January 18, 2012
Both American and Israeli officials say that the decision to
postpone a massive joint missile drill scheduled for this spring has nothing to
do with hostilities with Iran, although insiders suggest something quite the
contrary.
The Austere Challenge 12 drill, originally scheduled for April
2012, was slated to be the largest missile drill ever conducted in cooperation
between the US and Israel. A decision to put the drill on hold this week has
thus prompted many to speculate as to why best buds America and Israel are
having second-guesses.
“There were a variety of factors at play in this case, but in general, leaders from both sides believe that optimum participation by all units is best achieved later in the year,” Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain John Kirby said, reports Reuters.
Initial reports suggested that the decision was reached by both
parties as they bide time to begin testing. The latest reports out of Israel,
however, peg the decision as one made by Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin
Netanyahu alone, with no insight out of Washington. According to those sources,
Israel is upset that the US has acted hesitantly so far in its efforts with
Iran, whom is believed to be working on a nuclear weapons program.
Israeli sources speaking anonymously to Debka, a Middle East
military news outlet with strong connections to both the Israel and US
intelligence communities, say that the decision to postpone the drill does not
come as a joint agreement between Tehran and Washington, but is rather a
decision from Netanyahu himself who has become worried by America’s lack of
aggression against Iran as of late.
The test, originally slated for this April, would put America's
Theater High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, missile system in operating
alongside its ship-based Aegis system and Israel's own program to work with
Arrow, Patriot and Iron Drone missiles. Both nations now put an estimated drill
date sometime in later 2012.
The decision to postpone the drill marks the first time ever
that American and Israeli forces have put a joint military exercise on the
backburner, prompting many to question what underlying factors are in play. As
tensions between Iran and the US worsen and Washington does little to do as
Tehran laughs in their face, some say that Israel is fed up that America,
usually a big brother of sorts quick to respond to such behavior, is hiding
with its tail between its legs.
One Israel authority speaking under condition of anonymity tells
Reuters,
“It’s for a host of reasons, mainly logistical, but not the reason you cited [tensions with Iran].”
Others aren’t so sure.
According to the latest report compiled from Debka’s sources,
Israeli officials have become increasingly irritated with America’s reluctance
against going up with Iran in recent days. Deputy Prime Minister Moshe Yaalon
explicitly called the Obama administration "hesitant"
on January 15, reports Debka, which was followed by a warning only a day later
by the nation’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, in which he urged the US to "move from words to deeds.”
Sources suggest to Debka that Israel and Iran are at the zero
hour, and if the US won’t strike first, the Israelis will.
Although the US has made moves that suggest it is prepared to
take on Iran, it has done little to actually advance on them as rumors abound
of a nuclear weapons program. In recent weeks, America has mobilized troops
into the adjacent Strait of Hormuz and the nation of Kuwait, which adds to a
massive toll of troops present to the east of Iran in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Additionally, the US has equipped neighboring United Arab Emirates with
weaponry. The eventual joint missile drill, if it comes to fruition, will install
thousands of US troops in Israel.
To Netanyahu, however, that might not be enough. Postponed
drills only underscore Israel's determination to strike on Iran without
consulting Washington.
According to Debka, four errs on part of the Obama
administration over the hostilities with Iran areto blame for the postponement
of the missile drill. For those following the escalations between Washington
and Tehran, they have been apparent from the get-go. With Israel a more easy
target than the US though, Netanyahu seems more concerned that a war will erupt
than far away America, who brought an end to the eight year Iraq War only a
month ago.
Those factors, report Debka, form a list that begins with the
capture of a stealth American drone by Iranian forces in early December.
Despite hijacking, downing and decoding the plane’s top-secret technology,
Washington has done nothing to react other than ask Iran nicely to return the
craft. Iran, in return, has only mocked the US.
Since the downing of the RQ-170 drone, other incidents have only
worsened relations between the parties. The US offered to impose sanctions on
Iran, to which Tehran responded by threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz.
Despite a back-and-worth with colossal implications, no side has struck yet.
Adds Debka, Israel forces are also concerned over America’s
reluctance to act on Iran’s procurement of a 20-percent grade uranium
enrichment program at the underground Fordo facility near Qom. Obama had
originally said such a program would have detrimental effects for Israel, and
although news of the program’s actuality has existed since early January, the
White House has done nothing to react. All Washington has offered, says Debka, is
to go about imposing sanctions on the central bank and energy industry of Iran,
although those moves will be spread out over a span of the year. In the
interim, a lack of restrictions waged at Iran could give them up to 12 months
to easily continue their nuclear program and perhaps even launch at attack on
Israel or America.
Only last month, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the planned
joint exercise served as the Obama administration’s “unprecedented levels of defense cooperation
with Israel to back up our unshakable commitment to Israel’s security.”
Just
weeks later, however, Netanyahu seems ready to fight Iran on its own
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