(New York Times) Thomas Erdbrink - Above the bustling Niayesh highway in Tehran, a huge billboard hangs on an overpass to remind drivers of Iran's missile abilities. Cars zip underneath the image of a green missile on a launcher and text in Persian saying "Destination Tel Aviv." Iran's missiles and weapons technology are getting plenty of attention hundreds of miles away in Gaza. Iranian-supplied missiles have brought Israel's major cities within range of Gaza for the first time. Iranian-designed missiles, the Fajr-3 and the Fajr-5, allowed Hamas and Islamic Jihad to hit Israel's heartland. "The arms of the resistance, including those of Hamas, are Iranian, from the bullet to the missile," Ziad al-Nakhla, deputy leader of Islamic Jihad, told Al Manar TV on Tuesday, lauding the "great sacrifices" Iran had made by "shipping" these weapons to Gaza. In the end, Iran's leaders believe that military power is the only measure of success, and they have little faith that cease-fires and diplomacy will accomplish anything lasting.
2012-11-23 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive