Israel, the U.S. and the Arab World
US-Israeli Missile Defense War Game Signals Israeli Attack on Iran
Paul Craig Roberts, InfowarsOctober 28, 2009
There’s no word in the Western press, but Aljazeera reports (story below) that the US and Israel are conducting tests of the high altitude missile defense system that the US has provided to Israel.
The anti-missile system is useless against the short range rockets of Hamas and Hezbollah. Its purpose is to protect Israel from longer range Iranian missiles.
Everyone understands that Iran would not attack Israel except in retaliation. It is logical to conclude that the missile defense system signals an upcoming Israeli attack on Iran.
If the US were opposed to an Israeli attack on Iran, the US would not provide Israel with protection against retaliation and would not engage in war games with Israel to test the system. The best way to prevent an Israeli attack on Iran is to leave Israel open to retaliation.
This decision by the United States government is irresponsible in the extreme. It enables Israel to spread aggression in the Middle East. By signaling an attack, it would encourage a less cautious country than Iran to strike first before the Israeli missile defense system is operative.
The joint US-Israeli war games involving 2000 troops from the US European Command, the Israeli Army, and 17 US Navy ships is further indication to the world that no matter what crimes the Israelis commit, the US will protect Israel from being held accountable.
In the world today, the US and Israel are the two threats to peace.
US-Israeli Missile War Games Begin
AljazeeraOctober 22, 2009
The United States and Israel have begun more than two weeks of tests to simulate missile attacks on the only country in the Middle East to possess nuclear weapons.
According to the Yediot Aharonot newspaper on Wednesday, the Juniper Cobra drills will simulate the firing of long-range missiles against Israel and will include a live missile interception.
The 16-day defence drill involves 2,000 troops from the US European Command and the Israeli army. It will put the Israeli Arrow missile defence system and three US systems through their paces.
Testing the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence, the ship-based Aegis Ballistic Missile Defence System and Patriot anti-aircraft systems has required Washington to dispatch 17 warships to the region.
Monitoring from the Negev desert, the US-made Forward Based X-band Tactical radar - capable of detecting long-range missiles - will track the Arrow missile system while transmitting data to a US joint tactical ground station.
The war games come as Susan Rice, the US ambassador to the United Nations, called for an end to "anti-Israel vitriol" at the United Nations.
"Member states must once and for all replace anti-Israeli vitriol with recognition of Israel's legitimacy and right to exist in peace and security," she said at a conference in Jerusalem organised by Shimon Peres, the Israeli president.She also stressed Washington's commitment to fighting extremism.
