To: Sabramerican
They canceled the free enterprise deal and took a financial bath. When their "free enterprise deal" was in violation of U.S. law and the agreements they had signed, I don't think they get too much applause.
As far as the Arrow II, it had a successful test last November and I saw a report that U.S. officials were investigating how to mate it to U.S. radar system. However, our own development of anti-ballistic missiles is proceeding successfully, indicating that we had no need of Israel's technology in this instance. However, we did fund about 65% of their $1.1 billion dollar effort. Of course, in all of those years they developed it, our cash donations and other deals with Israel more than compensated their own Arrow costs.
One could say we paid them to build Arrow for themselves.
And I don't actually care about that. I support Israel. But I don't like their trying to re-sell our technology to unsavory characters. Like China. This has been a problem with Israel for many years.
Before we get too overboard on Arrow, it's really a technology for stopping outdated SCUD's. Better than our current Patriot, no doubt. But hardly the answer we need in theater missile defense.
To: George W. Bush
was in violation of U.S. law BS. Not only was it not in violation of anything but they had run it through with the US without objection. New circumstances caused a US reevaluation which ended up costing Israel both financially and in other ways.
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