------ Forwarded Message > From: "dasg...@aol.com" <dasg...@aol.com> > Date: Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:21:04 EDT > To: Robert Millegan <ramille...@aol.com> > Cc: <ema...@aol.com>, <j...@aol.com>, <jim6...@cwnet.com>, <l...@legitgov.org> > Subject: US and Saudi OILigarchy JOINTLY Test-Fire Nuclear-Warhead-Capable > Missile >
> US test-fires Trident missile in drill with Saudis > > > > > By SALAH NASRAWI > The Associated Press > Wednesday, March 31, 2010; 12:11 PM > http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/31/AR201003310187 > 7.html > CAIRO -- The United States test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile > capable of carrying nuclear warheads during a joint military exercise > Wednesday with Saudi Arabia > <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/world/countries/saudiarabia.html?nav=el> > , a Western military official said. > > The Trident missile launch was carried out in the kingdom, the official said, > but he would not give a precise location. He spoke on condition of anonymity > because of the sensitivity of the issue. > > The U.S. has been strengthening missile defenses in allied Arab nations in the > Gulf to help counter any potential missile strike from Iran > <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/world/countries/iran.html?nav=el> . Like > its nuclear work, Iran's missile program is of top concern to Washington and > Arab nations wary of Tehran's growing influence in the region. > > > A defense official in Washington confirmed the missile launch on condition of > anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the record. He said, > however, that it took place late last week and was part of a demonstration. > > The Western military official in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, said U.S. Lt. Gen. > Patrick O'Reilly, head of the Missile Defense Agency, attended the test > launch. > > Earlier this month, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates visited the kingdom to > tell Saudi officials that the Obama administration's efforts for diplomatic > engagement with Iran had come to naught, and he asked for the influential > kingdom's help to win wide backing for biting economic penalties against > Tehran over its nuclear program. > > Gates also discussed bolstering Saudi air and missile defense capabilities as > part of the broader U.S. effort to boost security in the Gulf in the face of > Iran's expanding arsenal of ballistic missiles. > > The United States has promised to speed up weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and > other Gulf allies, which have bought billions of dollars worth of American > weapons - including missile defense hardware - in recent years. > > The U.S. military is trying to reassure Gulf allies by buttressing its defense > systems with upgraded Patriot missiles on land and more U.S. Navy ships in the > Persian Gulf capable of destroying missiles in flight. > > The Patriot missile systems, which originally were deployed in the region to > shoot down aircraft, have now been upgraded to hit missiles in flight. > > Saudi Arabia has long warned of the potential for a nuclear arms race in the > Gulf region if Iran were to gain the bomb. Iran's assurances that its nuclear > program is only for peaceful purposes such as power generation have failed to > ease concerns. > > On Monday Saudi Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khaled bin Sultan said Saudi > and U.S. warplanes will carry out joint exercises soon. > > --- > > Associated Press Writers Pauline Jelinek in Washington and Abdullah al-Shihri > in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, contributed to this report. > ------ End of Forwarded Message
