Troops sent to Isreal ...

[von Kinderei]

This could be bad http://rt.com/usa/news/us-troops-israel-iran-257/


Quote:
Without much media attention, thousands of American troops are being deployed to Israel, and Iranian officials believe that this is the latest and most blatant warning that the US will soon be attacking Tehran.
Tensions between nations have been high in recent months and have only worsened in the weeks since early December when Iran hijacked and recovered an American drone aircraft. Many have speculated that a back-and-forth between the two countries will soon escalate Iran and the US into an all-out war, and that event might occur sooner than thought.
Under the Austere Challenge 12 drill scheduled for an undisclosed time during the next few weeks, the Israeli military will together with America host the largest-ever joint missile drill by the two countries. Following the installation of American troops near Iran’s neighboring Strait of Hormuz and the reinforcing of nearby nations with US weapons, Tehran authorities are considering this not a test but the start of something much bigger.
In the testing, America's Theater High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, missile system will be operating alongside its ship-based Aegis system and Israel's own program to work with Arrow, Patriot and Iron Drone missiles.

Israeli military officials say that the testing was planned before recent episodes involving the US and Iran. Of concern, however, is how the drill will require the deployment of thousands of American troops into Israel. The Jerusalem Post quotes US Commander Lt.-Gen Frank Gorenc as saying the drill is not just an “exercise” but also a “deployment” that will involve “several thousand American soldiers” heading to Israel. Additionally, new command posts will be established by American forces in Israel and that country’s own IDF army will begin working from a base in Germany.
In September, the US European Command established a radar system in Israel.
With America previously equipping Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates with weaponry to wreck any chance of an Iranian nuclear weapon program from close by, the US will now have added forces on the ready in Israel and Germany under what Tehran fears is a guise being merely perpetrated as a test-run. RT reported last week that the US is equipping Saudi Arabia with nearly $30 billion F-15 war planes, a deal that comes shortly after Washington worked out a contract with Dubai to give the UAE advanced “bunker buster” bombs that could decimate underground nuclear operations in neighboring Iran.
Since the US surveillance mission over Iran that left overseas intelligence with a captured American drone aircraft, tensions have only escalated between the two nations. After Iran threatened to close down the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial path for the nation’s oil trade, the US dispatched 15,000 marines into the area.


How we got ... seconds, minutes, hours

[mapuc]

Maybe it is what it says it is, a wargame. A wargame that have the purpose to send a warning to Iran.

The time is not right yet. I don't think the american people are ready for another war yet.

Markus

[CCIP]

I think you could also interpret it a different way, and say that the US moves right now are an attempt to deter Iran and Israel from making any sudden movements. With a presence in the gulf and boots on the ground in Israel, both of those sides may be less inclined to go at each other. I think that's a much smarter move than ignoring the situation and pretending that everything is alright and no troops need to be anywhere. And if Israel is getting an itchy finger, there's no better medicine for it than some material reassurance of its security.

The reality is also that while Iran 'believes' a lot of things, they're not actually that stupid and are not in any way above or beneath realpolitik and gunboat diplomacy. They're getting another message here.

[Kaye T. Bai]

PressTV and RT have been the only ones reporting on it, so I'll take it with a grain of salt.

[mapuc]

Originally Posted by Kaye T. Bai

PressTV and RT have been the only ones reporting on it, so I'll take it with a grain of salt.

That's good, Always take a grain of salt when watching/hearing/reading the news

Markus

[Sea Demon]

Originally Posted by CCIP

I think you could also interpret it a different way, and say that the US moves right now are an attempt to deter Iran and Israel from making any sudden movements. With a presence in the gulf and boots on the ground in Israel, both of those sides may be less inclined to go at each other. I think that's a much smarter move than ignoring the situation and pretending that everything is alright and no troops need to be anywhere. And if Israel is getting an itchy finger, there's no better medicine for it than some material reassurance of its security.

I agree with this. Although I don't think boots on the ground in Israel will stop Iran from using it's proxy Hezbollah from causing trouble. Actually, I think putting troops here may provoke that action.

[CCIP]

Originally Posted by Sea Demon

I agree with this. Although I don't think boots on the ground in Israel will stop Iran from using it's proxy Hezbollah from causing trouble. Actually, I think putting troops here may provoke that action.

Who knows, though again, I honestly don't think Iran is looking for war with the US themselves. More than anything, the presence in Israel might help keep the Israelis calm is what I'm thinking. They're less likely to lash out at minor provocations by Iran and Hezbollah; otherwise if a 'big one' happens, then the US is guaranteed not to stand by idly.

Again, I think the bottom line is that neither the US nor Iran actually want this war. Israel doesn't want it either, but you can't blame them for getting nervous at the nuclear developments.

Frankly I'm not sure any of this is productive, but at this point I can see the US using every trick in the book short of actually pulling the plug on Iran themselves to prevent Israel from their near-inevitable attack on the nuke facilities. I don't think it'll work in the long term, but if the US administration is playing for time, that's all fair politics. The US will not stand idly by if and when the Iran-Israel confrontation happens. If you look at US politics right now, war in Iran would be very bad for everybody and would throw another wrench into economic recovery, not to mention the upcoming elections. It's a bad deal from every angle, for all parties involved. So of course it's militarily and politically a sensible thing for the US to do to try and stall it.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by mapuc

Maybe it is what it says it is, a wargame. A wargame that have the purpose to send a warning to Iran.

The time is not right yet. I don't think the american people are ready for another war yet.

Markus

I think the question of when time is running out over the Iranian program, is not decided by the level of American public's readiness for war, but the working results produced in Iranian laboratories.

[mapuc]

According to a danish newspaper(bt.dk) England is sending one of it's Destroyer to the gulf in the middle east.

It's the HMS Daring

Markus

[GoldenRivet]

Troubling developments, these are.

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by mapuc

According to a danish newspaper(bt.dk) England is sending one of it's Destroyer to the gulf in the middle east.

It's the HMS Daring

Markus

Really? Must be something afoot then, that's the lead boat of our newest class. Top notch Anti-air system...if they can afford to load the missiles.
Looks like she was due to replace the Type-23 frigate on station in the Gulf.

Bit of an upgrade.

[vienna]

Although I don't think boots on the ground in Israel will stop Iran from using it's proxy Hezbollah from causing trouble. Actually, I think putting troops here may provoke that action.

You only have to recall the 1983 gross error of the Regan Administration in the posting of Marines/Army/Navy personnel in Beirut to see where putting boots on the ground is not always the deterrent some people would have us believe. I would be very much concerned for the safety of any U.S. troops placed in Israel with the purported intent of acting as a buffer. The Regan administration's response to the Beirut bomobing by invading Grenada 2 days later was also highly questionable, particularly since Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the bombing. What will we do if this time something if something happens to our troops?...invade Venezuela?...

[Kongo Otto]

Originally Posted by von Kinderei

This could be bad http://rt.com/usa/news/us-troops-israel-iran-257/


Quote:
Without much media attention, thousands of American troops are being deployed to Israel, and Iranian officials believe that this is the latest and most blatant warning that the US will soon be attacking Tehran.
Tensions between nations have been high in recent months and have only worsened in the weeks since early December when Iran hijacked and recovered an American drone aircraft. Many have speculated that a back-and-forth between the two countries will soon escalate Iran and the US into an all-out war, and that event might occur sooner than thought.
Under the Austere Challenge 12 drill scheduled for an undisclosed time during the next few weeks, the Israeli military will together with America host the largest-ever joint missile drill by the two countries. Following the installation of American troops near Iran***8217;s neighboring Strait of Hormuz and the reinforcing of nearby nations with US weapons, Tehran authorities are considering this not a test but the start of something much bigger.
In the testing, America's Theater High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, missile system will be operating alongside its ship-based Aegis system and Israel's own program to work with Arrow, Patriot and Iron Drone missiles.

Israeli military officials say that the testing was planned before recent episodes involving the US and Iran. Of concern, however, is how the drill will require the deployment of thousands of American troops into Israel. The Jerusalem Post quotes US Commander Lt.-Gen Frank Gorenc as saying the drill is not just an ***8220;exercise***8221; but also a ***8220;deployment***8221; that will involve ***8220;several thousand American soldiers***8221; heading to Israel. Additionally, new command posts will be established by American forces in Israel and that country***8217;s own IDF army will begin working from a base in Germany.
In September, the US European Command established a radar system in Israel.
With America previously equipping Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates with weaponry to wreck any chance of an Iranian nuclear weapon program from close by, the US will now have added forces on the ready in Israel and Germany under what Tehran fears is a guise being merely perpetrated as a test-run. RT reported last week that the US is equipping Saudi Arabia with nearly $30 billion F-15 war planes, a deal that comes shortly after Washington worked out a contract with Dubai to give the UAE advanced ***8220;bunker buster***8221; bombs that could decimate underground nuclear operations in neighboring Iran.
Since the US surveillance mission over Iran that left overseas intelligence with a captured American drone aircraft, tensions have only escalated between the two nations. After Iran threatened to close down the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial path for the nation***8217;s oil trade, the US dispatched 15,000 marines into the area.


How we got ... seconds, minutes, hours

Taken from the above "News":

Additionally, new command posts will be established by American forces in Israel and that countrys own IDF army will begin working from a base in Germany.


But it has to be true, it was on the Intarnet.

[Osmium Steele]

Originally Posted by von Kinderei

the drill is not just an “exercise” but also a “deployment” that will involve “several thousand American soldiers” heading to Israel. Additionally, new command posts will be established by American forces in Israel and that country’s own IDF army will begin working from a base in Germany.

This is the telling paragraph. US CPs in Israel during the drill make perfect sense considering the size of the US force on the ground, but the establishment of an IDF post in Germany smells a bit more permanent.

It appears an infrastructure is being built, but for what eventuality?