Obama Blocks U.S. weapon shipments to Israel

[Maimonides]

ttp://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2010/me_israel0217_03_18.asp

WASHINGTON — The United States has diverted a shipment of bunker-busters designated for Israel.   ShareThis

Officials said the U.S. military was ordered to divert a shipment of smart bunker-buster bombs from Israel to a military base in Diego Garcia. They said the shipment of 387 smart munitions had been slated to join pre-positioned U.S. military equipment in Israel Air Force bases.

"This was a political decision," an official said.  In 2008, the United States approved an Israeli request for bunker-busters capable of destroying underground facilities, including Iranian nuclear weapons sites. Officials said delivery of the weapons was held up by the administration of President Barack Obama.

Since taking office, Obama has refused to approve any major Israeli requests for U.S. weapons platforms or advanced systems. Officials said this included proposed Israeli procurement of AH-64D Apache attack helicopters, refueling systems, advanced munitions and data on a stealth variant of the F-15E.

"All signs indicate that this will continue in 2010," a congressional source familiar with the Israeli military requests said. "This is really an embargo, but nobody talks about it publicly."

Under the plan, the U.S. military was to have stored 195 BLU-110 and 192 BLU-117 munitions in unspecified air force bases in Israel. The U.S. military uses four Israeli bases for the storage of about $400 million worth of pre-positioned equipment meant for use by either Washington or Jerusalem in any regional war.

In January 2010, the administration agreed to an Israeli request to double the amount of U.S. military stockpiles to $800 million. Officials said the bunker-busters as well as Patriot missile interceptors were included in the agreement.

The decision to divert the BLU munitions was taken amid the crisis between Israel and the United States over planned construction of Jewish homes in Jerusalem. The administration, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, has warned that Washington could reduce military aid to Israel because of its construction policy.

In 2007, after its war in Lebanon, Israel requested 2,000 BLU-109 live bombs from the United States. The 2,000-pound bomb, produced by Boeing and coupled with a laser guidance kit, was designed to penetrate concrete bunkers and other underground hardened sites.

Israeli ambassador to the United States, Michael Oren, was quoted as saying that his country faced its biggest crisis with the United States since 1975. A pro-Israel lobbyist said Oren was referring to the current U.S. embargo, which echoed a decision taken 35 years ago by then-President Gerald Ford after Israel's refusal to withdraw from Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. Oren has since denied the remark.

[joshua]

The conspiracy nuts who are going on and on about Zionist plots haven't seemed to read this article.  They would cheer this.


I hope Israel can somehow produce their own munitions one day entirely!! 

[Saxon Marauder]

You don't think it's because Ombongo has it out for Israel do you? 

Seriously, whatever this imposter does no longer surprises me- denying an ally that's been nothing but friendly to the U.S. and its people vital armaments, equipment, and munitions is only going to empower the enemies the Americans and Israelis mutually share. Even if the weapons systems aren't actively used, having AH-64s and bunker-busting bombs, for example, is a good deterrent.

[White Israelite]

This is why Israel cannot rely on the US.

And Israel does build some of their own munitions.

[Debbie Shafer]

This is what I don't like. This is clear and present- blatant disregard for Israel's Safety! 

[arksis]

I hate that this has happened and I hate this administration!  Is there not ONE righteous person there that can deliver these secretly? That is what I would do!

[MassuhDGoodName]

Not to worry.

The U.S.A. put an official embargo on any sales of arms to the Jews living in Eretz Yisrael prior to the outbreak of the War of Independence in 1948, but the Jews were nevertheless victorious.

There have always been a few righteous people around the world in positions of leadership who provided "under the table" military aid to the Jews, as did Czechoslovakia in 1948.

And today, there are so many hypocrites on the world stage, that some of the same nations publicly denouncing Israel in public forums and encouraging a new war in the Middle East are delighted at the thought of the huge profits to be made by secretly providing a "third party conduit" of embargoed supplies to Israel.
 
In the final analysis, we must do everything that we can, yet rely only on Ha'Shem.

[Historical Truth]

You can block the US. You can't block G*d.