Israel-US war games postponed amid Iran tensions
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said last month that the scheduled U.S.-Israeli missile defense drill exemplified unprecedented levels of defense cooperation between the two countries meant to back up Washington's "unshakable" commitment to Israel's security. / CBS
JERUSALEM - The Israeli and U.S. militaries have postponed large-scale war games, in part to avoid aggravating mounting tensions between the international community and Iran over its disputed nuclear program, Israeli defense officials said Monday.
The missile defense exercise, dubbed "Austere Challenge 12," was scheduled for April to improve defense systems and cooperation between U.S. and Israeli forces. The Israeli military confirmed in a one-line statement that the drill would be rescheduled for the second half of 2012, but did not disclose reasons for the postponement or any other details.
The defense officials who linked the deferral to Iran spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss the decision-making process. They offered no other reasons for the delay.
The ticking clock of Iran's nuclear threat
Thousands of American and Israeli soldiers were to take part in the exercise, which was designed to test multiple Israeli and U.S. air defense systems against incoming missiles and rockets from places as far away as Iran.
U.S. keeps talking tough with Iran
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said last month that the drill exemplified unprecedented levels of defense cooperation between the two countries meant to back up Washington's "unshakable" commitment to Israel's security.
On Thursday, the top U.S. military commander is due to arrive in Israel for his first official trip since becoming chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Sept. 30. Iran is expected to be at the top of Army Gen. Martin Dempsey's agenda for talks with the Israelis.
Watch: Panetta says sanctions against Iran are working
Israel considers a nuclear-armed Iran to be a threat to its survival and repeatedly has hinted it could take military action against the Islamic Republic should international sanctions fail to stop Iran's nuclear development.
The Obama administration is concerned that Iran's recent claim that it is expanding nuclear operations might prod Israel closer to a strike.
Iran, which denies it is trying to develop nuclear weapons, has shown no sign it would willingly give up a project that has become a point of national pride.
Tehran insists its nuclear program is designed to produce energy, not bombs. It has threatened to block the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the passage for one-sixth of the world's oil, should international sanctions block Iran's petroleum exports.
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What is very disturbing, is that some writers here either ignore or accept the fact that the current rulers of Iran and their allies, are INTOLERANT of others and consider it their religious DUTY to destroy Israel, America, Western way of life, and just about everything that is Non-Moslem.
To force one's religion onto others - as Iran's rulers continue to do, and on a global scale - is absolutely wrong, and ensures future conflict!
If the current INTOLERANT Iranian regime acquires nuclear weapons, it will use them to precipitate the nuclear conflagration that they believe is required, to usher in The Mahdi or The Islamic Messiah.
You are so out of touch it is unbelievable------As soon as they are about to do something our fearless leaders are there stopping them.
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dot - you must be reading Israeli news. They don't give a crap about what we ask or demand of them.
"We own the Americans, and they know it." Prime Minster Arial Sharon on Israeli state radio, one month after 9/11
So again - why the rabid support of them? It's a rogue regime - a theocracy similar to other middle-eastern countries.
Politics? Religion? A love of knishes?
Tell us all about chinese human rights violations--Please concentrate and try.
.
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OK, so I mention Israel's 67 condemnations for human-rights violations in the UN, and you bring up China?
You're simply a moral relativist - whatever one guy does makes it ok for everyone else. That's a severe lack of morals you have there, Dorothy.
Israel actively makes the US more of a terror target.
Wind bag what do you think i was telling you-------and who the hell is dorothy-----are you the wizard of oz or just foul wind.
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"dot" is short for "Dorothy", ma'am. Sorry if you take offense to the longer version, missy.
Ron Paul sounds like a whining little child. Not exactly very presidential. I think if he was faced with making a wartime decision, he would probably pee his pants and start crying!
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Why do you feel that way? Is it that he sees Israel as the waste of time and goodwill it really is?
Israel has never been our ally, and never will be. They have their own self interest to worry about, knowing that a nation of 6 million pretty much controls a nation of 308 million. It's just sad.
Do you smoke or snort?
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Mortar does both, but likes to compile opinions.