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Iran's Ballistic Missiles and the Folly of Appeasement

(Wall Street Journal) Michael Doran and Can Kasapoglu - The news that Iran's contribution to Russia's war effort in Ukraine will soon include ballistic missiles as well as kamikaze drones has alerted the world to the surprising advances the Islamic Republic has made in disruptive weapons technologies. To the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, these technologies are as important as its nuclear-weapons program. Recently-retired commander of U.S. Central Command, Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie, said on Oct. 6: "Over the past five to seven years, Iranian capabilities...have risen to such a degree that now they possess what I would call effective 'overmatch' against their neighbors. 'Overmatch' is a military term that means you have the ability to attack, and the defender won't be able to mount a successful defense." The IRGC combines ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones in strike packages, each with different flight characteristics, radar signatures and homing angles. When launched simultaneously, they tax the sensors of missile-defense systems. Even the most sophisticated systems operating at peak performance can't prevent at least some of Iran's weapons, when launched in significant quantities, from hitting their targets. Solely defensive weapons can't reverse an offense-dominant regime. A shield alone can't fend off a powerful sword. A shield is most effective when wielded together with a sword. Only the U.S. has the power to persuade Khamenei that his aggressions will result in unbearable pain for him. But the Biden administration has systematically taught him the opposite, that it much prefers to cover up acts of Iranian aggression rather than to punish them. Mr. Doran is director of the Hudson Institute's Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East. Mr. Kasapoglu is a nonresident senior fellow at Hudson.
2022-11-10 00:00:00
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