Posted on 09/26/2005 3:33:08 PM PDT by SJackson
The US placed an embargo on selling helicopter parts to Israel from the start of the Oslo War until the 9/11 attacks according to the former Shabak (General Security Services) head Avi Dichter.
Dichter revealed the existence of the embargo in a speech delivered last Thursday at the Saban Center for Middle East Studies at the Brookings Institution, where Dichter is now a fellow. He said that the embargo was imposed because the of the Israeli policy of "targeted killings" by the Israeli air-force using US-made helicopters.
"The embargo was lifted after the 9/11 attacks", Dichter said in his speech, going on to insinuate that the US itself was forced to adopt the same policy in its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Left-wing groups in Europe and the US have long sought to convince the US government to stop selling Israel aircraft, claiming the Israeli air force was breeching the "terms of use" agreed upon with the US government – but the Pentagon and the State Department had traditionally rejected those claims.
Meanwhile, US forces in Iraq have been purchasing ammunition and supplies from Israel due to the fact that American suppliers cannot keep up with the demand for ammunition by the US Army.
A government report says that US forces are now using 1.8 billion rounds of small-arms ammunition a year. "The Department of Defense's increased requirements for small- and medium-caliber ammunitions have largely been driven by increased weapons training requirements, dictated by the army's transformation to a more self-sustaining and lethal force - which was accelerated after the attacks of 11 September, 2001 - and by the deployment of forces to conduct recent US military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq," said the report by the General Accounting Office (GAO).
The Pentagon reportedly bought 313 million rounds of 5.56mm, 7.62mm and 50-calibre ammunition from Israel last year.
Another Klinton legacy.
Clinton was very anti Israel and very pro pali and the democrat party still enjoys 75% of the Jewish vote. Go figure.
If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.
Unlikely, targeted killings using helicopters began in Feb, 2001, when Sharon assumed power.
See post 5.
It is shameful to be represented by a government who not only made these embargoes but also gives the PA money.
Yitzhak Rabin, Bill Clinton, and Yasser Arafat during the Oslo Accords on September 13, 1993.
Yes, they legitimized Arafat, who was resurected by Bush I and Peres (acting illegally).
And targeted killings from the air began in Feb, 2001.
What's your point?
That's my point and my first post.
Clinton Legacy ping. Notice how they do everything they can in this article to disassociate the obvious blunder from those who imposed it.
See post 5. Targeted assassinations was/is a Sharon policy. He assumed power the first week of Feb, 2001, the first assassination from the air was about ten days later.
Interesting. So this is some sort of butt-covering ploy for even worse malfeasance?
Read the article. It says the embargo was from the start of the Oslo War until the 9/11.
The start of the Oslo war was generally held to be September 2000. Bush was sworn in on Jan 20 2001. This has to be another of Klintons last acts.
Further, helicopter attacks by the Israelies were carried out earlier, it was just not apparent they were "targeted killings" at the time. Sharon was the first to admit that these attacks on ligitimate targets were planned in advance.
If it matters to you, it doesn't much to me, I'd be careful about bashing Clinton too hard over a policy that may well belong to GWB
I dont thinkso.
It probably means but one thing... after america had been shot(9-11) america came to understand firsthand what the jews have been experiencing for a long time.
Once you have had some buckshot in your ass its easier to understand someone elses buckshot story.
I agree with S Jackson. This was the policy of the current Pres Bush.
And the legacy belongs to Bush 1 and James Baker. They arm twisted the Israelis and witheld spare parts and loan guarantees. Baker and Weinberger were much worse to Israel than Clinton ever was. As bad as Oslo was it had popular support in Israel at the time.
No so the witholding of support.
Indeed. Thanks for the ping!
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