Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey sought to downplay the impact of Russia removing a long-standing ban on selling S-300 defensive missiles to Iran, saying the US option to attack Iran remains “intact.”
The S-300 was the cream of the crop of 1980s Soviet long range anti-aircraft systems, something Iran has sought for years because of constant threats by both the US and Israel to attack.
The S-300 has never actually been used in combat anywhere, but is still considered a high-end defensive system. It should be noted that the Russian removal of the ban doesn’t mean Iran will actually purchase the weapons, or that delivery is imminent, as since losing the contract in 2010 Iran has developed some more elaborate internal air defense systems.
No air defense system is absolute at any rate, so Gen. Dempsey is correct in that it doesn’t prevent the US from unilaterally attacking Iran if it wants to, but does increase the risk of losing one or more warplanes in such an attack,
US and Israel warmongers remain the biggest threat to humanity. Strong China, Russia and Iran is must against Zionist constant destabilization in 4 corners of the planet Earth.
If Hitlary Clinton becomes new US president….lets hope not!…and Benjamin Satanyahu continues in his destructive politics….
When the revolution in US starts???????? Its about the time…pedro CR
What's the alternative to Hillary, odious as she is?
The best alternative would be abolition of the United States.
But that's probably not going to happen, so …
Jim Webb.
Lincoln Chafee.
Other candidates not yet known.
I won't ever support a Republican or Democratic presidential slate, but I think the Democrats could knock 2016 out of the park with Webb for president and Russ Feingold for veep.
And people wonder why the Iranians don't trust the US! It's stupid comments like this that get us in trouble and make enemies of nations that could be our greatest allies.
This just shows it's easier to promote a stupid soldier than discharge him.
Well, General, that would be your biggest and stupidest mistake ever.
¨One or more planes…¨ does seem farfetched. Any non-nuclear attack on a country the size of Iran will require massive amounts of aircraft, no matter how many cruise missiles and drones are also pitched in. The S-300 will not even require sophisticated systems to shoot down aircraft in what would become a shooting gallery. And that is only getting there; is the US planning a suicide mission? We hear a lot of talk about the option of an attack. Yet nobody talks about how the US warplanes-forget any of your allies, they are more conniving and have more sense-will return; war is not chess, no defeat is going to be conceded should the attack be launched. I can hear the prospective pilots for that mission claim ¨Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori¨ as none will prospectively return. Now, has the stared amateur playing at soldier thought about that
The S-300 might have originated in the 80's but it's no longer manufactured so it's more than likely that the Iranians will receive the S300-VM which only went into service with the Russian military in 2013. That it was so recently introduced into service means that the United States will have no experience in dealing with these highly mobile systems in the hands of competent and highly motivated operators. There won't just be one or two planes lost.
Perhaps Dempsey should read the report on the Bekaa Valley Air Battle by the USAF produced as the Iranians will have. http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/…
Indeed, words are still loaded with meaning, at least, for any audience in other parts of the world. But it seems the politicians in and outside the US military are using those meanings only for internal consumption. It shows again: the more expansive the foreign policies, the more introverted the actual focus becomes. A tragic paradox!
Gen. Dempsey is simply polishing his resume, which on his retirement, will be sent to General Dynamics and other defense contractors.
One of the most disturbing trends in the US in particular is generals making political statements. This fossil and his deranged NATO proconsul Breedlove are seriously unpleasant individuals. Imagine if Iran made such a statement, you never hear the end of the faux outrrage.
Yes, if Iran obtains the S300-VM defensive system from Russia, we could still attack them. But then what? Would they not respond with a massive barrage upon any regional target? We can only start the war. How do we stop it? Is there any victory feasible here? Being as chaos is an enemy no amount of bombing can subdue. Pouring gasoline on the fire does not put it out. It only increases the chaos. And chaos is the enemy, not Iran.