The Army has let slip one of the worst-kept secrets in the world — that Israel has the bomb.
Officially, the United States has a policy of ambiguity regarding Israels nuclear capability. Essentially, it has played a game by which it neither acknowledges nor denies that Israel is a nuclear power.
But a Defense Department study completed last year offers what may be the first time in a unclassified report that Israel is a nuclear power. On page 37 of the U.S. Joint Forces Command report, the Army includes Israel within “a growing arc of nuclear powers running from Israel in the west through an emerging Iran to Pakistan, India, and on to China, North Korea, and Russia in the east.”
The single reference is far more than the U.S. usually would state publicly about Israel, even though the world knew Israel to be a nuclear power years before former nuclear technician Mordechai Vanunu went public with facts on its weapons program in 1986.
Several years later investigative reporter Seymour Hersh published “The Samson Option,” detailing Israels strategy of massive nuclear retaliation against Arab states in the event it felt its very existence was threatened. Israels nuclear arsenal has been estimated to range from 200 to 400 warheads.
Yet Israel has refused to confirm or deny its nuclear capabilities, and the U.S. has gone along with the charade.
As recently as Feb. 9 President Barack Obama ducked the question when asked pointedly by White House correspondent Helen Thomas whether he knew of any country in the Middle East that has nuclear weapons. Keeping the blinders on is necessary politically in order to avoid a policy confrontation with Israel.
By law, the U.S. would have to cease providing billions of dollars in foreign aid to Israel if it determined the country had a nuclear weapons program. Thats because the so-called Symington Amendment, passed in 1976, bars assistance to countries developing technology for nuclear weapons proliferation.
Given the U.S.s long history of selective blindness when it comes to Israeli nukes, its unlikely that the Joint Operating Environment 2008 report compiled by the Army amount to much more than a minor faux pas.
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz, in a March 8 article on the report, observed: “It is virtually unheard of for a senior military commander, while in office, to refer to Israels nuclear status. In December 2006, during his confirmation hearings as Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates referred to Israel as one of the powers seen by Iran as surrounding it with nuclear weapons. But once in office, Gates refused to repeat this allusion to Israel, noting that when he used it he was ‘a private citizen.’”
– Bryant Jordan
In other news, Elton John is gay.
Who would imagine that the nation whose ethnic group (jews) has more Nobel prizes in physics than any other would be able to build a bomb?
“By law, the U.S. would have to cease providing billions of dollars in foreign aid to Israel if it determined the country had a nuclear weapons program. That
We already knew this. But still, people need to learn to keep their mouths shut
Old news. The US has taken a dont ask dont tell view towards Israeli nukes since the 70’s. It was a threat of an Israeli nuke strike that lead to US intervention in the 73 war.
As for people keeping their mouths shut, “You want the truth? You can’t handle the truth“
The truth is no news report will alter US policy towards Israel. Much ado about nothing this.
@Joe
“The truth is no news report will alter US policy towards Israel. Much ado about nothing this.“
It’s not a “news report” that released this “information” but an official DoD paper. The entire world knows Israel has nukes (which is yet another reason why the Arab states hate us), but this it’s significant that now the US government has published it in text — making it “official”.
So why does the US ignore the fact that Israel has the bomb? Oh yea, because the US gave it too them and started the arms race in the mideast. What’s new.
If I was the leader of one of Israel’s neighboring countries it would be my duty to get the bomb to defend my country. Just like the USSR did after the US dropped the first a-bomb.
jack
Jack,
Your an idiot. And why was it’s Russia’s duty to get the bomb after world war II?
How come the arab countries kept attacking isreal in the 60’s and 70’s? Was it Isreal’s duty to get the bomb?
jack, do you have any information that backs up the claim that the US gave israel the bomb? From what I have read, it seems that France did more than anyone else:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_weapons_and_Israel
Also, israel really wanted nuclear weapons as well, and worked hard to make it happen.
So Israel has nukes. As Brian said earlier, “In other news, Elton John is gay.”
Really, this doesn’t change anything. The US will continue to ignore any rule against providing assistance to Israel just like we’ve continued to ignore it for the last 30 years. Does anyone think a DOD slip up is going to change that foreign policy?
Israel’s refusal to state that they had nuclear weapons was about as transparent as OJ’s attempts to find “the real killers” on golf courses in Florida.
Countries in the Middle East might scream a little louder, but the response from the DOD is going to be something like “oh, that was a misprint”.
Why when we are trillions in the red do we give billions to others? They wont pay off our debt so why should we continue to do this?
Maybe if our books were balanced MAYBE.
Try criticizing Israel for even a second and you’re immediately branded an anti-semite.
…and by the way, they’re our best frinds, just ask Johnathan Pollard.….
In other news, Elton John is gay.
Posted by: Brian at March 18, 2009 08:53 AM
LOL also snow is wet, and Senator Barney Frank.……also a fudge packer..
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Posted by: jack at March 18, 2009 12:00 PM
Jack i wouldnt worry about israel having the bomb or 30 bombs there not the ones talking about the complete eradication of a ppl. Plus im not worried they will sale it to aq or hamas.…Iran?
I have a idea barak instead of forcing ruin on anyone wounded in the course of duty to save 540mil.…how about not giving it to those jihadi f&^ks hamas and fatah what is your giving them 900mil? dick
Greg.
Those arab countries have every right to protect themselves from a neighboring country with a nuke. Are you saying they don’t? What gives the US the right to say who can and who can’t have something? Who made the US king of the world? Israel has had it share of crazy leaders just like the Arab nations. Remember Sharon and now that crazy right wing dude. I wouldn’t trust either of those guys. I doubt the Arabs or Iranians do either.
@Jack — what to say to such ignorance? What I would have done is delay the end of WWII and given the bomb to Hitler, he had the right ot defend his nation.
This is moral equivalance for the crazies like you. If you cannot see the difference between the US/USSR or Isreal/Iran/Syria there is no hope for the world.
Here is a question: If Isreal has had the bomb for decades and the other countries in the Middle East have not, why has Isreal not nuked them? By your “logic” the Isreal crazies would have done it, why didn’t they?
The reason the anti-semitism card is played so often is that arguments against Isreal and the Jews are typically so illogical and stupid that they force one to ask, “maybe there is something else here?”
controlling your media/finance and certain government departments .
are fin me.…our media state department sucks humas of regurlarly so wtf?
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As for finance if jews where so good at money which aparently they control all the world i say hell give them control of the system
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but why the USA has stood by and lets its Country be hijacked by the Jewish lobby is beyond comprehension .
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again dude if you dont want to be called a anti-semite then dont quote them, such as cair, hamas, others like them love the term jewish lobby.…the Palestinians(which btw ever read the bible says it right there jews had it along time ago so stop with the fin took our land crap, palestinians where just jordanians mostly or syrians before israel.) get BILLIONS every year from every country they can pitty plead it from where does this go to the ppl to build hospitals, schools, housing, roads basic freakin infistructure?.…no it goes to humas and fatah so they can fire rockets at israeli cities.…
so grow the heck up and stop with the jewish lobby.….wana talk about hijacking the system try ACORN.
Elton John? Gay?
I thought it was just his boyfriend that was gay.
“Pull your head out of Rush Limbaugh’s ass, please“
Never listened to the mans radio show in my life…or ok maybe i saw him once on tv.
Forgive me for my gramatical errors…something coherent.…lets see.….
Jewish lobby controling the US…stupid so so stupid…controling the media.…single dumbest thought of the day. Hell i forgot its evil to drop bombs onto moving vehicles of men who murder indescriminatly. Of course we should wait till the brave hamas leaders get in there bunkers under a hospital.…OOO maybe israel should just fire a few thousand rockets level the whole gaza strip and call it a day like russia can…oh well
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/02/us_plans_to_pledge_900_million.html
Here is one last coherent thought…some ppl want to blame jews for everything…ww1, ww2, poor, herpies, pirates, killing jesus.……ok they kinda did that one.….point is like most things for ppl to find the true cause of there problem they just need to look in the mirror.
And last as i tried to say before let me refraise.….If jews ran the treasury do you honestly think we’ed be poor?.…HELL NO
I agree with Jack. Why should the US be able to tell other countries what they can and can’t do to defend themselves. If I was a country next to Israel I’d want nukes too! It’s called a balance of power Greg. Read up on it.
If I was a country next to Israel I’d want nukes too! It’s called a balance of power Greg. Read up on it.
I understand how your thinking.…but remember these are the ppl who think terrorism is right…women, children, babies…dont matter to them anything they do as long as it is for islam is OK. Didi god stop it? well then it was his will.
Also one of the things that scares me most isnt iran nuking israel but selling the material to terrorist. Iran funds terrorism around the world infact Hamas hezbullah…funded by iran and syria.
Stop thinking like a westerner or a person of rational thought.…then think of having a bomb capable of killing millions.….that is what i fear.
Well this article went over well. Good on everyone except Jack/Donald and whatever sock puppet he/they come up with. Think the author will recognize the only approving views of the article are coming from anti-Israeli hatemongers?
RE: “If I was a country next to Israel I’d want nukes too!“
I’m sure you would too. The only difference is you would have already used them in a genocidal war against a people that just wanted to be left alone and not as a deterrence as israel has apparently done these past decades.
May God deliver us from:
a. Useful Idiot Moral Equivocators and
b. Their Evil Manipulators of any political or religious pedigree.
Okay lets talk about the real reason that the US walks on eggshells about this. Most of the most sophisticated weapons tech in the world is developed by Israeli hi-tech. The moment the US cuts the aid Israel will have to pull the plug on allowing this R&D to go to the US this includes .. the point-look-shoot helmet for combat helicopters, non-linear peek and shoot targetting systems, shoot around corner CQB tech and so on. Cutting off Israel this way would be tantamount to taking the US Military back to the stone age. All this before we even think about that old moral saw of helping loyal allies
Everyone knows Israel has the bomb, as well they should. They don’t flaunt it and threaten the world with it. They’ve actually been pretty chill about the whole thing minus the ’73 incident.
In other news, Neil Patrick Harris is also gay…
@Jon — let me ask you a question. If Isreal builds all the US technology why would they sell the US the pieces for millions to be put together by the US and sold back to them for billions? Why not build the entire system and sell to us for billions? Does Isreal have great military technology, yes. But your “back to the stone age” comment is just flat out wrong.
Like many smaller countries Isreal can produce excellent niche technology much of which is only suitable to its own defense needs — Merkava and their new APC as examples(great for defense but far too heavy for an expeditionary force like the US). I don’t think they can produce SSBN’s or NGB’s anytime soon.
Oh yeah, they’re (Israel) our best friends.…..just ask the survivors from the USS Liberty.…..whoops!
In other news, Neil Patrick Harris is also gay…
Posted by: TantricMoose at March 19, 2009 12:05 PM
WHO?
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“And we use sanctions instead of bombs“
erm.….……um that isnt realy working.….
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Again ill never say a ppl dont have a right to defend themselves.….….we also have a right to kill them if they threaten us.
Hey atleast i dont hear the word “illegal war” every 5 min anymore thank god
Great, a country of fundamentalist religous nuts have nukes. So why can’t a more moderate nation like Israel also have nukes?
If a country like the USA — where the people in power and in the military believe a magical, invisible sky man from the deserts of Middle East controls their destiny — has nukes, surely Israel is just as entitled, if not more so, to have the same weapons of awesome destruction.
So strange how no one is willing to comment on the Israeli spy programme that has repeatedly sold American military secrets to the Chinese ?
Israel and it’s suporters care nothing for the USA or the Uk or western europe . Israel is a rogue nation wrapped up in a nihilistic game with Iran . Both nations full of good people led by religious criminals !
Posted by: Tim at March 19, 2009 07:46 PM
Dude when i see you speak my brain startes to shut off.…
Tim do you know any jews? ever go to there blogs? web sites?
I do those in israel hold israel first.….AS THEY SHOULD. Those here mostly hold america first as they should..ive talked to a few ppl from israel and they are very concerned with the US and its safty.
And while were talking about backstabbing…our country and pretty much every other one in the world has been giving the palies billions every year.….…which they promptly use to cement there power dig bunkers stockpile weapons pay off congressmen and news ppl and basicly try to do there one goal in life.….….kill jews…so yes why i dont listen to you.
Hey mr Spock read the newspapers in Israel ? Current headlines all about Israeli troops shooting children and old women !
You would never see a US or Uk soldier ever commit such heinous crimes !
according the isreali army over 160 children killed in the invasion of gaza .
Israels Terroist activities around the woerld Just scroll down when you get there. The
US nor the media talk about these thing either.
http://wp.me/p4271-1pw
Rumour has it that God promised the bible lands which it is claimed comprise Palestine
Lebanon Syria Iraq et al (you name it, the Zionists claim it) not to ZIONISTS worldwide but to Orthodox Jews many of whom are deeply shamed by the actions of the ZIONISTS How remiss of GOD to have given the oil(black gold)and Gas to others while ignoring his chosen ones. However they have adopted the Old Testament,s destructive and barbarous motto — Vengeance is mine and I shall repay and the unenviable reputation that goes with such a barbaric philosophy. Pity them in their tragic and myopic existence. A