On joining the ballistic missile club

As a reason to worry about Iran's nuclear and space ambitions, note this story from the India Times:

India on Sunday successfully test-fired its indigenous Agni-III ballistic missile, which has a range of over 3,500 km and can even strike targets deep inside China. This paves the way for induction of the nuclear-capable missile into the armed forces and consolidates India’s position among a select group of nations having intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) capability.

We don't worry much about India's nuclear arsenal, because, well, India is a democracy and the people do speak English, Muffy. Anyhow, a 2175-mile IRBM is more China's problem than ours, or Europe's.

The situation looks rather different if you put a missile similar to the Agni-III in northwestern Iran. Berlin, Stockholm, and Rome are all within its range, and it wouldn't take much of a boost to add Paris and London to the list. Blue skies! -- Dan Ford