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Italy wants to sell AA missiles to Leb
Israeli aircraft monitor illegal Hizballah movements and arms smuggling - in the absence of any Lebanese army and UNIFIL preventive action to implement UN Resolution 1701.

According to DEBKAfile’s Rome sources, Ayatollah prime minister Romano Prodi has instructed his defense ministry to negotiate with the Fouad Siniora government the quick sale of an Aster 15 battery, the only Western surface-to-air missile with an active guidance system capable of last-minute corrections of targeting at the moment of interception.
When asked what will happen if the missiles will be used against NATO aircraft in case of war, Mr. Prodi briskly replied "apres moi-le Deluge!"
As a joint Franco-Italian product, the sale also needed - and obtained - approval from French president Jacques Chirac.
Prodi knew he could definately count on Jacques's approval
Our sources report the Aster 15 will be accompanied by Italian instructors to guide Lebanese troops in their use. Since 50% of those officers are Shiites loyal to Hizballah or Amal, the Shiite terrorists are looking forward to gaining access for the first time to top-of-the-line Western anti-air missile technology.
The Shiites and especially Hizbolla are true frieds of the Italians - didn't they recently kidnap an Italian Journalist ?
On Oct. 13, Lebanese chief of staff General Michel Suleiman informed his officers posted on the Lebanese-Israeli border of the Beirut government’s “indefatigable efforts” to obtain anti-air missiles to hit patrolling Israeli aircraft. He added that very soon, Lebanon would also acquire long-range anti-tank rockets to prevent Israeli tanks again crossing the border.
The rift between the Frenchoid nations of Old Europe and the free democratic western states is growing by leaps and bounds. I swear, if this is true (Debka's credibility and all)and if in the next war (which is no doubt coming soon) we have to destroy any Unifil units (preferably french and Italian soldiers) to reach the Hizbollah I would have no regrets about it
Commanders of the French UNIFIL contingent have threatened to fire on Israeli warplanes in Lebanese skies, according to Israel defense minister Amir Peretz in a briefing to a Knesset panel Monday, Oct. 16.

Israel has so far refrained from protesting to Rome against the Aster 15 sale - any more than it has to Washington, the UN Security Council or UNIFIL over illegal Hizballah movements and arms-smuggling.

The Aster 15 is manufactured by France’s Aerospatiale and Thompson-CSF; its guidance system by the Alenia/Finmeccanica of Italy. Launched from seaborne or land bases, it is designed to hit “maneuverable targets” - aircraft, helicopters, drones or missiles. With a warhead of 3.20 kilos of explosives, the missile has a range of up to 30 km and a maximum speed of 3,600 kph. Aster 15’s two stages are a solid propellant booster and a “dart” equipped with a seeker, a sustainer motor, a proximity fuse and a blast fragmentation warhead.
My name is Inigo Montoya, you sold my enemies missiles, prepare to die !
Posted by: Elder of Zion 2006-10-17
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=168901