# Iran's missiles: is Israel the real target? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 10, 2008, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irans-missiles-is-israel-the-real-target/455993 "2008-07-10T16:22:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irans-missiles-is-israel-the-real-target/455993/1 "2008-07-10T16:22:57Z")
Look at the range of those missiles: 2000km+. Israel’s a convenient scapegoat, but I’m wondering if the real recipients of the message are China and India. Much of India is in range, and so is the Chinese border. Both countries are militarily powerful and are playing in the Himalayas, all too near. And, of course, between Iran and India is Pakistan, a Muslim country. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irans-missiles-is-israel-the-real-target/455993/2 "2008-07-10T16:40:40Z")
Till they can plop nukes on them and keep that range I do not see what practical use they are to Iran. They’d need thousands carrying conventional warheads to be even a moderately credible threat to a whole country (sure they can cause some damage but not a military knockout). If they photoshopped a 4th missile in their recent test does not seem they have tons of the things. Of course with a nuclear armed India, Pakistan and China right around them not to mention Israel and the US one can understand why they want nukes badly. They really need them to help cement their place as a regional power. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irans-missiles-is-israel-the-real-target/455993/3 "2008-07-10T16:44:09Z")
Why would Iran attack either India or China?? Yeah, I think they are for Israel mostly…with perhaps some thoughts on US occupied Iraq, Saudi, and perhaps parts of Eastern Europe tossed in I suppose. -XT ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irans-missiles-is-israel-the-real-target/455993/4 "2008-07-10T17:07:35Z")
[QUOTE=xtisme] Why would Iran attack either India or China?? Yeah, I think they are for Israel mostly…with perhaps some thoughts on US occupied Iraq, Saudi, and perhaps parts of Eastern Europe tossed in I suppose. -XT [/QUOTE] It’s not so much about attacking them as being the only kid on the block without one. If Iran has dreams of hegemony over the Middle East they pretty much require nuclear weapons to establish themselves with the other big dogs nearby. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irans-missiles-is-israel-the-real-target/455993/5 "2008-07-10T17:20:50Z")
Sure…and I think Iran (rightfully) sees gaining nuclear weapons as a shield. After all, look at North Korea. The only thing that has kept their kimchi out of the fire so far is the fact that they have nuclear weapons and are crazy enough to use them. -XT ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irans-missiles-is-israel-the-real-target/455993/6 "2008-07-10T17:58:28Z")
The target is $200/bbl oil. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irans-missiles-is-israel-the-real-target/455993/7 "2008-07-10T18:28:31Z")
[QUOTE=Whack-a-Mole] Till they can plop nukes on them and keep that range I do not see what practical use they are to Iran. They’d need thousands carrying conventional warheads to be even a moderately credible threat to a whole country (sure they can cause some damage but not a military knockout). If they photoshopped a 4th missile in their recent test does not seem they have tons of the things. [/QUOTE] They photoshopped the 4th one because it didn’t go off in the test. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irans-missiles-is-israel-the-real-target/455993/8 "2008-07-10T18:39:55Z")
[QUOTE=Whack-a-Mole] It’s not so much about attacking them as being the only kid on the block without one. If Iran has dreams of hegemony over the Middle East they pretty much require nuclear weapons to establish themselves with the other big dogs nearby. [/QUOTE] That makes a lot of sense. Especially with Libya on the nuclear path too. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irans-missiles-is-israel-the-real-target/455993/9 "2008-07-10T19:09:49Z")
Hey, they’re just exercising their 2nd Amendment rights. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irans-missiles-is-israel-the-real-target/455993/10 "2008-07-10T19:14:55Z")
afaik there are no bears in Iran… -XT ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irans-missiles-is-israel-the-real-target/455993/11 "2008-07-10T19:23:28Z")
[QUOTE=xtisme] afaik there are no bears in Iran… -XT [/QUOTE] There are bears in Iran (We’re on the SD, you were expecting someone would contradict you , weren’t you?). [Link](http://www.iran-e-sabz.org/news/irbear1.html) (with a map of the distribution of bear populations within the country) Courtesy of the Green Party of Iran (I didn’t expect that such a party would exist, by the way). ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irans-missiles-is-israel-the-real-target/455993/12 "2008-07-10T20:20:07Z")
I stand corrected it seems (like THAT has never happened before, ehe?). I suppose then, in light of the link, the Iranians ARE exercising their right to bear arms… (bit hard on the bears though) -XT ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irans-missiles-is-israel-the-real-target/455993/13 "2008-07-10T20:34:21Z")
[QUOTE=Quartz] That makes a lot of sense. Especially with Libya on the nuclear path too. [/QUOTE] I thought Libya was now off the nuclear path? Hence the 2006 restoration of full diplomatic relations with the US. > **[Technical Difficulties](https://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2006/66235.htm)** ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irans-missiles-is-israel-the-real-target/455993/14 "2008-07-10T20:36:25Z")
[QUOTE=Struan] I thought Libya was now off the nuclear path? Hence the 2006 restoration of full diplomatic relations with the US. [/QUOTE] Do you really believe it? They need something for when the oil runs out. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irans-missiles-is-israel-the-real-target/455993/15 "2008-07-10T20:46:57Z")
[QUOTE=Quartz] Do you really believe it? They need something for when the oil runs out. [/QUOTE] Sorry, I thought you were talking about weapons. If you are meaning power, then Libya has as much right to civilian nuclear power as any other country. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irans-missiles-is-israel-the-real-target/455993/16 "2008-07-10T21:17:47Z")
[QUOTE=Struan] Sorry, I thought you were talking about weapons. If you are meaning power, then Libya has as much right to civilian nuclear power as any other country. [/QUOTE] No, I was talking about weapons. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2008, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irans-missiles-is-israel-the-real-target/455993/17 "2008-07-10T22:21:18Z")
[QUOTE=Quartz] **Iran’s missiles: is Israel the real target?** [/QUOTE] I doubt it. American military forces make much more sense as targets. Israel is much less likely to invade them than we are. Israel simply isn’t that much of a danger to them. ---
**Author:** ![BrightNShiny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@BrightNShiny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightNShiny)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irans-missiles-is-israel-the-real-target/455993/18 "2008-07-11T06:40:06Z")
I think the real target is the Iranian population. These tests were designed to rally the Iranians around the regime. It’s a patriotic display. IMO, YMMV of course. I don’t think Iran is seriously worried about India, China or Pakistan. India and China are more interested in trading with Iran and Pakistan has so many internal problems, a war with anybody would likely collapse its government. ---
**Author:** ![puppygod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@puppygod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puppygod)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irans-missiles-is-israel-the-real-target/455993/19 "2008-07-11T09:01:51Z")
[QUOTE=xtisme] Sure…and I think Iran (rightfully) sees gaining nuclear weapons as a shield. After all, look at North Korea. The only thing that has kept their kimchi out of the fire so far is the fact that they have nuclear weapons and are crazy enough to use them. -XT [/QUOTE] North Korea? So, how they managed for all that years before they had one? Nah, they can only sleep well thanks to big, bad China that would get angry if somebody entered their turf. ---
**Author:** ![slaphead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@slaphead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slaphead)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2008, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/irans-missiles-is-israel-the-real-target/455993/20 "2008-07-11T09:28:10Z")
[QUOTE=BrightNShiny] I think the real target is the Iranian population. These tests were designed to rally the Iranians around the regime. It’s a patriotic display. IMO, YMMV of course. [/QUOTE] Also, bear in mind that missiles may have a particular significance for those Iranian citizens who were on the receiving end of 500+ Iraqi Scuds during the war.