EDITORIAL: Iranian missile exercise needlessly heightens tensions

Last Wednesday Iran fired nine missiles as a "routine" military exercise. The launches set off intense disapproval by the United States. The commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards said that this training exercise would "demonstrate our resolve and might against enemies who in recent weeks have threatened Iran with harsh language."  Iran's military exercise was preceded by Israel's military exercise in June. At that time Israel had employed a large number of warplanes in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea for a drill which U.S. officials have described "as a possible rehearsal for a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities”. 

Last week's Iran missile exercise, which could be interpreted as a response to Israel's drill, is an issue of concern. Israel has always pointed out that it really does not wish an encounter with Iran, although now it feels extremely threatened that some military action might be justified and "might be inevitable”.  And Israel might speculate that as long as President Bush is still in the White House any military action will be supported by the United States — which is a dangerous scenario.

Interesting are, of course, the not so unexpected responses from our presidential candidates. John McCain strongly believes that we have to build up our missile defense system, especially the system the United States has planed with Poland and the Czech Republic.

Barack Obama thinks that we need direct diplomatic talks with Iran combined with tougher economic sanctions, a position which has been highly criticized by McCain. Obama has also mentioned that as the White House is strongly condemning Iran's government, during Bush's presidency our export of goods to Iran has increased ten times, according to an Associated Press report. So much for economic sanctions.

Iran does not hesitate to use computer tricks in order to embellish their military strength. A European newspaper reports that only a few days ago British defense experts have discovered that the images published as proof for Iran's recent missile tests have been altered. Missiles have been added to the pictures.  Furthermore, the target range of the missiles, as shown, is exaggerated. To these experts it seems doubtful that these types of missiles would have a range of 1,250 miles as announced by Iran. A new capability of these missiles can not be verified.  The British experts believe that "it is typical for Iran to exaggerate missile performances and the extent of its nuclear program”.

Americans are concerned about Iran's nuclear program but divided on the issue how to deal with Iran. There is a disagreement if bombing Iran at this point is the answer. Nobody wants another war. Certainly the United States does not need and can't afford a third responsibility. Any military action should be based on reality and not on an escalation in psychological warfare.