Iran will parade its ballistic rocket achievements by sending monkeys into space next month. Hamid Fazeli, head of the country’s space agency said Tuesday, Jan. 15 that the launch would be part of the celebrations leading up to the 34th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution on Feb. 10 and part of the program for putting humans in orbit in 2020.
Five monkeys in a capsule named Pishgam (Pioneer) will be carried into orbit by a Kavoshgar rocket and orbit earth 120-130 kilometers in space, he said. Western space experts are dubious about Iran’s ability to send a capsule into orbit and expect the monkeys to come down to earth quite soon.
This is not the first such attempt to be touted by Tehran. Last October, Iran acknowledged that an attempt to send a live monkey into space on August 1 was a failure.
debkafile reports that the Iranians habitually mask the advances in their nuclear and missile programs by claiming they are purely in the interests of scientific research.
Since firing the first Iranian-made satellite, the 27-kilogram Omid launched in February 2009, debkafile’s military sources report that they have developed a rocket with a payload capacity of 330 kilograms, which is capable of placing nuclear warheads anywhere on the face of the earth. After Omid, American and Israeli rocket and intelligence experts warned both their governments that Iran’s success in space technology represents the most dangerous breakthrough in their development of a military nuclear device and means of delivery. However, neither the Obama administration nor the Netanyahu government heeded this warning.
Since there is no precise information about the size and weight of the space capsule due to carry the monkeys into orbit, it is impossible to compute the size of the nuclear warhead the rockets can deliver.
Two years ago, June 29, 2011, British Foreign Secretary William Hague confirmed that Iran “has also been carrying out covert ballistic missile tests and rocket launches, including testing missiles capable of delivering a nuclear payment in contravention of US Resolution 1929.”
However, Tehran has taken the precaution of greeting the coming visit of the International Atomic Energy Agency delegation with its usual proclamation of nuclear innocence. Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Tuesday that a religious decree issued by Iran’s supreme leader banning nuclear weapons is binding on the Iranian government. The West must understand, he said, “There is nothing higher than the exalted supreme leader’s fatwa to define the framework for our activities in the nuclear field.”
WarSclerotic 
January 16, 2013 at 2:01 PM
”Monkeys in space from Iran !” – a new comedy, featuring Ahmadinejad & comp. Spielberg is already in alert.
January 16, 2013 at 3:06 PM
This morning I was greeted by the report I just knew was coming. New York State’s Senator Schumer has met with Chuck Hagel and it was love at first sight. The Senator states that Hagel assured him that he will take every step, even military, to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon (does anyone actually believe this crap?). The Senator supports Hagel’s nomination. I am sure the other nebbish from Connecticut, Blumenthal, will shortly follow. Understand that these two guys are Jewish, but more importantly, they are party hacks. Senator Schumer would even support the destruction of Israel if in return he could be elected majority leader of the Senate. Israel has to depend on Christian Republicans to go after Hagel….the Jews in Congress have left us.
January 16, 2013 at 3:50 PM
So true, Norm.
January 16, 2013 at 3:52 PM
One other thing, by sending monkeys into space with no real hope of recovery, doesn’t that make them martyrs for Islam? Just asking.
January 17, 2013 at 1:03 AM
Just when things start to heat up, Obama throws another curve ball. Seems we all need background checks in order to claim our 2nd amendment right to bear arms. Here’s an interesting point (excuse the caps, I copied it from another site):
Rush Limbaugh makes a great point…
A RIGOROUS AND THOROUGH BACKGROUND CHECK ON BARACK HUSSIEN OBAMA (IF THAT IS EVEN HIS REAL NAME) IS LONG OVER DUE!!!
IT’S TIME FOR THE POSER AND CHIEF TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE!!!
IT IS TIME FOR BARACK HUSSIEN OBAMA TO VOLUNTARILY SUBJECT HIMSELF TO AN EXTENSIVE AND INTENSIVE BACK GROUND CHECK!
THIS MEAN ‘WE THE PEOPLE’ WANT TO EXAMINE ALL OF BARACK HUSSIEN OBAMA’S SEALED RECORDS (INCLUDING HIS MEDICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH RECORDS) VERY, VERY, VERY CLOSELY!!!
AND LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED!!!
NO TAX PAYING, LAW ABIDING AMERICAN CITIZEN SHOULD HAVE TO SUBMIT THEMSELVES TO A GOVERNMENT BACKGROUND CHECK UNTIL BARACK HUSSIEN OBAMA (AGAIN I AM ASSUMMING THAT IS HIS REAL NAME) DOES SO FIRST!!!
January 17, 2013 at 1:08 AM
I found it disgusting that he was posing with kids while he signed the 23 executive orders.
January 17, 2013 at 1:38 AM
i am getting nervous,you wonder whats in store,it feels like the mid ocean charged serenity before the the hurricane
January 17, 2013 at 1:40 AM
Obama wants to disarm America, I hate to think why, but if the US goes down we all go down.
January 17, 2013 at 1:37 AM
“In 1999, State Senator Barack Obama voted “present” on a bill that would require adult prosecution for discharging a gun in or near a school.
That legislation came as a response to the tragic Columbine High School shooting that year.
SB 759 provided that anyone 15 years of age or older charged with aggravated battery with a weapon in school or within 1,000 feet of a school would be charged as an adult.
It passed the Illinois State Senate in a 52-1 vote, with 5 members voting present — including Obama….”
January 17, 2013 at 1:40 AM
To me thats sounds just and right,
January 17, 2013 at 3:34 AM
You got to ask why DHS have ordered millions of rounds of hollow-point ammo and armoured checkpoints, now rumours of ‘Martial Law is now in effect’ signs.
January 17, 2013 at 8:10 PM
Its illegal to use hollow point ammo on civilians in the Geneva convention am sure
January 17, 2013 at 8:24 PM
Its what police and SWAT units use to ensure the bullet stays in the targets body and doesnt pass through and hit others.
January 17, 2013 at 1:49 AM
Sadly I think the question will be revolution or civil war.
January 17, 2013 at 2:59 AM
The ruling bloodlines, they are all related. US presidents, polititians, Royal families etc
January 17, 2013 at 8:13 PM
so obamas the odd one out hes related to people who live in mud huts
January 17, 2013 at 3:04 AM
Obama jokes about his ‘agenda’, he openly jokes about it, hiding in plain sight.
January 17, 2013 at 3:21 AM
Texas Governor Rick Perry:
“In fact, the piling on by the political left, and their cohorts in the media, to use the massacre of little children to advance a pre-existing political agenda that would not have saved those children, disgusts me, personally.”