Iranian Space Monkey

[ClydeR]

Iran claims to have sent a monkey into space and then returned it safely to the ground.


Asked whether he though Iran actually sent the monkey into space, Henry Hertzfeld, a George Washington University professor and former NASA policy analyst responded, "Probably not. I wouldn't believe it yet, but I'm not saying they couldn't."

"I would be surprised if they could do that, but that could be a cover for missile tests again," said Robert Farquhar, a space exploration researcher who is an executive at the firm KinetX. "I didn't think they had something that could do that, certainly not to recover the monkey again."

"To get him into orbit, I don't think they have that kind of range yet," Farquhar said. "Even if they get him up there, they'd have to get an entry capsule to get him back."

More... (http://www.buzzfeed.com/rosiegray/experts-throw-cold-water-on-iranian-space-monkey)

There's a good chance that Obama's second term will be dominated by international events, instead of the budget and other domestic issues that were the focus of the 2012 campaign. Don't forget that Netanyahu told the U.N. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwZW83VH6tA) that Israel's red line is a point that Iran will reach in either the spring or summer of 2013.

[Keller]

They didn't recover the monkey.

The re-entry capsule landed in the suburbs of Toronto and the monkey was found in an ikea parking lot.

[Androidpk]

This just in, Iran discovers time travel.

[Keller]

All they have to do is cross the border with Afghanistan and they go from living in the 1980s to living in the 1800s.

[Androidpk]

Total protonic reversal…

[Candor]

All they have to do is cross the border with Afghanistan and they go from living in the 1980s to living in the 1800s.

Maybe from a technology standpoint Iran is in the 1980s, but socially they are still 1500 or so years behind most of the world.

[Keller]

Maybe from a technology standpoint Iran is in the 1980s, but socially they are still 1500 or so years behind most of the world.

Are you retarded?

[Candor]

Are you retarded?

Yes

[Keller]

Yes

Noted.

[Candor]

Noted.

It feels good too. Ahhhhh....stuuuuuuupiidddiiiiiity

[ClydeR]

You're missing the point. Netanyahu told the U.N. last September that Iran would reach an unacceptable stage in its nuclear program either this spring or this summer. Israel had its elections last week. With political obstacles out of the way, any provocation by Iran adds additional justification to the inevitable strike. When it happens, it will change everything about politics in the United States.

[Archigeek]

No no no, the point is that it would be a great band name.

[Androidpk]

No no no no, the point is that this imaginary red line has been crossed and pushed back about 30 times now since 2004. It's a good thing they aren't drawing it with a permanent marker.

[ClydeR]

No no no no, the point is that this imaginary red line has been crossed and pushed back about 30 times now since 2004. It's a good thing they aren't drawing it with a permanent marker.

This time is different. I can feel it in my bones. The sudden quiet is a warning.

This would be a good time to read about Operation Opera (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Opera), the 1981 Israeli strike on Iraq's nuclear plant. En route to the target, the Israeli fighter planes flew over the yacht of Jordan's king, who figured out that it must be an attack on Iraq's reactor. He attempted to warn Iraq, but a communication glitch stopped the message. The attack wasn't such a big deal in 1981, since Iran had attempted a similar attack on Iraq's plant in 1980. It will be a big deal this time.

Military confrontation almost always generates greater public support for the political leaders in power. That is so in the West, and it will be so in Iran. In addition to the tactics for attacking Iran's fortified nuclear facilities, Israel should also consider how to carry out an attack without squashing whatever is left of the green movement and strengthening the tenuous power of the ayatollahs.

[Androidpk]

This time is different. I can feel it in my bones. The sudden quiet is a warning.

This would be a good time to read about Operation Opera (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Opera), the 1981 Israeli strike on Iraq's nuclear plant. En route to the target, the Israeli fighter planes flew over the yacht of Jordan's king, who figured out that it must be an attack on Iraq's reactor. He attempted to warn Iraq, but a communication glitch stopped the message. The attack wasn't such a big deal in 1981, since Iran had attempted a similar attack on Iraq's plant in 1980. It will be a big deal this time.

Military confrontation almost always generates greater public support for the political leaders in power. That is so in the West, and it will be so in Iran. In addition to the tactics for attacking Iran's fortified nuclear facilities, Israel should also consider how to carry out an attack without squashing whatever is left of the green movement and strengthening the tenuous power of the ayatollahs.

A couple things of note, which I am surprised you haven't mentioned. Israel has recently hinted that they have dropped their plans of a unilateral attack on Iran, supposedly because the U.S military has shared plans with them of how they would surgically dismantle Iran's nuclear program if absolutely necessary.

Also, there was a huge explosion at one of their key underground facilities, supposedly completely destroying it and trapping the scientists down there. There are rumors of sabotage involved.

http://www.wnd.com/2013/01/sabotage-key-iranian-nuclear-facility-hit/

[NinjasLeadTheWay]

A couple things of note, which I am surprised you haven't mentioned. Israel has recently hinted that they have dropped their plans of a unilateral attack on Iran, supposedly because the U.S military has shared plans with them of how they would surgically dismantle Iran's nuclear program if absolutely necessary.

Also, there was a huge explosion at one of their key underground facilities, supposedly completely destroying it and trapping the scientists down there. There are rumors of sabotage involved.

http://www.wnd.com/2013/01/sabotage-key-iranian-nuclear-facility-hit/

Bazinga!

[ClydeR]

Also, there was a huge explosion at one of their key underground facilities, supposedly completely destroying it and trapping the scientists down there. There are rumors of sabotage involved.

http://www.wnd.com/2013/01/sabotage-key-iranian-nuclear-facility-hit/

I had not even heard about that. If true -- and given the source, I'm sure it is -- then it proves I was right, and it has already happened.

[Androidpk]

Some updated news, definitely sounds like sabotage to me.

http://www.wnd.com/2013/01/new-details-surface-on-iran-nuclear-explosion/

[NinjasLeadTheWay]

This wouldn't be the first time a more subtle method was used than outright declaring war against them. The stuxnet virus, a handful of assassinations, etc. Israel talks a big game and postures a lot, then sends in the ninjas.

[Androidpk]

Only a matter of time before Iran retaliates in a serious fashion.

[NinjasLeadTheWay]

Only a matter of time before Iran retaliates in a serious fashion.

Define serious. They seem to be a whole lot of talk too. They're supporters of Gaza strip rocket launchers, sure. But what constitutes serious from Iran?

[Androidpk]

Ballistic missiles and a biological weapons program.

[NinjasLeadTheWay]

I am sure that would turn the whole world against them - except Russia. I doubt they've got the balls.

[ClydeR]

From a White House press briefing yesterday..


Q There were weekend reports of a very significant explosion at a nuclear facility in Iran -- Fordow; Fordow is the name of it, near Qom. And I wonder if you have anything that you can relay to us about what the U.S. government does or does not know about that. And also, there has been a glitch in trying to get the next P5-plus-1 talks with Iran, try to get it this month now, pushing into February. Is there anything new you want to tell us about the evaluation of the inability to get that process moved ahead?

MR. CARNEY: Sure. I appreciate both questions. On the first, we have no information to confirm the allegations in that report, and we do not believe the report is credible.

On the status --

Q -- of have an explosion of any kind?

MR. CARNEY: Correct, at the Fordow facility. We don't believe those are credible reports. We have no information that would confirm them and do not believe that those reports or that report is credible.

More... (http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/01/28/press-briefing-press-secretary-jay-carney-1282013)

[Androidpk]

I am of course taking all of this with a grain of salt, but information put out by this Reza Kahlili dude has been pretty spot on in the past. With North Korea and Russia supposedly helping them with nuclear and biological weapons as well as covert means of spreading them, it certainly seems enough to warrant paying attention to.

http://www.wnd.com/2013/01/8-deadly-agents-to-bring-u-s-to-its-knees/

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/aug/14/iran-admits-giving-wmds-to-terrorists/

http://www.brandonsun.com/world/breaking-news/ap-exclusive-diagram-suggests-iran-working-on-nuclear-bomb-much-more-powerful-than-hiroshima-181001931.html?thx=y

[NinjasLeadTheWay]

From a White House press briefing yesterday..


I think we've long ago established that Carney is either a liar or just plain inept.

[ClydeR]

VIENNA – The U.N. nuclear agency is dismissing reports of a major explosion at Iran's fortified underground nuclear facility.

International Atomic Energy Agency spokeswoman Gill Tudor told The Associated Press on Tuesday that Iran's denial of "an incident" at the Fordo uranium enrichment plant is "consistent with our observations."

More... (http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/01/29/un-agency-dismisses-reports-explosion-at-iranian-nuclear-facility/)

The UN is there observing the facility? I thought Iran would not let the UN on the premises.

[Jarvan]

I think we've long ago established that Carney is either a liar or just plain inept.

In other words he is doing his job as defined by the current administration.


The UN is there observing the facility? I thought Iran would not let the UN on the premises.


I think they are Observing from Turkey.

[Androidpk]

I think we've long ago established that Carney is either a liar or just plain inept.

I like to think he's a bit of both.

[ClydeR]

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/middleeast/article3675428.ece

The monkey the Iranians got back from space isn't the same one they sent into space. What does that tell you?