Iran Answers Obama's Olive Branch

By Rick Moran

Well, not directly of course. President Ahmadinejad has already said he'd meet with McCain or Obama. I can't recall whether that was before or after the little troll said he would "burn" Israel and the US Navy if we bombed his nuke sites.

But a much more concrete demonstration of Ahmadinejad's love and affection came yesterday when Iran tested another long range missile - and you could sense the jitters from Amman to Abu Dhabi:

Iran test-fired a missile capable of reaching Israel early this morning, as part of war games that escalate the sabre-rattling between the Islamic Republic and the West.

The new version of the Shahab-3 missile was one of nine medium and long-range missiles launched from the desert during wider war gaming in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway off the south of the country through which passes about 40 per cent of the world's oil.

The aim of the test was to "to demonstrate our resolve and might against enemies who in recent weeks have threatened Iran with harsh language," said the air force commander of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard, General Hoseyn Salami.

Two other types of missile with shorter ranges were also tested, and state television reported a total of nine launches, showing footage of three missiles firing simultaneously.

"Our hands are always on the trigger and our missiles are ready for launch," General Salami said. "The enemy must not repeat its mistakes. The enemy targets are under surveillance."

Perhaps Obama doesn't understand that type of language but the rest of us surely do. Maybe he'll chalk it up to rhetorical flourishes for the home folks. Maybe he'll ignore it. Maybe he'll even think the tests were justified.

The point is simple; Iran could have foregone testing their new and improved Jew-Killer missile as a gesture of understanding and peace for the potential next president of the US who has made it clear he wants to talk, not bomb.

If Obama was listening, he got his answer.