Posted on 12/22/2004 11:12:25 AM PST by JeffersonRepublic.com
The contretemps with the United States over the sale of Israeli-made Harpy assault drones to China is threatening to turn into a crisis with China as well. Washington is demanding that Israel not send back to China some of the drones sent here for upgrading. The drones are already Chinese property.
The Israelis who heard the demand were astonished, considering there is no American technology in the drones. However, American sources say Israel will have no choice but to comply with the U.S. demand. The powerful pro-Taiwan lobby is warning that advanced Israeli weapons technologies could be used against U.S. soldiers defending the island state off the coast of China.
The crisis in U.S.-Israeli defense relations arose when the Pentagon's number three, Undersecretary of State for Policy Douglas Feith, learned that Israel had sold advanced-technology Harpy assault drones to China in the mid-1990s and was upgrading the unmanned airborne vehicles for the Chinese.
Feith, a strong supporter of Israel, was furious and backed by his superior, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, another ardent Israel supporter in the administration. Feith reportedly demanded the resignation of Amos Yaron, the Defense Ministry director general, on the grounds that Yaron had not provided a full accounting of the Israeli deal with China.
The Harpy case is not the first crisis that has arisen between the U.S. and Israel over sales to China. In a similar case, Israel went ahead with a plan to sell a flying radar plane known as the Phalcon to China, but the U.S. vetoed the sale.
Thanks for nothing.
jesus...I never trusted israel.
This is troubling.
It also doesn't make sense from Israel's perspective, since the Chinese are now kissing Iranian and Arab a$$ to ensure a supply of oil.
Its a one way friendship in which money trumps everything.
The Isrealis must have clintonistas among them, too. Every country seems to. There really is a vast leftwing conspiracy.
The Pakis are trying to force Musharrif out by Dec 31st. If he doesn't leave, the militant Islamists will force him out. That leaves militant Islam in charge of Paki nukes. India is nervous and on alert.
Happy New Year?
the Israeli have been known to sell ammo to the arabs. The consenses is that they are going to get it anyway, they might as well make the money from them.
They've been doing to us this for a long time. Perhaps they should make CHINA their great ally instead of us.
ENOUGH!
Thank you, Douglas and Paul. Now make sure they don't get W, Cheney and Rummy to make us back down.
And we've sold weapons to the Muslim enemies of Israel.
Having said that, Israel should go along with US policy on this. Armaments sales are a huge money maker for Israel.
Iran isn't going to strike Israel with a nuke.
MAD still rules. As nutty as the Iranian government is they won't commit national suicide. Anything you hear otherwise is rhetoric and posturing.
This only makes sense. Iranian aspirations towards nukes are based on balance of power considerations, not desires for self-imolation.
“And we've sold weapons to the Muslim enemies of Israel.”
If you’re insinuating that this is a tit-for-tat, I don’t think Israel would like this game if we started supplying their enemy’s with F-16’s and other advance weapons.
Israel maybe able to make a quick buck off of China, but we could wipe them out just by denying them military assistance. They should think twice before telling the United States not to sell arms in the mid-east because we just might not sell to them.
We have done this countless times. Wake up.
Anyway, I love Israel and you hate it, so your slant here is no mystery.
We do sell them F-16s. And F-15s. And AWACs and AAMRAMS and Abrams tanks. Welcome to the world.
They've indicated they will, that the destruction of the Jewish State will cost them no more that 50 million casualties, a cost the Arab world can bear. Coming from a culture which exults in suicide in the name of religion, I don't think you can assume their concept of MAD is the same as yours.
Yeah, and where are all the outraged paleo-cons/Israel haters on FR when we hear about the US giving aid to the Palis or the Egyptians? Or having dealings with the Saudis? Oh...silent, because, well....I guess they can be trusted.
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