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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
American UAV's amble over Iran
2005-02-13
This is the Drudge blurb, you can read the long, detailed WaPo account for more.
The Bush administration has been flying surveillance drones over Iran to seek evidence of nuclear weapons programs and detect weaknesses in air defenses, the WASHINGTON POST is planning to splash on Sunday.

Newsroom sources tell DRUDGE: The small, pilotless planes, penetrating Iranian airspace from U.S. military facilities in Iraq, use radar, video, still photography and air filters designed to pick up traces of nuclear activity to gather information that is not accessible to satellites, the officials said. The aerial espionage is standard in military preparations for an eventual air attack and is also employed as a tool for intimidation.

It's also good, basic intelligence, though WaPo somehow thinks that's evil.
"The Iranian government, using Swiss channels in the absence of diplomatic relations with Washington, formally protested the illegal incursions, according to Iranian, European and U.S. officials."
Posted by:Steve White

#17  Gotta think, we probably have more than just low-end air breathing assets to task in the area. Probably a lot of manned SLAR and other stuff going along the borders, as well as ground placed automatic stuff that can be dropped. Think about how small modern web-cams are and the wireless LAN chipsets have become. Combine that with probably "listening posts" along the borders (now that we have people on all sides of Iran as well as off the coast). The UAVs are probably jsut icing on the cake, and probably up there jsut to bait them into revealing thier air defense networks -as well as siple letting them know, in no uncertain terms, that we ARE paying attention. And possibly to lull them to sleep - after all the UAV coudl just as well be armed with a guided munition as it could be with a camera or sensor set.

Too high tech? Nah.

Remember that the F117 Stealth was actually active in the early 1980's, and the SR-71 in the early 1960's - decade or so before most anyone ever saw or heard of them.

There are likely big surprises out there that nobody has imagined yet outside fo some "Skunkworks" someplace between Silicon Valley California and the wilds of Nevada.
Posted by: OldSpook   2005-02-13 9:05:45 PM  

#16  IF THE IRAQ FREEDOM FIGHTERS ARE KICKING TURKY AND CORN RAISED MORONS IN SUCH SPLENDID WAY JUST WAIT AND SEE WHAT THE PERSIANS WILL DO TO YOUR FUCK UP ARMY OF ONE? OR ARMY OF MANY..... POOR IDIOTS.............PLEEZZZ SEND THEM A TOILET PAPER BECOUSE AMERICAN ARMY IS FULL OF SHIT!!!!
Posted by: NUKE ISZRA   2005-02-13 3:24:11 AM  

#15  Gotta think, we probably have more than just low-end air breathing assets to task in the area. Probably a lot of manned SLAR and other stuff going along the borders, as well as ground placed automatic stuff that can be dropped. Think about how small modern web-cams are and the wireless LAN chipsets have become. Combine that with probably "listening posts" along the borders (now that we have people on all sides of Iran as well as off the coast). The UAVs are probably jsut icing on the cake, and probably up there jsut to bait them into revealing thier air defense networks -as well as siple letting them know, in no uncertain terms, that we ARE paying attention. And possibly to lull them to sleep - after all the UAV coudl just as well be armed with a guided munition as it could be with a camera or sensor set.

Too high tech? Nah.

Remember that the F117 Stealth was actually active in the early 1980's, and the SR-71 in the early 1960's - decade or so before most anyone ever saw or heard of them.

There are likely big surprises out there that nobody has imagined yet outside fo some "Skunkworks" someplace between Silicon Valley California and the wilds of Nevada.
Posted by: OldSpook   2005-02-13 9:05:45 PM  

#14  As long as they can't move them somewhere safe. I dunno if Azerbaijan, Turkmenstan, or Tadjikistan would be willing to play the role of Syria to Iran. Perhaps western Afghanistan or Pakistan, if the government doesn't have control there?
Posted by: jackal   2005-02-13 9:07:10 PM  

#13  Gotta think, we probably have more than just low-end air breathing assets to task in the area. Probably a lot of manned SLAR and other stuff going along the borders, as well as ground placed automatic stuff that can be dropped. Think about how small modern web-cams are and the wireless LAN chipsets have become. Combine that with probably "listening posts" along the borders (now that we have people on all sides of Iran as well as off the coast). The UAVs are probably jsut icing on the cake, and probably up there jsut to bait them into revealing thier air defense networks -as well as siple letting them know, in no uncertain terms, that we ARE paying attention. And possibly to lull them to sleep - after all the UAV coudl just as well be armed with a guided munition as it could be with a camera or sensor set.

Too high tech? Nah.

Remember that the F117 Stealth was actually active in the early 1980's, and the SR-71 in the early 1960's - decade or so before most anyone ever saw or heard of them.

There are likely big surprises out there that nobody has imagined yet outside fo some "Skunkworks" someplace between Silicon Valley California and the wilds of Nevada.
Posted by: OldSpook   2005-02-13 9:05:45 PM  

#12  I seem to remember someone saying that now the Iranians will be moving their weapons and how bad this was . . . IMNSHO that would be great if they would move them, since we can track the movement of the trucks to determine where they went to . . . and bomb it flat.
Posted by: Jame Retief   2005-02-13 7:46:58 PM  

#11  The Swiss have been looking after US interest since Iran and the Us broke their diplomatic relations. I always thought that's like a mouse looking after the interest of an elephant.
Posted by: SwissTex   2005-02-13 2:14:14 PM  

#10  H0w about a little mullah-ka-bob.
Posted by: legolas   2005-02-13 10:43:49 AM  

#9  Besides that, the CIA has several officials in the very top levels of the Iranian government on the payroll. At least that's what my Mossad buddy told me.
Posted by: DMFD   2005-02-13 10:24:08 AM  

#8  AzCat-
It depends on what kind of drone they're using as to how easily they can take them out. I am reasonably sure these aren't Predators, which are tactical battlefield drones. More than likely these are LockMart Dark Stars or Boeing GlobalHawks - both of which have capabilities that are close to the U-2/TR-1, and which have radar crossesctions roughly equivalent to a baseball. The Iranians don't have the training or the equipment to pose a SERIOUS risk to them, but there is always a slim chance that one could be brought down...IF they can even find it.

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski   2005-02-13 10:13:29 AM  

#7  Now if they would just arm those things and take out a few mad mullahs, I would be really happy.
Posted by: legolas   2005-02-13 8:15:38 AM  

#6  This rates a "Surprise Meter" setting of zero.
Posted by: BrerRabbit   2005-02-13 6:59:04 AM  

#5  IF THE IRAQ FREEDOM FIGHTERS..

Yeah, they're "freedom fighters" all right. They're fighting freedom, not fighting FOR it.

Now go away.
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2005-02-13 3:53:56 AM  

#4  Lol! We shall see. Will you promise to come back, NUKE ISZRA, to eat your spew afterwards? Lol!

Okay, there must be some really good news somewhere around here, RC's Law is obviously in effect, lol!
Posted by: .com   2005-02-13 3:38:15 AM  

#3  Well geez, why aren't the MMs just shooting these things down? They do have an air force don't they?
Posted by: AzCat   2005-02-13 3:25:29 AM  

#2  [Off-topic or abusive comments deleted]
Posted by: NUKE ISZRA TROLL   2005-02-13 3:24:11 AM  

#1  Lol! So some poor Swiss Diplodink had to sit there and take the MM tirade? How funny! More! More! Call in the French and Belgians for a dose, too - since we're allies and everything.
Posted by: .com   2005-02-13 3:06:38 AM  

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