Pakistan test fires nuclear-capable cruise missile

[norml]

Pakistan test fires nuclear-capable cruise missile
(AP)

11 August 2005



ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Pakistan on Thursday test fired its first cruise missile, capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads, and did not give advance warning to its archrival India, officials said.


The missile, named Babur, has a range of 500 kilometers (310 miles), and was fired early Thursday. The launch site was not disclosed.

“By the grace of Allah, all design parameters for the flight were validated,” a military statement said.

The Foreign Ministry said Pakistan did not inform India, as an agreement formalized between the two countries over the weekend in New Delhi on pre-notification of missile tests does not cover cruise missiles.

There was no immediate reaction from India.


snip


http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2005/August/subcontinent_August370.xml§ion=subcontinent&col=

[dethl]

1. Just what we need...

To stir up the nuclear standoff between Pakistan and India again.... /sarcasm

EDIT: hrm, the sarcasm gif doesn't want to come up :P

[drhilarius]

2. "By the grace of Allah, all design parameters for the flight

were validated"- what an absolutely brilliant summation of the mindset behind ALL religion.

on edit- that and "blow 'em away in the name of the lord".

[OKDem08]

3. blow 'em away in the name of the lord

that is eerily similar to a statement Jerry Falwell made recently on CNN

[drhilarius]

4. What's also eerily similar is how Jerry Falwell...

all too often sounds like the "radical islamists" he's fond of maligning.

[Theduckno2]

6. That passage got my attention too.

Coupled with quotes made by US military leaders (paraphrasing: My god is bigger than his god etc) this gives me an attack of the warm fuzzies. NOT!

[wli]

5. more of Ledeen's "creative destruction" coming?

So much for Mumbai and Delhi.

[Roland99]

7. Wheeeeeee!!!!

[Tesha]

8. It just gets better and better in Bushworld! (NT)

First we got the bomb and that was good,
'Cause we love peace and Motherhood...
Then Russia got the bomb but that's okay,
'cause the balance of power's maintained that way!

Who's next?

Then France got the bomb, but don't you grieve,
'Cause they're on our side, I believe,
China got the bomb but have no fears,
They can't wipe us out for at least five years!

Who's next?

Then Indonesia claimed that they
Were gonna get one any day.
South Africa wants two, that's right!
One for the black and one for the white!

Who's next?

Egypt's gonna get one too, just to use on you-know-who!
So Isreal's getting tense, wants one in self-defense!
"The Lord's our shepard", says the psalm...
But just in case, we'd better get a bomb!

Who's next?

Luxembourg is next to go, and who knows, maybe Monaco...
We'll try to stay serene and calm...

WHEN ALABAMA GETS THE BOMB!!!

[NNN0LHI]

9. Pakistan tests its first nuclear-capable cruise missile

http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=6000814&cKey=1123741224000

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan successfully tested on Thursday a nuclear-capable, ground-launched cruise missile, which has a range of 500 km (310 miles), a military spokesman said.

Pakistan reached an agreement last week with nuclear armed rival India to inform each other about missile tests but military spokesman Major-General Shaukat Sultan said the agreement did not cover the cruise missile, called "Babur".

"We don't have to inform neighbouring countries in this case. It is not a ballistic missile and it doesn't fall under the agreement," he said.

The Babur is a terrain-hugging missile that can avoid radar detection, the military said.

[ladjf]

10. This news was inevitable and bad. Thousands of ships of all

types cruise the oceans a few miles offshore from the U.S. There is NO way to prevent a cruise missile attack, or multiple missile attacks launched from a few miles offshore from any one of hundreds of possible seaborne launce sites. Let's get real. All of those military types walking around in the subway with machine guns won't do a thing. From launce to detonation, maybe five minutes. Who are we kidding? On 9-11, hijacked airliners flew around for hours without being intercepted.

Does that mean there's no hope for the U.S.? No, it means that we need to stop pissing everybody in the world off. Bush and his are doing absolutely everything in their power to provoke violence against the U.S. They are profiting from the threat of it happening. Somehow, they are losing sight of how life after multiple nuclear attacks would be for them. Unimaginable horror for our people.

If reasonable people are able to get rid of Bush, the possibilities of being attacked could be reduced. Terrorism has the advantage of the asymmetrical dynamics. Their cost if far less than the damage and our cost of attempted prevention.

There is no easy solution. However, it would help if the U.S. would turn away from it's current Imperialistic and fascist policies. It would help if the RW dominionists could be taken out of politics. It would help if some people with intelligence and integrity could lead the U.S.

[architect359]

13. Agreed

To use the analogy of a failing dam, we have to fix the dam as a whole instead of running around trying to plug every hole that opens up. After a bit, it'll fall apart no matter what - but in the meantime, it looks good that we're "doing something". Pah!

[whistle]

11. "...the enemy of my enemy is still going to see US as their enemy"

[DFWdem]

12. Well that's wonderful news!

Just what that region needs. Great way to start the morning! Or not.

[ScrappyDem]

14. Build it yourself cruise missile

http://www.interestingprojects.com/cruisemissile/diary.shtml

Not very difficult

[sintax]

15. Pakistan Test-Fires Cruise Missile

Pakistan Test-Fires Cruise Missile

Thursday August 11, 2005 8:46 PM

By MATTHEW PENNINGTON

Associated Press Writer

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistan successfully test-fired its first cruise missile on the 62nd birthday of President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, who hailed Thursday's launch as a move toward ``military balance'' in the region.

Archrival India declined to comment on the test of the Babur missile, which has a range of 310 miles and is capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads.

Pakistan fired the missile from an undisclosed location without notifying India - just days after the two governments formalized an agreement on telling each other in advance about missile tests.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5204253,00.html

[ScrappyDem]

16. DIY backyard Cruise Missile

http://www.interestingprojects.com/cruisemissile/diary.shtml

It's the warhead that is the hard part and they demonstrated that some time back. The cruise missile part is easy --easier than ballistic missile technology in this day and age. Sounds much worse than it is.

[jarab]

17. kick

...O...

[Fire Walk With Me]

18. (Pakistan) Cruise missile is tested without warning

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1731752,00.html

From Chiade O'Shea in Islamabad

PAKISTAN has test-fired its first cruise missile, with President Musharraf heralding the event as a success in the country’s arms race with nuclear rival India.

Congratulating the scientists on a successful test, General Musharraf said: “We were feeling there was an imbalance because of the acquisition of Patriot missiles by India, but this improves the balance.”

[DemInDistress]

19. Just great !!!

Now a cruise missile with a 300 mile range nuclear tiped...What happens if Musharraf is assassinated,hell there has been 3 attempts already,also could terrorists buy/steal one from Pakistan.Another thing,who's it for..India,I don't think so,should Musharrah takes on India its goodbye and good riddance to Pakistan..