US stopped arms and technology transfers to Israel
If even half of this report is true, we have a serious problem.Middle East Newsline is reporting that the United States has blocked all arms and technology shipments to Israel since the end of September.
Israeli and U.S. sources said the State Department has blocked the transfer of weapons and technology to the Jewish state over the last three months. The sources said the halt reflected deteriorating relations between the two countries since the end of the war in Lebanon in August 2006.It's no secret that the US was not happy with Israel's performance in the war this summer - I've discussed that many times, and most recently here. But there's a big difference between being unhappy over a war's outcome and not depending on a country when planning strategy on the one hand, and cutting that country off altogether and leaving it to the wolves on the other hand. This has serious implications - especially regarding who is going to take care of Iran's nuclear program. The US apparently has no motivation to do so.
"Nobody will say openly that there is a problem," a government source said. "But there is a serious problem that reflects the marginalization of Israel in U.S. strategy."
The unofficial suspension of U.S. arms deliveries began in late September, the sources said. They said the suspension halted the airlift of air-to-ground and other munitions conducted during and immediately after the Israeli war with Hizbullah.
But Ehud Olmert continues to fiddle....
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:44 PM
4 Comments:
By not taking on Syria and thus possibly forcing a show down with Iran, Olmert & Co. threw the US to the wolves.
Israel got screwed by its leaders.
Isn't it time Israel got a new government before US policy becomes a disaster for Israel?
We'd love to get a new government. But it's no longer as easy as it used to be.
But your analogy doesn't really hold water. The US's existence is not up for grabs here.
actually by cutting israel loose, it will give the USA "plausible deniability" when israel does something to Iran
Dave,
Your hypothesis is correct, except that the arms have been cut off for three months. This is the first report I have seen (and I think I'm pretty up-to-date), which means that the average Israeli doesn't see the cause and effect. Olmert continues to tell them how much Bush loves him (and even kisses Bush's butt by saying how much the US accomplished in Iraq), and Mrs. Cohen in Hadera (the average Israeli) doesn't know any better but to believe him.
Post a Comment
<< Home