'Israel and U.S. postpone massive defense drill in fear of escalation with Iran'
Israeli defense officials tell Channel 2 that Washington wants to avoid causing further tensions in region after various foreign reports of U.S. and Israeli preparations for strike on Iran.
By Haaretz and DPA Tags: Israel US IranIsrael and the United States have postponed a massive joint defense exercise, which was expected to be carried out in the coming weeks, in order to avoid an escalation with Iran, Channel 2 reported on Sunday.
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Artillery exercise in Israel's south, July 15, 2008. |
| Photo by: IDF Spokesman's Office |
According to an Israeli defense official, Washington wants to avoid causing further tensions in the region, especially in light of the sensitive situation that has been generated after various reports in the international media that the U.S. and Israel are preparing to strike Iran's nuclear facilities.
The drill, codenamed Austere Challenge 12, was supposed to simulate the missiles fired by Iran or other antagonistic states toward Israel. Defense officials told Channel 2 on Sunday that the drill is now scheduled to take place in the summer.
Both Israeli and U.S. officials said the exercise would be the largest-ever joint drill by the two countries, involving thousands of U.S. soldiers.
News of it came amid heightened tensions between U.S. allies and Iran, after Tehran threatened it could close the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil supply route.
But the IDF said the drill was planned long ago and is not tied to recent events. The drill "is not in response to any real-world event," the IDF wrote in a statement last week.
The Defense Ministry said in an official statement that the postponement of the drill has not yet been announced, and that the subject is currently being discussed between Israeli and U.S. officials.
They did note, however, that the drill was not canceled due to budget considerations.
In late 2009, Israel and the United States also held a huge joint missile defense exercise, involving about 1,000 U.S. troops, alongside an equal number of Israeli military personnel.
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Iran was playing a game. You don't allow the Iranians to dictate your moves. If they had continued with the drill the Iranians would be in control. Everybody knows that the biggest threat to Iran is from within. Within the youth that want to buck the system. That's all.
Lets wait until the elections are closer to get the most out of this.Everything they do is now is motivated to getting reelected;even to talking about trimming down the size of government.The "agenda"is on pause while they try to make us forget the last three years.
And the proof is that if Israel's leaders really did believe that Iran would attack Israel if it acquired nuclear weapons, Israel would have attacked Iran by now, massively, with dozens of nuclear weapons if not a hundred or more. And it would be the duty of Israel's leaders to do that, if in fact they believed that Iran would launch a nuclear attack on Israel if it acquired nuclear weapons. And it would be perfectly legitimate, morally and legally, for Israel to do that under those circumstances. But Israel's leaders are intelligent, educated and sane people, and as such they do not believe that a nuclear-armed Iran would attack Israel.
wet his panties.
It seems to me that was a mistake! we should be sending a message of strenght and unity to Iran and what we do, the complete opposite!!we chickened out!!well!! what can yo expect with the chicken shit of Barack Obama as president!!
And this, Ladies & Gentelman, is what leading from behind looks like.
Obama is afraid of closures effect on american economy. He's a putz! Can't wait till he is gone gone gone!
....but a cancellation would not surprise me. Obama will think of an excuse.
We have such a weak and traitorous president.
You do mean obama,the pathetic one,don't you?
Yeah, Obama is really a wimp! First he continues two wars which he inherited, over years. Then he orders air strikes on Lybia without congressional approval. He misguidedly gives an Order to assassinate Osama, and to use massive amounts of armed drones to bomb the Taliban Back to the Stone-Age. Come-On!!! He is far to gentle to be an American president. If an true, patriotic American president decides to applie violence, he first has to squander arround, make big speeches about flag and nation, lie to the united nations, and then do it. But not like this!!!
between Israel and USA. May be that would be a more appropriate header. I can imagine the reason behind this postponement is the growing American irritation not just with very ill-advised utterances of the right honourable mister Ayalon, but foremost with the refusal of Netanyahu c.s. to grant their one and only indispendable ally full and advance disclosure of military initiatives, if any, versus Iran. Under such circumstances the postponement is a clearcut and regretful demonstration of growing mistrust among allies
Did it ever occur to you that Bibi doesn't trust Obama? I gather you're not an American - nobody here trusts Obama, why should the Israelies? Obama hardly treats Bibi like a good friend - he's friendlier with Hugo Chavez and the Black Panthers than he is with the Israelies.
In the past in the mideast America has been careful to avoid the appearance of acting jointly with Israel in attacks on Islanic nations Is this a new wrinkle calculated to unnecessarily offend Muslam allies in the region? Does Israel now write the American war plans?
and many other Arab states are not pleased with Iran - they don't want Iranian dominance of the region. If the US and Israel were to take out Iran, most of the Arab states would probably remain silent and party behind closed doors....
Your entire premise is flawed! You obviously get your news from Al Jazeera or Pravda. Israel does not initiate attacks against Arab countries. The US is the only obstacle between beligerant Arab countries and and total annhilation at the hands of Israel. if we allowed Israel, they would wipe every tin pan Arab dictator off the maps. I'm not sure that woud be such a bad thing, but our Muslim prez won't allow it.
It seems quite clear, the Us and Israel lost this bluff.
and a appeaser (always on the wrong side) someone has to say what needs to be said. The only punishment here is to the USA for showing just what kind of cowards they have elected to run the country.
Why should we fear Iran????
>Israel should negotiate with the pals in seriousness, What planet are you on. 'Palestine' is one big terrorist camp - try negotiating with mad dog...
If iran was so weak they would have been invaded long ago.
Israel is trying to maneuver America into fighting the Iran war on its behalf. NO!! Its time for America to withdraw from the mid-east, and focus on fixing our own problems here at home. The last thing we need is another foreign war.
Not quite. Actually Israel would like to fight its own war but Neville Obama is scared. Take your Paulist rhetoric elsewhere - you're living in fantasy world, you and your leader.
foolish is as foolish is..not being able to realize the dangers coming from Iran is a sad and pathetic view. What do you think..the U.S. is out of Iran's ugly grasp? Remember 9/11...believe me more is to come. Iran sees the weakness of obama...
This is going to be loud!
The Iranians have only a few thousand centrifuges enriching Uranium to 20%. It will take about a year to enrich to a level of some 90% as required for bombs. Since all the known centrifuges are under IAEA supervision, we know that Iran did not yet start to enrich for a bomb. Therefore, there is plenty of time left for an attack, even according to those who believe an attack will do some good (which is probably a false belief). On the other hand, DM Barak says the 1 year for Iran being capable of constructing their bomb should START running from now. This is nonsensical. Barak is smart, and if he is misleading he is doing it on purpose. But the rest of the world are not idiots either, unlike what Barak thinks.
Iran continues its drills in the Strait of Hormuz, while we "postpone" our drill. What does this say to the Iranians? It is a show of weakness. Thanks Obama.
True strength is demonstrated by doing the right thing and to hell with all the tinhorn critics.
The Iranians and others see this as weakness, and that's the problem.
It's shown by ACTION. Need more be said?
From all appearances, Iran is a rational state, acting responsibly. As Mossad chief Pardo said, Iranian nukes do not pose an existential threat to Israel, and therefore to the West in general. Therefore, the US believes it should not go to war to stop Iran's nuclearization. Since it is desirable to not increase the number of states having nukes, the US will continue to help by "threats." But Israel should know that there will be no actual US action. And if Israel acts alone against Iran, the US will not intervene on her behalf. It will be a private Israeli affair. If Israel chooses to reveal this to the world, too bad, because then Iran will probably nuclearize quickly. Israel is now developing a "second strike" capability (via submarines), and this is sufficient to protect her against any feared surprise nuclear attack.