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Opinions/Editorials Title: WHAT ISRAEL DOES FOR THE UNITED STATES and MUCH MORE WHAT ISRAEL DOES FOR THE UNITED STATES and MUCH MORE Throughout the six decades since the re-establishment of Israel, an often repeated claim in made that Israel is a draining liability on the United States. This claim is bogus and an examination of the facts hopefully will consign this charge to the trash-heap where it belongs. Further adding to the problem are statements made by and the conduct of Israel's leftist leaders since 1993 create the false impression that Israeli-American ties constitute a one-way relationship. The impression is given that the U.S. gives and Israel merely receives and thus must constantly bow to American pressure as personified by the U.S. State Department. The truth is that the relationship is a two-way partnership. For example: In 1952, as the Cold War got underway, U.S. Army Chief-of-Staff Omar Bradley called for the integration of Israel into the Mediterranean Basin area, in light of the country's location and unique capabilities. In 1967, Israel defeated a radical Arab, pro-Soviet offensive, which threatened to bring about the collapse of pro-American Arab regimes and disrupt oil supply, thus severely undermining the American standard of living. The U.S. gained valuable military information from analysis of captured Soviet equipment, including SAM-2, SAM-12, Mig-21 aircraft, and Soviet T-54 battle tanks. In fact, Israel gave an entire squadron of MiG-21s to the U.S. which was dubbed the Top Gun squadron and used by the U.S. Air and Naval forces for training purposes. Since 1967, Israel transferred captured Soviet weapons systems to the U.S. Pentagon after every conflict: 1967, 1967-70, 1973, 1982, 1990 (Scud remnants from the Gulf War), and 2006 (remnants of Iranian supplied missiles. In the 1967-1970 1000 Day War of Attrition, the IDF, armed with American aircraft successfully defeated a Soviet-supplied air defense system, pointing out the deficiencies in Soviet air-defense doctrine to US defense planners. Israel shared captured military equipment include P-2 radar and Soviet tanks with the U.S. military. In 1970, Israel brought about the withdrawal of Syrian forces from Jordan, at a time when the U.S. was tied up by wars in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, thus preventing the fall of the pro-American Hashemite regime and the installation of a pro-Soviet radical Palestinian terrorist regime. In 1973 thanks to U.S. re-supply, but without U.S. forces, Israel defeated Soviet-trained and equipped Egyptian and Syrian forces. Israel again shared captured Soviet equipment, including T-62 battle tanks with the U.S. Israel emerged as the only reliable ally where U.S. troops could land, where U.S. equipment can be pre-positioned, where the U.S. has friendly port facilities (in Haifa and Ashdod) in the entire Middle East region. This too has saved the U.S. billions of dollars. 1970s - Joseph Sisco, a former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, assistant to Secretary of State Henry Kissinger during the latters shuttle diplomacy, told the Israeli author and military expert, Shmuel Katz: I want to assure you, Mr. Katz, that if we were not getting full value for our money, you would not get a cent from us. In 1981, Israel bombed the Iraqi nuclear reactor at Osirak, delaying Saddam Husseins quest for nuclear weapons. It thus provided the U.S. with the option of engaging in conventional wars with Iraq in 1991 and 2003. The vice president General Dynamics which produces the F16 fighter jets has stated that Israel is responsible for 600 improvements in the plane's systems, modifications estimated to be worth billions of dollars, which spared dozens of research and development years. In 1982, Israel destroyed Soviet anti-aircraft batteries in Lebanon that were considered immune to American weapons. Israel promptly shared the operation's lessons, estimated to be worth billions of dollars. Former Secretary of State and NATO forces commander Alexander Haig has stated that he is pro-Israeli because Israel is the largest American aircraft carrier in the world that cannot be sunk, does not carry even one American soldier, and is located in a critical region for American national security. During the first Gulf War 1991, Israel provided invaluable intelligence, an umbrella of air cover for military cargo, and had personnel planted in the Iraqi desert to pick up downed American pilots. General George Keegan, former head of U.S. Air Force Intelligence has publicly declared that Israel is worth five CIAs. He further stated that between 1974 and 1990, Israel received $18.3 billion in U.S. military grants. During the same period Israel provided the U.S. with $50-80 billion in intelligence, research and development savings, and Soviet weapons systems captured and transferred to the U.S. In 2005, Israel provided America with the world's most extensive experience in homeland defense and warfare against suicide bombers and car bombs. American soldiers train in IDF facilities and Israeli-made drones fly above the "Sunni Triangle" in Iraq, as well as in Afghanistan, providing U.S. Marines with vital intelligence. In September 2007, the IAF destroyed a Syrian-North Korean nuclear plant, extending the USs strategic arm. It provided the US with vital information on Russian air defense systems, which are also employed by Iran. It bolstered the US posture of deterrence and refuted the claim that US-Israel relations have been shaped by political expediency. In 2009, Israel shares with the US its battle-tested experience in combating Palestinian and Hizbullah terrorism, which are the role model of anti-US Islamic terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan. US GIs benefit from Israels battle tactics against car bombs, improvised explosive devices and homicide bombing. An Israel-like ally in the Persian Gulf would have spared the need to dispatch US troops to Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Israel has relayed to the U.S. lessons of battle (during the Cold War Soviet military doctrine) and counter-terrorism (including aircraft security, homicide-suicide bombings) which reduce American losses in Iraq and Afghanistan, prevent attacks on U.S. soil, upgrade American weapons, and contribute to the U.S. economy. Without Israel, the U.S. would have been forced to deploy tens of thousands of American troops in the eastern Mediterranean Basin, at a cost of billions of dollars a year. Senator Daniel Inouye has recently (2005) argued Israeli information regarding Soviet arms saved the U.S. billions of dollars. The contribution made by Israeli intelligence to America is greater than that provided by all NATO countries combined, he said. Israel's utilization of American arms guarantees its existence, but at the same time gives U.S. military industries, such as Boeing and General Dynamics, a competitive edge compared to European industries, while also boosting American military production, producing American jobs, and improving America's national security. Japan and South Korea, for example, preferred the "Hawkeye" spy plane and the MD-500 chopper, both purchased and upgraded by Israel, over comparable British and French aircraft. The American industries want U.S. aid to Israel to continue. The bulk of the $1.8 billion in annual U.S. military aid to Israel must be spent in the United States. That provides jobs for some 50,000 U.S. workers. Virtually all of the $1.2 billion in annual economic aid goes for repayment of debt to the United States, incurred from military purchases dating back many years. This debt is now close to being liquidated. Innovative Israeli technologies have a similar effect on American civilian, including computer-related industries and agricultural industries, which view Israel as a successful research and development site. Members of the U.S. Congress leaders, then Vice President Dick Cheney, and then Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld are aware of Israel's unique contribution to U.S. interests. But, in fact, they all wonder why the post-1993 Israel does not use its impressive contribution as leverage, in sharp contrast to the pre-1993 Israel. In contrast to our commitments to Korea, Japan, Germany and other parts of the world, not a single American serviceperson needs to be stationed in Israel. Considering that the cost of one serviceperson per year including backup and infrastructure is estimated to be about $200,000 per year, and assuming a minimum contingent of 25,000 troops, the cost savings to the United States on that score alone are on the order of $5 billion a year. YJ Draiman, officially running for mayor of Los Angeles - 2013
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top Page Up Full Thread Page Down Bottom/Latest Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 15.
#4. To: Murron (#0)
Just about all the "benefits" listed are related to war. There's intelligence, upgrades to various machines of war, military influence, regime control, Israel as an unsinkable US aircraft carrier..... all of these things promote some military advantage, and many of these conflicts would never have happened if Israel did not exist, so it's disingenous to point to war successes that happened with Israel while ignoring the fact that without Israel, there wouldn't have been these wars to begin with. How about a list of peaceful, constructive contributions that actually increase the standard of living for Americans? Is there trade between the US and Israel? Tourism? Is there some economic advantage to the US that doesn't involve war and combat, both of which are destructive to the standard of living by it's very nature? And why is Israel actively campaigning for the release of convicted Israeli spy Jonathon Pollard? Isn't doing that pretty much admitting that yes, he was spying on the US for the benefit of Israel?
That is satans plan. You know for Israel not to exist. You say you are a christian. I believe you. Have you read about the return of the Jews to Israel. It is fulfilled prophecy. Israel are the good guys. The Muslims are anti christ people who don't want the Bible to be true. To bad it is true. Israel exists and the muslims can pray to allah (not you pinguin) all they want. Allah isn't going to do anything about Israel. Mohammad was a pedophile who made up the Koran.
If God has a plan, it will be fulfilled with or without our help or encouragement. But the New Testament makes it clear that all people are the "chosen people", and it is not for us to view some as inherently more chosen than others. That title no longer belongs exclusively to the Jews, and by Christian theology hasn't since Jesus died 2000 years ago. It's very unfortunate that many Christians have fallen into the delusion of promoting war and death in order to further a perceived prophecy. This is absolutely NOT what Christians are called to do. What's happening today is simply another form of the criminal error made by the crusaders 1000 years ago.
I don't think it says all people. I think what you are referring to is that people who are saved are considered grafted into spiritual Jews. Not the unsaved.
#20. To: A K A Stone (#15)
(Edited)
I think what you are referring to is that people who are saved are considered grafted into spiritual Jews. Not the unsaved. Have it your way, there was no actual reason for Jesus Christ to appear and evidently he was just a sham. Your salvation lies with your supporting the modern day Jewish state. Go for it.
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