Jerusalem - Thousands Of American Soliders To Go To Israel In Largest Ever US-Israel Missile Defense Exercise |
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News Source: Jerusalem Post
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FILEJerusalem - Israel is moving forward with plans to hold the largest-ever missile defense exercise in its history this coming spring amid Iranian efforts to obtain nuclear weapons.
Last week, Lt. Gen. Frank Gorenc, commander of the US’s Third Air Force based in Germany, visited Israel to finalize plans for the upcoming drill, expected to see the deployment of several thousand American soldiers in Israel.
The drill, which is unprecedented in its size, will include the establishment of US command posts in Israel and IDF command posts at EUCOM headquarters in Germany – with the ultimate goal of establishing joint task forces for the event of a future large-scale conflict in the Middle East.
The US will also bring its THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) and ship-based Aegis ballistic missile defense systems to Israel to simulate the interception of missile salvos against Israel. The American systems will work in conjunction with Israel’s missile defense systems – the Arrow, Patriot and Iron Dome.
Gorenc came to Israel for talks with Brig.-Gen. Doron Gavish, commander of the Air Force’s Air Defense Division. He toured one of the Iron Dome batteries stationed in the South as well as the Israel Test Bed lab in Holon where the IAF holds its interception simulation exercises.
The IAF is planning to deploy a fourth batter of the Iron Dome counter rocket battery in the coming months and is mulling the possibility of stationing it in Haifa to protect oil refineries located there.
The Defense Ministry has allocated a budget to manufacture an additional three Iron Dome batteries by the end of 2012. IAF operational requirements call for the deployment of about a dozen batteries along Israel’s northern and southern borders.
The IAF is also moving forward with plans to deploy Rafael’s David’s Sling missile defense system, which is designed to defend against medium-range rockets and cruise missiles. Rafael recently completed a series of successful navigation and flight tests of the David’s Sling’s interceptor and plans are to hold the first interception test by mid-2012.
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Read Comments (7) — Post Yours »
1
Dec 20, 2011 at 12:17 PM yaakov doe Says:Report as Inappropriate
Here's a chance to gain thousands of friends and supporters for Israel of people who have possibly never even met a Jew. I hope that the Israelis welcome them and treat them well.
2
Dec 20, 2011 at 01:21 PM The-Logician Says:Report as Inappropriate
Sounds like a bad idea. Putting American soldiers in Israel will only complicate the relationship. I suspect the real intention behind this is for Obama to be able to keep closer tabs on military movements in Israel, to try to forestall anything he doesn't "approve" of.
3
Dec 20, 2011 at 03:04 PM A Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Sounds like a bad idea. Putting American soldiers in Israel will only complicate the relationship. I suspect the real intention behind this is for Obama to be able to keep closer tabs on military movements in Israel, to try to forestall anything he doesn't "approve" of. ”
And I see this as proof that Obama intends to stand with Israel in any possible conflict with it's neighbors.
4
Dec 20, 2011 at 11:09 PM PMOinFL Says:Report as Inappropriate
I can't believe the usual conspiracy theorists weren't here today to post their propaganda.
I was expecting to see "This is so Obama can send his secret Muslim terror cell of soldiers into Israel..." or something along those lines.
Maybe some of them got some seichel instead of gelt on this first night of Channukah? We'll see.... :-)
5
Dec 20, 2011 at 11:15 PM shtill Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ And I see this as proof that Obama intends to stand with Israel in any possible conflict with it's neighbors. ”
So do I, as does any objective observer who's mind isn't polluted by talk radio.
I see #2's comment as very immature and totally detached from reality.
6
Dec 21, 2011 at 08:02 AM SherryTheNoahide Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Sounds like a bad idea. Putting American soldiers in Israel will only complicate the relationship. I suspect the real intention behind this is for Obama to be able to keep closer tabs on military movements in Israel, to try to forestall anything he doesn't "approve" of. ”
"I suspect the real intention behind this is for Obama to be able to keep closer tabs on military movements in Israel, to try to forestall anything he doesn't "approve" of."
LOL!!!!
Ahhh... these conspiracy theories never get old!
Oh, no wait a minute... they do.
Blech!
(:-P
7
Dec 21, 2011 at 07:22 PM Avreich1 Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Sounds like a bad idea. Putting American soldiers in Israel will only complicate the relationship. I suspect the real intention behind this is for Obama to be able to keep closer tabs on military movements in Israel, to try to forestall anything he doesn't "approve" of. ”
Don't worry about "Obama being able to keep closer tabs on military movements in Israel to forestall anything he doesn't 'approve' of". That's all taken care of by experts.
The US Defense Intelligence Agency maintains a Defense Attachés' Office comprising ten officers and around 25 enlisted personnel to do just that. The office also employs 5 Israeli civilian employees to translate and analyse anything and everything they can possibly find in the Israeli communications media and to send that back instantly to Washington.
There are also several US satellites surveying Israel (and the rest of the Middle East) around the clock, each day and every day. So more instant data for the US military
The Israel Defense Force also maintains extremely close liaison with the Defense Attaché's staff, arranging for his staff to attend all major exercises.
How do I know all this? Because, for the last twelve years I have been one of those 5 Israeli civilian staff.
The participation of US troops in joint exercises can only strengthen the existing relationship between the US and the Israeli military. In fact, the US Army's current tank warfare doctrine has derived much from Israeli knowhow.