paid off.

Easy. Spread the word among the Somali pirates that Iranian Navy ships are fair game.  No need to commission the pirates as privateers; only US inaction would be necessary.  We can continue to rescue the fishermen, but abandon the Navy to the pirates.  I like it.  Might even work.

This article out of the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas area describes the transformation of a young, American, Muslim man—a citizen of our country, born here to a family of citizens—to a hater of our country and a killer.  I comment here because the story of Moeed Abdul Salam exemplifies what we are all up against, for the foreseeable future.  His family is heartbroken adn dismayed.  It’s like invasion of the body-snatchers, only the snatching is done gradually, almost imperceptibly, for no specific causes that you can identify.

This Iranian entrepreneur is manufacturing and selling pink, plastic, miniature U.S. RQ-170 drones.  Seriously, you have to hand it to him.  Why not?

But, that government seems bent on self-destruction.  Self-destruction of the revolutionary, theocratic autocracy would be fine.  The problem is, there are lots of nice people there, in Iran, and their government has put them at great risk of U.S. attack.

Whether this American citizen, Amir Mirzaei Hekmati, ex-Marine and citizen of both Iran and America, is a spy, Iran’s sentencing him to death is grounds for war. (more…)

Filthy pirates destroy one of Kenya’s industries: ocean-side tourism.  The blessings of law and order are many; the price of letting your country slip into lawless corruption is high.

However, every changing condition creates a new market opportunity.  Let’s look on the bright side of this.  I propose that Kenya seize this sea-change in the local market conditions, tap into that tourism expertise now languishing, and offer government-sponsored Pirate Patrol cruises.  You sign up, take a brief training course (probably put on by British ex-military trainers), and go out on patrol with the maritime police.  They run down the pirates and let you shoot them.  You have performed a great public service, and the Kenyans have swarmed the coast with their round-the-clock, force-multiplied patrols.

As the supply of pirates gets shot up, Kenya will have to collaborate with Somalia to crush the pirate enclaves there. That will flush the pirates out and keep the environment target rich.

I might add: Kenya, do you encourage your visiting westerners to carry sidearms?  You could rent them guns and include basic defensive pistol in the tour.

Or, of course, your region may collapse further into poverty and chaos.  It’s a choice.

Maybe closer down the street than you think.  Fox News reports the link discovered between Hezbollah, drug dealing, and used car exporting.  As per the three words below the title to my first terrorism thriller, Arcturus: ”Terrorists are here.”

Maybe, by fooling its software into thinking it was landing back in Afghanistan.  Not sure why that Iranian engineer would talk with the American press about it, but, after all, many of Iran’s sharpest minds were educated here.