TEHRAN, TRIPOLI FORGE MISSILE PARTNERSHIP...

Libya and Iran appear to be poised on the verge of an ominous missile alliance. Citing Western intelligence sources, Worldtribune revealed on February 27th that Tripoli has stepped up work on its ballistic missile program. With Iranian technical and logistical assistance, Libya has expanded its investment in components, training and subsystems for the development of a medium-range missile, to be modeled off North Korea’s “No Dong” rocket. The news comes amid reports that Tripoli and Tehran conducted intensive discussions earlier this year about heightened missile cooperation and the possible production of Iran’s “Fatah”-class medium-range missile in Libya.

...AS ANKARA, JERUSALEM EDGE CLOSER TO JOINT MISSILE SHIELD

In a major development, Israel and Turkey have moved closer to a bilateral shield to protect the two countries from missile attack. The Jerusalem Post (February 28) reports that discussions regarding Turkey’s integration into the joint U.S.-Israeli Arrow Theater Missile Defense (TMD) project took place in Tel Aviv during the third week of February, following Washington’s recent decision to expand the landmark missile defense program. The talks, reportedly attended by Israeli, Turkish and American officials, focused in part on the missile threat to both countries posed by Iran.

MOSCOW MOVES AHEAD WITH START COMMITMENTS

Russia has commenced the dismantlement of mobile railroad launchers for its SS-24 intercontinental ballistic missile, Itar-TASS reported on March 1st. The disposal, begun in Bryansk by the Russian Defense Ministry, is being conducted pursuant to the Kremlin’s commitments under strategic arms reduction agreements signed with the United States. A spokesman for Askond, the company handling the dismantlement, revealed that the process is expected to take a total of four years to complete.

WASHINGTON, SEOUL TO ASSESS NORTH KOREAN THREAT

The United States and South Korea are planning a study to assess North Korea’s missile and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) capabilities, the March 5th Korea Herald reports. The joint analysis, to be conducted cooperatively between Seoul and Washington, will reportedly focus on crafting a strategy to reduce the threat posed by Pyongyang. The news reflects a heightened South Korean role in American counterproliferation plans in the wake of the President’s February visit to Asia. Explaining his government’s participation in the study, South Korean Defense Minister Kim Dong-shin indicated that Seoul “can no longer remain distant from the issues and leave them to the United States and North Korea, as the U.S. government puts top security policy priority on the threat of WMDs and terrorists armed with them.”

TERRORIST MISSILE THREAT ESCALATES

Evidence suggests that Hamas is developing a chemical warhead for its “Kassam” missiles, Middle East Newsline (February 28) reports. According to Palestinian sources interviewed by the agency, the terrorist group is seeking to replace the conventional warheads that currently top its short-range rockets with ones designed to carry chemical agents. The news appears to indicate that the group has made progress in its efforts to develop a chemical weapons capability. Israeli neighborhoods adjacent to Palestinian-held territories in the West Bank have come under repeated missile attacks from the terrorist organization in recent weeks.

U.S. DRAWS CLOSER TO PRELIMINARY DEFENSES

According to senior Pentagon officials, the United States could field rudimentary missile defenses by 2004, the Associated Press (February 27) reports. Speaking before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz revealed that the Pentagon expects to have four prototype missile interceptors in place and operational in Fort Greely, Alaska by the fall of 2004. The interceptors will make up an important portion of the Defense Department’s planned ground-based ballistic missile defenses.

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