Penalizing Israel for Hamas War Crimes?

It was a pro forma notice by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notifying Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Egypt. Taken from the www.defense-aerospace.com website, the notice reads:

That's a lot of equipment for a country not at war. The notice continues, "Egypt will use the AH-64D for its national security and protecting its borders. The aircraft will provide the Egyptian military more advanced targeting and engagement capabilities. The proposed sale will provide for the defense of vital installations and will provide close air support for the military ground forces."

In a decidedly NOT formal notification, MENL reports that the Obama administration has held up Israel's request for six AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters. Sources told MENL the request was undergoing an "interagency review" to "determine whether additional Longbow helicopters would threaten Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip. 'During the recent war, Israel made considerable use of the Longbow, and there were high civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip,' a source close to the administration said."

So Egypt can protect its borders and can provide close air support for its ground forces, but Israel cannot defend its citizens from rockets and missiles launched by a terrorist organization? Israel's operation in Gaza was a limited response to an increasingly lethal Hamas threat. The deaths of Gaza civilians - while regrettable - are entirely the responsibility of the Hamas leadership that located rocket launchers in civilian areas and hid behind human shields. To blame and penalize Israel for Hamas (and Hezbollah) war crimes would be outrageous.

The good news is that DSCA concludes: "This notice of a potential sale is required by law. It does not mean that the sale has been concluded." Congress will have an opportunity to vet the sale to Egypt and while doing so might consider whether the defense interests of the United States are best served by providing more capability to Egypt while withholding it from Israel.

Everyone should email their Congress critters this notice and ask them to approve sale to Israel:

.......................

Monday, June 1, 2009
Obama administration blocks sale of 6 AH-64D helicopters to Israel - approves 12 to Egypt

[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: Here is a threat:

President Obama holds up supply of helicopters to Israel out of concern for
Palestinian civilians.

But when it comes to 12 of the same helicopters for Egypt its the standard
boiler plate “The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter
the basic
military balance in the region.”]

#1 Administration blocks helicopters for Israel due to civilian casualties
in Gaza
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2009/ss_israel0424_05_27.asp

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration has blocked Israel’s request for
advanced U.S.-origin attack helicopters.

Government sources said the administration has held up Israel’s request for
the AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopter. The sources said the request
was undergoing an interagency review to determine whether additional Longbow
helicopters would threaten Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.

“During the recent war, Israel made considerable use of the Longbow, and
there were high civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip,” a source close to
the administration said.

The sources said Israel has sought to purchase up to six new AH-64Ds in an
effort to bolster conventional and counter-insurgency capabilities. They
said Israel wants to replenish its fleet after the loss of two Apache
helicopters in the 2006 war with Hizbullah.

The Israel Air Force has also requested U.S. permission to integrate the
Spike extended-range anti-tank missile into the AH-64D. Spike ER, developed
by the state-owned Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, has a range of eight
kilometers and was installed on the Eurocopter Tiger and AgustaWestland A129
helicopters.

The sources said the deployment of Spike would require integration into the
Longbow’s millimeter-wave fire control and acquisition system. They said
this would require permission from both Boeing and the U.S. government.

Israel’s Defense Ministry and air force have discussed procurement of
additional Longbows with the U.S. firm Boeing. But the sources said the
Longbow as well as other defense requests have been shelved by the
administration amid its review of the potential use of American weapons
platforms by Israel.

During his visit to the United States, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu
also sought to win approval from the Defense Department for the installation
of Israeli-origin electronic warfare systems in the Joint Strike Fighter.

Netanyahu was said to have met Defense Secretary Robert Gates in a review of
Israeli defense programs with the United States. Defense Minister Ehud Barak
was scheduled to meet Gates in Washington in early June

#2 Egypt - AH-64D APACHE Longbow Helicopters
(Source: US Defense Security Cooperation Agency; issued May 26, 2009)
www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/105577/us-approves-%24820m-sale-to-egypt-of-ah_64d-apache-longbow-helicopters.html

WASHINGTON -— On May 22, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified
Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Egypt of
12 AH-64D Block II APACHE Longbow Helicopters and associated equipment,
parts, training and support for an estimated cost of $820 million.

The Government of Egypt has requested a possible sale of 12 AH-64D Block II
APACHE Longbow Helicopters, 27 T700-GE-701D Engines, 36 Modernized Targeting
Acquisition and Designation Systems/Pilot Night Vision Sensors, 28 M299
Hellfire Longbow Missile Launchers, 14 AN/ALQ-144(V)3 Infrared jammers, and
14 AN/APR-39B(V)2 Radar Signal Detecting Sets.

Also included: composite horizontal stabilizers, Integrated Helmet and
Display Sight Systems, repair and return, transportation, depot maintenance,
spare and repair parts, support equipment, publications and technical
documentation, U.S. Government and contractor technical support, and other
related elements of program support.

The estimated cost is $820 million.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national
security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a
friendly country which has been and continues to be an important force for
political stability and economic progress in the Middle East. This sale is
consistent with these U.S. objectives and with the 1950 Treaty of Mutual
Cooperation and Security.

Egypt will use the AH-64D for its national security and protecting its
borders. The aircraft will provide the Egyptian military more advanced
targeting and engagement capabilities. The proposed sale will provide for
the defense of vital installations and will provide close air support for
the military ground forces. Egypt will have no difficulty absorbing these
helicopters into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic
military balance in the region.

The prime contractors will be The Boeing Company in Mesa, Arizona, and St.
Louis, Missouri, General Electric Company of Lynn, Massachusetts, and
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control in Orlando, Florida. There are no
known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale requires the assignment of one U.S.
Government representative to Egypt for a period of six years to provide
intensive coordination, monitoring, and technical assistance to assure a
smooth transition of the helicopters in country. Additionally, six
contractor representatives will be in Egypt conducting duties as Contractor
Field Service Representatives for a period of five years and with a possible
five-year extension.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of
this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law. It does not mean that
the sale has been concluded.

http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=43763

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