SECRETARY GATES CONFIRMS THAT THE EASTWEST INSTITUTE REPORT ON IRAN'S MISSILE CAPABILITY IS TOTALLY FULL OF CRAP

AP: Gates Confirms Iran missile test successful

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has confirmed that Iran conducted a successful ballistic missile test. U.S. officials had said as much earlier Wednesday, but without putting their names to the information. Gates was asked about the reports during congressional testimony.

He said that the successful test involved a missile with a range of approximately 2,000 to 2,500 kilometers. He said that because of chronic engine problems, the range is probably on the lower end of that scale.

Gates says he can't say whether the test missile hit its intended target.

Two officials confirmed the launch had taken place, speaking on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak on the record.

"It appears the test was a success," one official said. "It appears they launched a medium-range missile."

The EastWest Institute published a report two days ago which said Iran's missile ability was over-estimated and that therefore Europe did not need USA's missile shield.

UPDATE: FROM A PDF OF THE REPORT:

3.3 There are reports that Iran has developed solid propellant missiles with a range of 2,000 km. There is, however, no reliable information at present on the state of Iran’s eff orts to develop solid-propellant rocket
motors and therefore no basis on which to make an assessment in this report.

BWAHAHAHAHA! They were totally effin wrong. The whole lot of 'em. And the report should be tossed in the ustbin and the "institute" should be laughed out of business and ignored from here on out.

They're a bunch of appeassers doing the bidding of Russia and Iran. Dupes or traitors.

UPDATE: The NYTimes confirms, too:

Iran test-fired a sophisticated missile on Wednesday that was capable of striking Israel and parts of Western Europe, adding to concerns that Iran’s weapons-development program is fast outpacing the American-led diplomacy that President Obama has said he will let play out through the end of the year.

The solid-fuel Sejil-2 missile used a technology that Iran appeared to have tested at least once before, but the Obama administration nonetheless described the event as “significant,” largely because missiles of its kind can be relatively easily moved or hidden.

The Pentagon confirmed that the test of the missile had been a success, and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran’s president, said that the missile “landed exactly on target,” according to Iran’s official news agency.