[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: A stunning reminder to Israel why it is so
important to continue developing and maintaining the Israeli arms industry.]

U.S. rebuffs Israeli request for arms geared toward Iran strike
By Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondent Last update - 06:13 13/08/2008
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1010938.html

The American administration has rejected an Israeli request for military
equipment and support that would improve Israel's ability to attack Iran's
nuclear facilities.

The Americans viewed the request, which was transmitted (and rejected) at
the highest level, as a sign that Israel is in the advanced stages of
preparations to attack Iran. They therefore warned Israel against attacking,
saying such a strike would undermine American interests. They also demanded
that Israel give them prior notice if it nevertheless decided to strike
Iran.

As compensation for the requests it rejected, Washington offered to improve
Israel's defenses against surface-to-surface missiles.

Israel responded by saying it reserves the right to take whatever action it
deems necessary if diplomatic efforts to halt Iran's nuclearization fail.

Senior Israeli officials had originally hoped that U.S. President George
Bush would order an American strike on Iran's nuclear facilities before
leaving office, as America's military is far better equipped to conduct such
a strike successfully than is Israel's.

Jerusalem also fears that an Israeli strike, even if it succeeded well
enough to delay Iran's nuclear development for a few years, would give Iran
international legitimacy for its program, which it currently lacks. Israel,
in contrast, would be portrayed as an aggressor, and would be forced to
contend alone with Iran's retaliation, which would probably include
thousands of missile strikes by Iranian allies Hezbollah, Hamas and perhaps
even Syria.

Recently, however, Israel has concluded that Bush is unlikely to attack, and
will focus instead on ratcheting up diplomatic pressure on Tehran. It
prefers to wait until this process has been exhausted, though without
conceding the military option. Israel's assumption is that Iran will
continue to use delaying tactics, and may even agree to briefly suspend its
uranium enrichment program in an effort to see out the rest of Bush's term
in peace.

The American-Israeli dispute over a military strike against Iran erupted
during Bush's visit to Jerusalem in May. At the time, Bush held a private
meeting on the Iranian threat with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense
Minister Ehud Barak, and the Israelis presented their request for certain
specific items of military equipment, along with diplomatic and security
backing.

Following Bush's return to Washington, the administration studied Israel's
request, and this led it to suspect that Israel was planning to attack Iran
within the next few months. The Americans therefore decided to send a strong
message warning it not to do so.

U.S. National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell and Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen both visited here in June and, according to the
Washington Post, told senior Israeli defense officials that Iran is still
far from obtaining nuclear weapons, and that an attack on Iran would
undermine American interests. Therefore, they said, the U.S. would not allow
Israeli planes to overfly Iraq en route to Iran.

The Americans sent a similar message to Iraq, which had objected
vociferously to the idea of its air space being used for an Israeli attack
on Iran.

These private messages were accompanied by a series of leaks from the
Pentagon that Israel interpreted as attempts to thwart any possibility of an
attack on Iran. For instance, the Americans revealed details of a major
Israel Air Force exercise in the Mediterranean; they also said they doubted
Israel had adequate intelligence about Iran's nuclear facilities. In
addition, Mullen spoke out publicly against an attack on Iran.

Two weeks ago, Barak visited Washington for talks with his American
counterpart, Robert Gates, and Vice President Richard Cheney. Both
conversations focused on Iran, but the two Americans presented conflicting
views: Gates vehemently opposes an attack on Iran, while Cheney is the
administration's leading hawk.

Barak presented Israel's assessments of the Iranian situation and warned
that Iran was liable to advance its nuclear program under cover of the
endless deliberations about sanctions - which have thus far produced little
in the way of action. He also acknowledged that effective sanctions would
require cooperation from Russia, China and India, all of which currently
oppose sanctions with real teeth.

Russia, however, is considered key to efforts to isolate Iran, and Israeli
officials have therefore urged their American counterparts in recent months
to tone down Washington's other disputes with Moscow to focus all its
efforts on obtaining Russia's backing against Iran. For instance, they
suggested that Washington offer to drop its plan to station a missile
defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic - a proposal Russia views as
a threat, though Washington insists the system is aimed solely at Iran - in
exchange for Russia agreeing to stiffer sanctions against Iran. However, the
administration rejected this idea.

In an attempt to compensate Israel for having rejected all its proposals,
Washington then offered to bolster Israel's defenses against ballistic
missiles. For instance, Gates proposed stationing an advanced radar system
in Israel and linking Israel directly into America's early warning satellite
network; he also offered increased American funding for the development of
two Israeli missile defense systems - the Arrow-3, an upgrade of Israel's
existing Arrow system for intercepting ballistic missiles, and Iron Dome, a
system designed to intercept short-range rockets. In addition, Washington
agreed to sell Israel nine Super Hercules long-range transport aircraft for
$2 billion. However, it would not agree to supply Israel with any offensive
systems.

Now, Israel is awaiting the outcome of the latest talks between the West and
Iran, as well as a formal announcement of the opening of an American
interests section in Tehran. Israel views the latter as sure proof that
Washington is not planning a military strike.