DEBKAfile Exclusive Analysis September 2, 2012,
US and Israeli defense chiefs far apart.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak are silent in the face of the avalanche of bad news coming in from official Washington.
The Patriot anti-missile systems scheduled for what was to have been the biggest joint US-Israel anti-missile drill in October will remain packed in tarpaulin because they come without crews; even one – much less two – Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense warships may not be dispatched to Israeli waters; and the number of US servicemen sent over for the annual exercise is to be cut by more than two-thirds to 1,500.
This downgrade of US participation in an annual war exercise with Israel is more than striking. It adds up to the dismemberment by the Obama administration of the entire intricate strategy US and Israel have built over years for the deterrence – and interception if need be – of any Iranian/Hizballah/Syrian missile assault on Israel.
The inferences are cruel: The US defense or second-strike elements – which had been slotted into place by the military strategists of the two armies – will not be there. Their absence slashes the time available for Israel’s alarm-and-interception systems to spring into action – the moment the engines of Iranian ballistic missiles heading its way are fired – right down from the originally estimated 14 minutes’ notice.
It also means that Barak’s estimate of 500 dead in the worst case of a war with Iran must go by the board.
Netanyahu and Barak have clearly been rendered speechless by the high-powered US military, diplomatic and personal onslaught on Israel and its government. Even the smooth-tongued Tzahi Hanegbi, just returned to the Likud fold, found no easy way of whitewashing the debacle. “Defense relations with the US are deeper than ever before,” he said unconvincingly in a radio interview Sunday morning, Sept. 2.
Hanegbi is in Netanyahu’s confidence. His words may signify the prime minister’s decision to bow under the onrush of Hurricane Obama. There is of course another way: He could demand a retraction from the White House of the damaging comments by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey denigrating Israel’s military ability to seriously damage Iran’s nuclear program and his statement: “I don’t want to be complicit if they (Israel) choose to do it.”
This was a devastating detraction by America’s top soldier, who a week ago boasted he spoke regularly to Israel’s Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, not only of Israel’s military deterrent ability but of the morality of its acting to preempt or delay a nuclear Iran.
(Collins dictionary: complicit: The fact of being an accomplice especially in a criminal act.”)
Yet US commander-in-chief, President Barack Obama and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta have chosen to let Dempsey’s words stand. The unavoidable inference is that they are complicit with Dempsey’s sentiments.
For a similarly brutal assault, the late prime minister, Mehahem Begin, reproved US Ambassador Samuel Lewis by retorting, “We are not a banana republic!” He sent his cabinet secretary Arieh Naor to recite his words in Hebrew and English to make sure they were fully understood in Washington.
By failing to follow his example, Netanyahu and Barak are bowing their heads before the Obama administration, a grave strategic error at the very moment when Israel needs to put its foot down, and one which augurs ill for the efficacy of their handling of the Iranian peril rising up just around the corner.
Not only is the present administration bad for the country, but especially bad for Israel. The warning signs are all there. I do give Obama credit. He does not hide his dislike for Israel. When he traveled to Saudi Arabia he bowed to the king, kissed his a.., sorry meant to say his hand hugged him, and at the end said Shalam Alachem. Is this not enough proof. Thank G-d y Israel will never be harmed, they have the right tools to defend themselves. If G-d forbid something should happen, we can all wave goodbye.this is not 1941 in Europe when Jews were ignoring the warning signs of that midget Hitler. I as a Jew must confess, that a lot of our American Jews are doing the same thing, not for any other reason than showing that they are not racist.
@ Joe Hamilton:
Brilliantly spoken. When those in power within the Israeli Government become observant the MAZAL will change. Unfortunately the politicians do not realize that it is not their ingenious that results in Israel’s success in every sphere of that “tiny” country’s history. It is the never ending mercy of G-D’s gift and promise to His beloved nation. Wake up Bibi. Listen and watch the video of The Rebbe (z”l) speaking with you so many years ago!
The Obama administration has accepted the idea of Iran with a nuclear bomb. Israel needs to accept the fact that the Obama administration is not concerned about the safety and welfare of Israel (or the USA for that matter)- He seems to be enamored of or even a follower of Islam. Israel needs to plan and carry out the destruction of Iran’s nuclear efforts and to take advantage of the conflict to utterly destroy any and all of Israel’s internal enemies: HAMAS, Fatah, and any near enemies that enter the fight, Lebanon/Hizballah? Syria?, Egypt/Muslim Brotherhood led?, Jordan/Muslim Brotherhood Led?, Sinai Jihadist groups, etc. Also and most importantly reject once and for all the “two state solution” and fully commit to settling all of the land of Israel and any conquered lands within the prophesied ultimate boundaries of Israel without compromise or apology. If any ask why – site the Laws and promises of God (not international laws or treaties or judicial decisions). Take full authority over all Jewish religious sites accept no compromises to the national and religious freedoms and independence of the Jewish state and its people. Others may visit but it should be unmistakably clear what people are in charge (the Jewish people) and what God is worshiped in Israel (HASHEM).
The article makes it sound as if the US has truly supported Israel in the past. They have never supported Israel but have weakened Israel instead. For political reasons, US Presidents have done a very good job of hiding their continuous backstabbing of Jews and Israel since oil was discovered in the sh-thole of Saudi Arabia. Obama is truly most the anti-Semitic US President ever. Dempsey is the typical US Army General Officer who knows little about tactics and strategy and only obtained his position through political skill. I was in the US Army and know to get to the rank of general the only important skill is adhering to political correctness. Unfortunately, political correctness in the US increasingly means looking upon Israel as a country the US should not have any alliances with. As for the idiot Dempsey’s opinion, I would take it with a truckload of salt. There is extensive evidence that the US Army and especially the incredibly overrated US Military Academy has been and continues to be a hotbed of anti-Semitism. High IQ is very important in being able to competently manage large armies in wartime. In the US anyone with a high IQ would ,except in very rare cases , would never consider a career in the military. So Dempsey and his opinion is disinformation from a not very bright person . He is doing what all US Army generals do if they want to keep their positions , slavishly adhere to political correctness which with the jihadist Jew hater as the “Commander in Chief” means slandering Israel and Jews. If anyone believes I’m wrong just look up the comments of the US Army Chief of Staff when the vile cockroach Major Hasan murdered 17 US Army service members. The name of the fool was General Casey and instead of outrage he made the comment (I’m paraphrasing) “ I hope this doesn’t have negative effect on DIVERSITY”. He said nothing about bringing the officers who allowed Hasan to stay in the army to justice when everyone knew he was an insane Jihadist traitor.
This is the trouble you create when you open your big mouths. Israeli leaders should have kept quiet about Iran all this time while making preperations to do what is necessary. Have they ever heard of the phrase “speak softly and carry a big stick”?