Posted on 04/26/2005 4:57:01 PM PDT by TexKat
WASHINGTON, April 26 (Reuters) - The Pentagon notified Congress on Tuesday of a proposed sale to Israel of 100 guided bunker-busting bombs, a move that analysts said could prompt concerns about a unilateral Israel strike against Iran. Israel has requested the sale of the Lockheed Martin Corp. GBU-28s worth as much as $30 million, the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a notice required by law for government-to-government military sales.
The GBU-28 was developed for penetrating hardened command centers located deep underground and would be used by the Israeli Air Force on their U.S.-built F-15 aircraft, the agency said.
Israel -- believed to be the Middle East's only nuclear armed state -- has denied speculation that it might make a military strike on Iran to prevent it from producing an atomic bomb.
In 1981 Israel sent jets to bomb an Iraqi reactor, driving Saddam Hussein's quest for a bomb underground, and fueling speculation of a similar strike on Iran.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, in a interview with CNN earlier this month, said his country was not planning any military attack on Iran.
Sharon, in a separate interview with Fox News, said: "Of course we take all precautions and all the steps to defend ourselves. But it's not that Israel should give the answer to the international problem" of Iran potentially developing a bomb.
In January, Vice President Dick Cheney warned Israel could in the future try to attack Iran's nuclear facilities.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the sale of the GBU-28s would "not affect the basic military balance in the region."
John Isaacs, president of the Council for a Livable World, said the proposed sale was clearly "a provocative step" that would prompt concerns about a unilateral Israel strike, particularly in Iran and elsewhere in the Middle East.
"One could be suspicious that these bombs could be used for an Israeli attack on Iran," Isaacs said, noting that the bunker-busting bombs in question were nonnuclear, which limited their ability to dig far underground.
"This particular munition is designed to destroy deeply buried high-value assets such as command centers or nuclear weapons facilities," agreed Loren Thompson at the Virginia-based Lexington Institute. "Draw your own conclusions."
The success of any such strike on possible Iranian nuclear facilities would depend on the quality of intelligence about the location of such facilities, as well as how far underground such sites were buried, Isaacs said.
"It's not a slam-dunk in any way," he added.
Once notified, Congress has 30 days to reject planned foreign military sales but rarely does so.
I say go for it---of course Israel should have bunker busters, at least they aren't too squishy to go after Irans nukes if necessary!
Have we remembered to thank Israel for taking out that Iraqi reactor?
GO AHEAD AND WHACK IRAN!
Good idea.
We should just send them the plans. All the nuclear plans and nuclear code from the nuclear arsenal at Los Alamos were sent to China during the Pigton years. And of course, we had to make sure the Chinese got the guidance secrets as well so they could actually deliver a bomb as opposed to just build them.
Send Israel the plans. The Chinese already got 'em.
Concerns? Hope is more like it.
How about exporting the nuke bunker buster program to Israel?
As if Israel couldn't turn old tank barrels into bunker busters all on their own.
Their deserts are littered with old T-54 turrets.
Nope---we need some too---but that doesn't mean we shouldn't SHARE with our friends!!!!
Besides, my son-in-law mother works for Lockheed Martin, so that is not a bad thing,,, LOL
Why? If you sell it to Israel, you might as well be selling it to China because that's where it will end up.
I think that's the whole idea.
Bush/Rice have loads of common sense that diplomacy alone isn't going to solve this problem. Carrot and stick instead -- with more emphasis on the stick than it appears at first glance. So while they give lip service to the European efforts at diplomacy, they ensure that such a proposed sale is not exactly kept secret. They know that the mullahs may still be able to con themselves into thinking the Americans can do nothing because of public pressure and being tied down in Iraq and Afghanistan, figuring they can wait out Bush's second term for a squishy Democratic administration. Not an unreasonable calculation. But they have no illusions about whether Israel will go for it if Israel feels threatened. So Israel becomes the foaming-at-the-mouth Rottweiler and America presents itself as the only man holding the leash. Then Bush and Rice let a tiny bit of foam drip from the corners of their mouths for effect.
America won't have dirty hands on the inevitable Iran Nuke Facility strike.
:o)
I have a question, I am not the only one on this thread that is in favor of this, but as far as I can tell, I am the only one getting questioned about the nukes and China, so I kinda wonder, why?
"knock knock"
"who's there?"
" Is"
"Is who? "
"Israel ! "
Well, I didn't read anyone elses post, but I would say it's probably becuase yours is the first one under the article.
I on the other hand, directed it to you because of your statement.
I don't trust Israel because of their relationship with China. I used to side with the Israelis, but since they are in bed with China..let the Chinese defend them.
Good question!
Here, I'll do my part - Thanks to the military and people of Israel for taking out the Osirik reactor in '81.
The Pentagon notified Congress on Tuesday of a proposed sale to Israel of 100 guided bunker-busting bombs, a move that analysts said could prompt concerns about a unilateral Israel strike against Iran. Israel has requested the sale of the Lockheed Martin Corp. GBU-28s worth as much as $30 million, the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a notice required by law for government-to-government military sales.
---
I love how they call this a 'sale' when we are really just buying it from outselves using our defense subsidy money. It would save a lot of paperwork if we just sent the bombs and kept the money.
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