Bush: Israel to Respond if Attacked

AP ^ | 10-16-02 | STEVE WEIZMAN

[ErnBatavia]

Sharon, in brief remarks, said Israel had never had a better friend in the White House than Bush. "We never had such cooperation in everything as we have with the current administration."

Yet I'll bet my entire net worth that the "Jewish vote" in the U.S. continues to lean waaaay left; I just don't get it.

[Bobby777]

I hope this has given Saddam pause (but I really doubt it).

on the contrary, this is what Saddam is counting on ... unless he takes voluntary exile to a protected country, which are few in number, Saddam is a dead man anyway ... therefore, to support his egotistical beliefs, i.e. that he is a latter-day Nebuchadnezzar, his greatest hope is to spark the next Arab-Israeli war ... to go down in a blaze of glory ...

that being said, I still support Israel's right to defend herself ... for bullies are rarely appeased with inaction ... it could get interesting ...

[Bobby777]

Saddam issued orders for Iraqis not to evacuate ... when the fight starts though, they'll be running ... I would be too, if a B-1 or B-2 or B-52 was coming my way ... like the RoadRunner ...

[Catspaw]

I believe Israel already showed Saddam their capabilities when they bombed their nuke plant in 1991 (if I'm wrong about the date, I hope someone corrects me). When we went after Saddam, his brave soldiers surrendered to film crews.

I think of it as a 1-2 punch.

[My2Cents]

Sad but true. I once heard an analyst talk about how left-leaning Jewish voters in the US don't care that much about the existence and protection of Israel. Still, the Bush Administration's friendship with Israel must mean something to some.

[Catspaw]

To say nothing of the Democrats. ;)

And the French.

Most days, they're indistinguishable.

[cardinal4]

I have heard that most of Saddams military doesnt even train with live ammo..... It prevents them from being used against his regime. If its true, then how good can the Iraqi resistance be? The Israelis have attacked Iraq before, got in and out with little difficulty. They even refuled over a third country! Im wondering if this isnt a ploy to provoke Iraq into attacking Israel, saving us the trouble. The Israelis wouldnt care a lick about what the US handwringers say about OUR invading them. Thats the problem we face; fighting a "nice" war to appease the leftists of the world. The Israelis have no foolish notions, They will do whats required to secure them from hostile Iraq.

[cardinal4]

1981, which makes it more noteworthy. The Soviets were there, and Saddam was at war already with Iran.

[section9]

Sharon was just given the heads up that Bush intends to strike at the earliest opportunity. He was told to make himself ready. When Saddam does hit him, Sharon was told that we would support Israeli retaliation, but to use discretion and good judgement. In other words, no nukes.

Oh, and the passcodes for IAF aircraft will be shared with the AWACS crews orbiting Iraq during wartime. I suspect we will see IAF, Navy, USAF, and RAF dividing up the duties in the Scud boxes.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[BaghdadBarney]

Bush drops his first "bomb" on that Parliament of Thugs in New York. The United Nations is going to have a collective cow over this sucker. Kudos, Mr. President.

[dasboot]

I bet the lib press and broadcast news will have this as a front page/opening segment. But it'll redound to Bush and Sharon's favor among all but the girlie appeasers listed in Jennings' email address book, much to their befuddlement.

I betcha!

It'll be a tough call for 'em....they're afraid; but they're also desperate.

[BrooklynGOP]

I wonder who Saddam would fear more? The US or Israel? The Israelis have shown the world what they can do when pushed..

Maybe that's the plan.. Iraq attacks Israel and Israel can hit back harder then we would have.

[My2Cents]

KA-BOOOMMM!!!!

[Bobby777]

IAF will be there only if Israel gets hit ... AWACS won't be over Iraq since it's not necessary given their line-of-sight capabilities ... J-STARS maybe, but I don't think it's even necessary for them ...

[GOPyouth]

And the French.

After receiving this news, they began constructing surrender papers. They'll hand them over to whoever they decide to surrender to.

[blam]

"I've always voted Democrat but those dems are killing Israel - don't tell, but I am voting Repub this Nov."

I've been baffled myself. Glad to hear this.

[Tai_Chung]

Primary military equipment

Ground forces: 3,800 tanks, including U.S.-built M1A1a, M-60A3a, and native Merkaavas; 1,500 large artillery pieces.
Sea power: Four diesel submarines, three missile corvettes and a fleet of about a dozen fast missile patrol boats.
Air power: About 2,000 combat aircraft, mostly U.S. F-16 and F-15 variants, plus 25 nuclear capable F-15Es; about 80 older F-4 Phantoms.

Military expenditures: $8.7 billion, fiscal year 1999
Military expenditures, percent of gross domestic product: 9.4 percent, fiscal year 1999

Military manpower
Age of service: 18
Military manpower, availability: Males age 15-49, 1,499,186; females age 15-49, 1,462,063; 2000 estimate.
Military manpower, fit for service: Males age 15-49, 1,226,903; females age 15-49, 1,192,319; 2000 estimate.
Military manpower, reaching military age annually: Males, 50,348; females, 47,996; 2000 estimate.

Military exercises and activities with the United States: The Juniper and Noble exercise series, directed by the U.S. European Command involve joint training and operations, including Juniper Cobra; Juniper Falconry; Juniper Hawk; Juniper Stallion; Noble Shirley; Noble Stallion; and Noble Suzanne. Noble Shirley is a biennial U.S.-Israel defense exercise involving U.S. Marine Corps amphibious deployments. Israeli F-15s participated in Red Flag Exercise 99-1 at Nellis AFB, Nevada. Reliant Mermaid (January 1998) was a combined U.S.-Israeli-Turkish search and rescue exercise in international waters. U.S. arms sales programs with Israel have included Peace Echo, Peace Fox, Peace Jack, Peace Marble,and Peace Patch.

 

Intelligence establishments: Mossad, Shin Bet, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Internal Security. Internal security is the responsibility of the General Security Service, also known as Shin Bet, or Shabak, which is under the authority of the prime minister's office. The police are under the authority of the Minister of Internal Security.

[sheik yerbouty]

It was 1981. The IDF bought 20 years time for the world.

[Bobby777]

ah but did you have to show an IAF *FRENCH* fighter? ... LOL ... give me an Israeli F-15I ... haha!