There is now a permanent American presence in Israel dedicated to keeping an eye on Iranian missile launches.
The U.S. Army’s European Command deployed an early-warning radar system in Israel last week along with a 120-member support team, the weekly Defense News reported.
The move marks the first permanent presence in Israel of American military personnel. The high-powered radar system is meant to augment Israel’s defenses against Iranian ground-to-ground missiles.
According to Defense News, more than a dozen transport aircraft delivered the radar, its ancillary systems, equipment and technicians, as well as maintenance and security specialists to the Nevatim Air Force Base in the Negev. It has not yet been made operational.
There are wheels within wheels within wheels in this decision.
The new radar will give Israel added minutes to respond to a missile launch, compared with the systems it currently uses. Assisted by data sent from American satellites, the system can detect Iranian missiles shortly after they are launched.
A link with the Arrow missile system makes it possible to launch a defensive missile, and increases the chance of intercepting the incoming missile while giving the home front more time to respond.
The deployment of the radar system may be understood in two contradictory ways. One is that it prevents Israel from taking independent action against Iran, which the United States has made clear in recent months it opposes. The radar system, and Americans stationed here, will restrain Israel, which would be wary about launching an attack that would endanger U.S. personnel.
On the other hand, the deployment of the radar system strengthens Israel’s defense against missiles if Israel and/or the United States attacks Iran’s nuclear facilities. The defense system could reduce casualties and damage to the home front from a response by Iran and its allies.
This would give decision-makers more freedom to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities. Defense officials said they had made arrangements to receive the equipment and personnel in “record time” – two months from the July talks.
Given that the military never truly tips its hands, and that I don’t believe the Guardian piece from last week that said that George W. Bush denied a request by Israel to attack Iran, this is an important piece of the puzzle to determining the American/Israeli response to Tehran’s threats to destroy Israel. If I were a military pundit, I’d have something to tell you. But I’m not.
I thought that America and Israel were going to attack the nuclear plants together, or even have U.S. jets painted Israeli blue and white (go look at some of my much older posts). I do believe I’m wrong about that. I can’t begin to make a guess any more. I’m going to learn how it plays out like most of the rest of the world—as it happens.
But I do feel better knowing that there are American soldiers with sophisticated radar and missile defense systems in Israel, keeping an eye on Iran (and probably other nations as well). Just wait until the Buchananites and the other Jew-haters get a load of this.
But now, if Israel had the ability to remotely guide Iranian missiles to hit the Temple Mount … two birds with one stone — thrown by the enemy.
Just a thought, but what are the chances of getting posted there…I think it would be a fantastic opportunity for US Soldiers if there was a (somewhat) larger presence, maybe even somewhere one could PCS to…
Pretty small, I’d say. There are only 120 American soldiers in Israel, and our service is what, a million strong?
But good luck to you.
This is good for America, but not for Israel. Americans in charge of the radar simply won’t tell Israeli authorities that a missile is coming. They’ll first ask for instructions from Washington, and Washington will tell them to be quiet. Or maybe they already have secret instructions to be quiet.
I am an American, and I don’t trust American government. As well as any other government. Israel should rely on no one but itself. Better build its own copy of that radar.