U.S. cancels exercise with Israel after threat assessment

World Tribune ^ | 4/9/02

[truthandlife]

The United States has cancelled an air force exercise with Israel amid regional tensions.

U.S. officials said the decision to cancel the exercise was issued by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld after a review of threat assessments to American military personnel in the Middle East. The exercise was to have begun on April 15 and was to have included troops and aircraft.

An Israeli military source confirmed the cancellation of the U.S. exercise, Middle East Newsline reported. The source said the U.S. decision was connected to the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian war.

The exercise was to have been coordinated with the U.S. European Command. U.S. officials refused to provide details of the exercise, saying they were classified.

Earlier, Turkey said Israel would not participate in the "Anatolian Eagle" air exercise scheduled for April 22 in the Konya region of central Turkey.

Instead, the exercise will include the United States and unnamed NATO allies.

Israel was said to have informed Turkey that it would join the air exercise during its second stage on June 4. That stage is meant to continue until June 15.

In an unrelated development, Israeli defense officials acknowledge a delay in the Merkava Mk-4 main battle tank program because of a delay in a delivery of parts from Germany. The Jerusalem Post reported on Tuesday that Israeli officials believe the delay stems from German displeasure over Israel's military campaign in the West Bank.

[scratchgolfer]

I suppose this puts to rest the notion the excercise was cancelled for political reasons. Israel is engaged in a full-fledged war now and has no time for war games. And the US is preparing an attack against Saddam. Makes sense to me.

[Woodkirk]

This is no time for games anyway -- military or political.

[The Great Satan]