Iran tests missiles, vows to hit back if attacked

Iran test-fired nine missiles on Wednesday and warned the United States and Israel it was ready to retaliate for any attack over its disputed nuclear projects.

Washington, which says Iran seeks atomic bombs, told Tehran to halt further tests. Iran, the world's fourth largest oil producer, says its nuclear programme is only for electricity.

Iran's missile tests rattled oil markets, helping crude prices to rebound about $2 a barrel after recent falls.

Speculation that Israel could bomb Iran has mounted since a big Israeli air drill last month. U.S. leaders have not ruled out military options if diplomacy fails to end the nuclear row.

But the United States gave no hint to leaders of a group of eight rich nations meeting in Japan this week that it planned to attack Iran, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said.

"No mention of a military option (was made) by the United States," he said in Toyako, Japan.

Revolutionary Guards air force commander Hossein Salami said in televised comments that thousands of missiles were ready to be fired at "pre-determined targets". Missiles were shown soaring from desert launchpads, leaving long vapour trails.

"We warn the enemies who intend to threaten us with military exercises and empty psychological operations that our hand will always be on the trigger and our missiles will always be ready to launch," he said, according to ISNA news agency.

The White House told Iran to "refrain from further missile tests if they truly seek to gain the trust of the world".

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama called for harsher measures against Tehran after the tests. "Iran is a great threat. We have to make sure we are working with our allies to apply tightened pressure on Iran," he declared.

His Republican opponent John McCain voiced support for a U.S. missile shield as a defence against Iranian missiles.

The tests "demonstrate the need for effective missile defence now and in the future, and this includes missile defence in Europe as is planned with the Czech Republic and Poland," McCain said in a statement.

MISSILE SHIELD

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice suggested the tests justified plans for such a system, which Russia firmly opposes.

"Those who say that there is no Iranian threat against which to be building missile defences perhaps ought to talk to the Iranians about ... the range of the missiles that they test fired," Rice said in Bulgaria.

"These are very dangerous missiles -- that's why the international community and not just Israel has an interest in blocking this escalation in a definitive way," Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said in Ramallah, in the West Bank.

Iran's State Press TV said the "highly advanced" missiles tested by the Guards included a "new" Shahab 3 missile, which officials have said could reach targets 2,000 km (1,250 miles) away. Iran has said Israel and U.S. bases are in its range.

Some U.S. facilities across the Gulf are little more than 200 km from Iran's coast. The United States has air and naval bases in nearby Arab states, including Qatar and Bahrain.

Iran has said U.S. forces are vulnerable because of their presence in two of its neighbours, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Israel, believed to be the Middle East's only nuclear-armed power, has vowed to prevent Iran from acquiring an atomic bomb."Israel does not threaten Iran, but the Iranian nuclear programme, combined with their aggressive ballistic missile programme, is a matter of grave concern," Mark Regev, spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, said after the tests.

World powers have offered Iran incentives if it suspends uranium enrichment. Tehran has rejected the demand, but Fars news agency quoted an Iranian official as saying chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili would meet European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana within days to discuss the incentives offer.

Iran has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, conduit for about 40 percent of globally traded oil, if it is attacked. The U.S. military says it will prevent any such action.The war of words heightens risks that a misunderstanding or a minor clash in the Gulf, for instance, could get out of hand.Tehran and Washington have not had diplomatic ties for almost 30 years and have few avenues for direct communications.

An aide to Iran's Supreme Leader was quoted as saying on Tuesday that his country would hit Tel Aviv, U.S. shipping in the Gulf and U.S. interests in reply to any military strike.

Analysts say Iran's military technology often involves improving weaponry originating in China and North Korea.

"They are some way away yet from threatening Israel or U.S. bases," said London-based independent military analyst Paul Beaver, adding guidance systems over longer ranges needed work. But he said the missile programme was still "pretty advanced." (Additional reporting by Hossein Jaseb, and Paolo Biondi in Tokayo, Japan; writing by Fredrik Dahl and Edmund Blair; editing by Alistair Lyon and Charles Dick)

Jerusalem bulldozer 'terrorist' kills 3

Israeli authorities are investigating why a Palestinian resident of Jerusalem rammed his bulldozer into several cars and buses Wednesday, killing three people before Israeli police shot him dead.

Israeli authorities are labeling it a terrorist attack, although they say there is no clear motive and the man -- a construction worker -- acted alone. It is not known if he had links to any terrorist organization.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told CNN the bulldozer operator drove down a busy thoroughfare in West Jerusalem, crashing into four cars and two buses, before heading toward a crowded market.

"We believe he acted on his own and tried to kill as many people as possible," Rosenfeld said.

"If he would have continued ... he would have made his way into an open market, hundreds of people doing shopping there ... and this could have been (an) even worse terrorist attack than we have experienced today."

The rampage lasted about four to five minutes before a police officer climbed up the side of the swerving bulldozer and fatally shot the driver.

Police identified the attacker as a Palestinian man from a village in East Jerusalem with a criminal record. He worked at a construction site in the area, one of several along Jaffa Road.

Rosenfeld said because the man was a Jerusalem resident, "he was able to arrive in the main part of Jerusalem without any problem whatsoever."

In addition to the fatalities, two people were seriously wounded and 42 others sustained minor injuries, paramedics said.

President Bush called Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Wednesday morning to express his condolences over the attack, a White House spokesman said.

According to police and witnesses, the bulldozer ran over a car, crushing its front end and killing the driver before bumping into a bus shortly afterwards. It then struck another bus further down the road -- knocking it over leaving a gaping hole in its side -- and three other cars before a special police patrol unit arrived on motorcycles.

When the driver did not stop, one of the motorcycle police jumped onto the cab of the bulldozer, Rosenfeld said.

"There was a struggle that took place inside the actual cabin of the bulldozer," he said. "The terrorist himself was shot both by a security guard as well as a police special patrol unit that arrived at the scene, thus ending the killings."

Video footage shows the end of the incident, with several onlookers giving chase to the construction vehicle as it swerves away from the camera.

A man is then seen to climb up the side of the bulldozer and reach into the cab before it finally comes to a halt. Police said that the driver was shot in the head at point blank range.

The attack happened right in front a building housing several news organizations -- including CNN's Jerusalem bureau -- on Jaffa Road, one of the longest and oldest streets in the city. The busy avenue is lined with shops and businesses. Several bulldozers and other construction equipment are in the area because a light rail service is being installed.

City residents walked about shocked and dazed, many of them witnesses to the attack.

"When I came down it was utter pandemonium," CNN's Ben Wedeman said. "Hundreds of people in the street not knowing what was going on."

Wedeman said he had just arrived when the Israeli police officer climbed onto the bulldozer's cab and shot the driver at point blank range.

Yosef Spielman described how a car had been picked up "like a toy" by the bulldozer, The Associated Press reported, adding: "All the people were running. They had no chance."

And Yaakov Ashkenazi, an 18-year-old religious student, told the agency how the shovel of the bulldozer came down on a car. "He smashed the guy sitting in the driver's seat."

Soldier Hen Shimon, 19, said that the driver "had a gun and started shooting at a police officer," AP added.

If confirmed, it would be the first terrorist attack to be carried out on Israeli soil since a gunman opened fire on a Jewish seminary in Jerusalem in March, killing eight students.

Israel has been the target of numerous rocket strikes launched by Palestinian militants in Gaza.

A cease-fire between Israel and Palestinian militants in Hamas-ruled Gaza came into effect last month.

Tel Aviv to start bombing Iran after U.S. elections?

The war of nerves between Tehran and Washington is continuing. US faithful ally, the Zionist enclave in occupied Palestine -- Israel is threatening with attacks on Tehran's nuclear facilities. The more often Iran expresses the opinion that a threat of war is real, the more often and bold Tel Aviv gets.

The version that Israel will certainly attack Iran is supported by Western media, which are playing the part of the "informational special forces" in anti-Iranian alliance.

Daily Telegraph reported that John Bolton, the former American ambassador to the United Nations, has predicted that Israel could attack Iran after the November presidential election but before George W Bush's successor is sworn in.

The ex-diplomat claims that the US will not get involved in the military action against Iran."If you had asked me a year ago I would have said I thought it was a real possibility. I just don't think it's in the cards," Israeli Zionist Mignews quoted Bolton as saying.

Earlier this month Israel conducted a large-scale military training exercise, which in the opinion of Western commentators reminded of a rehearsal for bombing Iranian nuclear facilities.

According to the US administration, the purpose of the military exercise was long-range flight training, as well as demonstration how serious Israel is about Iran's nuclear program.

Zionist authorities demonstratively refused to give any comments on these exercises. But even one who is far from politics can see that Tel Aviv would very much like Iran to know about these exercises and feel the "breath of war".

Earlier on, Shaul Mofaz, a former Israeli Zionist regime's defense minister who is now a deputy prime minister, publicly stated that Tel Aviv "may attack Iran unless Iranian authorities curtail their nuclear program".He complained that international sanctions against Iran have proven ineffective."If Iran continues with its program for developing nuclear weapons, we will attack," Shaul Mofaz warned.

Meanwhile Iranian Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Taskhiri warned the US and its allies against attacking his country.He repeated the words of President Ahmadinejad that Iran is not as weak as Iraq.

Earlier, President of Iran has warned on several occasions that if Tel Aviv goes for a military scam, "Israel will be wiped off the map".

At Israel's Parliament, a French Lesson in Leadership for Bush

Barely a month after President Bush chose the venue of Israel's Knesset to scold his domestic critics (or was he scolding the Israeli leadership, as this NYT editorial suggests) with accusations of appeasement, French President Nicholas Sarkozy found himself at the same podium yesterday, but with dramatically different results.

Sarko gave his American counterpart something of a French lesson not only in how to behave at a foreign parliament, but also in what constitutes both friendship to an ally and leadership on an issue.

The full Sarkozy speech is here (in French)--and contrasting it to Bush's May 15th effort is nothing short of embarrassing.

Sarkozy is credited by Israel and by the French Jewish community with having immeasurably improved French-Israeli bilateral relations. He is considered a friend and trusted ally and was feted during his Israel visit--no less than his Washington equivalent.

Sarkozy's speech was full of admiration for Israel's accomplishments and understanding for Israel's genuine security concerns--but it also contained the home truths that the Israeli's needed to hear. It contained precisely the ingredient--honest friendly advice or leadership--that was so absent in Bush's speech.

Bush did refer to some of what is needed for a peace deal during his visit last month--but that was in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt three days later, not in the Knesset.

Two Presidents, two speeches, one leader:

President Bush on the borders for a 2 state solution: ___________.

President Sarkozy: "It is not possible to have peace without a negotiated border based on the 1967 lines with an exchange of territories."

President Bush on settlements: ___________.

President Sarkozy: "Peace cannot be achieved without a total and immediate cessation of the settlements."

President Bush on Jerusalem's future status: ___________.

President Sarkozy: "Peace cannot be achieved without the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of two states and guaranteeing freedom of access to holy sites for all religions."

President Bush on the Palestinian refugee issue: ___________.

President Sarkozy: "Peace cannot be achieved without solving the problem of the Palestinian refugees, while respecting the identity and purpose of Israel."

President Bush on Israeli-Palestinian, Israeli-Syrian, or Israeli-Lebanese peace talks: _________.

President Sarkozy: "(France) is ready to organize on its soil all the talks that could lead to (peace), whether in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, the Syrian-Israeli dialogue, or the talks that will have to resume, one day soon I hope, between Israel and Lebanon."

Both stated their commitment to Israel's existence and security, and expressed their staunch opposition to anti-Semitism. And both of course discussed the threat of Iran.

Just how appalling was the use of the phrase "the false comfort of appeasement", by America's leader to describe negotiations is given a new clarity when one considers that "appeasement" (read: diplomacy) has been outsourced by the Bushies to the French and other Europeans.

This is all the more stunning when one considers that President Sarkozy has also improved US-France relations, is close to Bush, and is hardly a 'gauchiste'. But then this was not really about ideology--Bush probably agrees with Sarkozy on the substance of 2 states--it was all about leadership.