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'Israel and U.S. postpone massive defense drill in fear of escalation with Iran'
Haaretz ^
| * Latest update 20:30 15.01.12
| Haaretz and DPA
Posted on 01/15/2012 1:00:53 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
Israeli defense officials tell Channel 2 that Washington wants to avoid causing further tensions in region after various foreign reports of U.S. and Israeli preparations for strike on Iran.
Israel and the United States have postponed a massive joint defense exercise, which was expected to be carried out in the coming weeks, in order to avoid an escalation with Iran, Channel 2 reported on Sunday.
According to an Israeli defense official, Washington wants to avoid causing further tensions in the region, especially in light of the sensitive situation that has been generated after various reports in the international media that the U.S. and Israel are preparing to strike Iran's nuclear facilities.
The drill, codenamed Austere Challenge 12, was supposed to simulate the missiles fired by Iran or other antagonistic states toward Israel. Defense officials told Channel 2 on Sunday that the drill is now scheduled to take place in the summer.
Both Israeli and U.S. officials said the exercise would be the largest-ever joint drill by the two countries, involving thousands of U.S. soldiers.
News of it came amid heightened tensions between U.S. allies and Iran, after Tehran threatened it could close the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil supply route.
But the IDF said the drill was planned long ago and is not tied to recent events. The drill "is not in response to any real-world event," the IDF wrote in a statement last week.
The Defense Ministry said in an official statement that the postponement of the drill has not yet been announced, and that the subject is currently being discussed between Israeli and U.S. officials.
(Excerpt) Read more at haaretz.com ...
TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Israel; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: defensedrill; iran; israel; isreal; militarydrill; straitofhormuz
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21
posted on
01/15/2012 3:44:18 PM PST
by
RedMDer
(Forward With Confidence!)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
22
posted on
01/15/2012 4:09:52 PM PST
by
SunkenCiv
(FReep this FReepathon!)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
drudge named this one right
BLINK
23
posted on
01/15/2012 4:26:48 PM PST
by
sten
(fighting tyranny never goes out of style)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Haaretz is a left/liberal publication in Israel.
24
posted on
01/15/2012 4:29:44 PM PST
by
familyop
(We Baby Boomers are croaking in an avalanche of rotten politics smelled around the planet.)
To: familyop
OK, how does that change the report?
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
"OK, how does that change the report?"
I'm not trying to dismiss the story completely, although there weren't any quotes from sources. Maybe someone was misled, or maybe something very rare has occurred. I've participated in exercises and see any postponement or cancellation of an exercise to be unlikely unless ordered so to generals by civilian politicians (glaring political and morale error, IMO). The story doesn't make sense.
IMO, the ABM defense systems there are well tested. Many of the enemy's (Iran's) declared targets outside of Israel are obviously less protected or unprotected.
26
posted on
01/16/2012 10:41:15 AM PST
by
familyop
(We Baby Boomers are croaking in an avalanche of rotten politics smelled around the planet.)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
27
posted on
01/16/2012 10:51:00 AM PST
by
familyop
(We Baby Boomers are croaking in an avalanche of rotten politics smelled around the planet.)
To: familyop
Italy ....ok...more going on than I was aware of....thanks.
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