U.S. military plugs Israel into real-time war monitoring

Haaretz ^ | Tuesday, March 04 | Nathan Guttman

[Pro-Bush]

According to the Journal, Israel will be the only country other than the U.S. hooked directly into the U.S. Central Command's communications system. The joint command post in Tel Aviv will enable Israel Defense Forces officers to view what is termed the "common air picture" - essentially an upgraded version of a flight command and control system that enables the viewer to follow the activities of all American and Iraqi aircraft in real time. Israeli officers will thus be viewing exactly the same pictures as the U.S. officers running the war from the CENTCOM base in Qatar.

[Pro-Bush]

Wow...This highlights the true partnership we have with Israel. This time Israel and the USA are not as concerned with International condemnation that prevented Israel being directly involved with the first Desert Storm. In my opinion, this is due to the lack of involvemnt and input from the UN. This is A blessing in disguise if you ask me.

[PhiKapMom]

That's great news. We are fast finding out who our real friends are!

[over3Owithabrain]

I don't think Israel is gonna sit this one out if Saddam hurls a few missiles at them. They will open up a can on his Iraqi ass

[Robert_Paulson2]

While I do not doubt this is the case... I expect this will be denied by someone here... momentarily...

and a denial by the "establishment" in the next 24 hours.

would not want to piss off our islamic "friends" now would we....

[Pro-Bush]

I disagree..I think we are sticking like glue with Israel this time. Our Islamic friends already pissed us off by not backing us. (except Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain..USA will take good care of them..Protection & Billions in loans and aid)

I think Powell and worldly diplomatic types like him, will certainly have some expaining to do.

Sharon said that Israel is not backing down this time..Can you blame him? What if you or I had Iraqi BioScuds in range of our own houses?

Not a good time to be polite for the sake of International kudos.

[Brad’s Gramma]

If indeed this is true.....AWESOME is all I can say.

Should REALLY TICK OFF Arafat etal, huh?

[The South Texan]

Good for Isreal. The most reliable ally in my opinion along with Britian. God will bless us for sticking with Isreal.

[whadizit]

Yessirree, bobtail!

[Mr. Mojo]

The aim is to prove to Israel that the U.S. is doing everything in its power to prevent Iraqi missiles from landing here, and therefore to convince it not to retaliate should any missiles nevertheless hit.

Ah, so we are attempting to convince Israel not to retaliate if they're hit. ....Just like last time.

[RecentConvert]

That's great news. We are fast finding out who our real friends are!

Israeli troops are not fighting along American troops. In fact, Israel has deployed no troops at all under American command.

You people are either daydreaming or spreading misinformation.

Only Britain, Spain, Italy and Australia are sending in war materiel and troops. Those are our true friends.

Anyway, I think we're going in and it will be a short-lived American victory.

[Mr. Mojo]

However, Israel will not be able to use this real-time information to launch its own attack on Iraq, since the Israeli air force will not be able to enter Iraqi airspace unless the U.S. supplies it with the IFF codes that distinguish friend from foe.

And the picture becomes even clearer. We're just as nervous as last time - and perhaps even moreso - about Israel retaliating against Iraq, and that's precisely why we're going through all this trouble.

[Mr. Mojo]

No doubt, that's part of it.

[Pro-Bush]

Just my opinion, but the exerpt from the article was placed for public consumption. This is a big announcement...One can conclude that we are trying to spin it, to reduce negativity.

I find this interesting now that you brought to my attention:

The aim is to prove to Israel that the U.S. is doing everything in its power to prevent Iraqi missiles from landing here (yup I agree)

and therefore to convince it not to retaliate should any missiles nevertheless hit. (nope, not logical..pure opinion and conjecture a.k.a. "spin")

Washington Times October 17, 2002:

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20021017-552030.htm

"President Bush yesterday gave Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon implicit approval to retaliate if Iraq attacks, hours after the president signed a congressional resolution authorizing him to use force against Saddam Hussein"

[Mr. Mojo]

The U.S. has also warned Israel that should it respond to an Iraqi attack with non-conventional weapons, it would immediately forfeit all international support.

If Israel is hit with WMD, and incurs mass casualties as a result, they'd have little choice but to respond in kind. ....And I hope they'd do so. If the attack originates from either Syria or So. Lebanon (Hezbollah), a severe retaliation would be a certainty. If it originates in Iraq, and many of our troops are in the area, it becomes dicey.

[Spruce]

But what's the frame-rate on Team Fortress?

[Pro-Bush]

Sounds like we are pretty much on the same page..I am just a little more more bullish on Israel's involvement. If it happens, you're right..could end up loosing our few Isalmic allies. Big deal! How about them Hydrogen cars?

[Mr. Mojo]

Believe me, I'm just as bullish on Israel's involvement as you are. ...I'm just hoping we don't successfully restrain them. The Arab "street" can go directly to hell. ...their opinions mean nothing to me.

[Ancesthntr]

Ditto # 17. Try to look beyond the very thin PR surface.

You might also want to consider all of the intelligence that Israel has given us over the years - something that lots of other allies couldn't do, simply because they weren't placed appropriately. Each country is unique - they each have strengths and weaknesses in becoming involved in a certain manner, and I'm sure that no one in DC wants Israeli troops fighting an Arab nation alongside ours. It just ain't PC. Besides, Israel may just end up bumping off the Syrian terror regime, which will certainly involve lots of Israeli soldiers and will help the WOT lots more than a few thousand Spanish, Australian or Italian troops, for example. This is not to badmouth those allies, who are doing lots to help us, but to illustrate the contribution that Israel may very well make.

Also consider that the mere possibility of an Israeli assault has tied down the vast majority of Syrian troops, and prevents Syria from contributing to the Iraqi war effort.