New U.S. commander plays down Shihab missile threat

CAIRO -- The new chief of U.S. Central Command has taken a different approach to the Iranian missile threat.

While Gen. Anthony Zinni warned often of the Iranian threat, his successor, Gen. Tommy Franks appears far more sanguine to the Shihab-3 intermediate-range missile and longer-range counterparts being developed by Teheran.

Asked about the July 15 Shihab-3 test, Franks, on his first tour of the Middle East as CENTCOM chief, focused on Iran's new parliament and the reforms of President Mohammed Khatami.

"That is not to say that we applaud the export of violence and terrorism-- Hizbullah is one example-- or the stockpiling of weapons of mass destruction," Franks told a news conference in Cairo on Thursday. "It is not to say that I believe that the proliferation of missile technologies, the Shihab-3 and 4, is good. Once again, I believe what we need to do is to be cautiously optimistic and provide support where we can to moderation and the building of doors instead of the building of walls."

The Shihab-3 and 4 programs have been advanced by Russian aid. Last week, Russia and Iran agreed to increase cooperation on numerous issues, including nuclear power and oil and gas in an effort to expand their current $500 million in trade relating to these fields.

The general said he would encourage Arab states in the Gulf and Levant to cooperate with the United States. These include such programs as the Cooperative Defense Initiative, launched last year. Other programs include cooperation in an early warning system against missiles and weapons of mass destruction.

Next month, Franks said, the United States will conduct an exercise with Jordan. U.S. military commanders will share expertise and technology with Jordan in the exercise, which will attended by other Arab countries.

The general said despite tension he did not envision another war between Iran and Iraq. The commander said he did not know whether Iraq is rebuilding its weapons of mass destruction.

Franks defended the U.S. military relationship with Israel and said Washington has an extensive defense relationship with Egypt. "The policy of the United States of America is qualitative edge for the state of Israel and I don't think that comes as any surprise to anyone at this table," the general said. "The security relationship that exists between the United States of America and Egypt and the military-to-military security relationship that exists between our two countries seek to provide the appropriate balance and guarantee the security of Egypt in much the same way as we provide assistance to Israel."