Comments on: U.S. Said No to Israelis for Iran Bombs, Tankers: NYT http://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/01/10/israel-asked-us-for-bombs-aerial-tankers-for-2008-iran-strike/ Online Defense and Acquisition Journal Fri, 19 Mar 2010 03:36:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Colehttp://www.dodbuzz.com/2009/01/10/israel-asked-us-for-bombs-aerial-tankers-for-2008-iran-strike/comment-page-1/#comment-4721 Cole Mon, 12 Jan 2009 02:27:44 +0000 http://www.dodbuzz.com/?p=3537#comment-4721 Guess you could look at the bright side of the NYT leak. It shows Arab allies in a time of Gaza attacks (blamed in part on the U.S.) that we can say no to Israel. That helps us with Iraq, especially.That said, and answering two excellent articles with one response, believe Cordesman is wrong about the Israeli attacks having no value. Believe that if Israel seizes both the Philadephi strip and a center buffer through Gaza they could halt or reduce Hamas tunneling.We attacked Sadr City in part to push back rocket range on the Green zone. A center buffer dividing Gaza could similarly reduce rocket attacks to the north...something we would never accept if Mexican drug gangs started lobbing rockets into El Paso or San Diego.I've flown on the Israeli side of the "Philadelphi" strip of Gaza with Israeli officers in back. There does not appear to be a densely populated Palestinian presence near the Egyptian border that would be put out by forcing them to leave. In fact, from the looks of that area (unless it has changed a lot since 1990) it would not be missed, leading one to question the motives of those who do live there.Perhaps the Israelis could build some points in the Arab world by building housing for those who are displaced...perhaps with help from the U.S. money-wise. Guess you could look at the bright side of the NYT leak. It shows Arab allies in a time of Gaza attacks (blamed in part on the U.S.) that we can say no to Israel. That helps us with Iraq, especially.

That said, and answering two excellent articles with one response, believe Cordesman is wrong about the Israeli attacks having no value. Believe that if Israel seizes both the Philadephi strip and a center buffer through Gaza they could halt or reduce Hamas tunneling.

We attacked Sadr City in part to push back rocket range on the Green zone. A center buffer dividing Gaza could similarly reduce rocket attacks to the north…something we would never accept if Mexican drug gangs started lobbing rockets into El Paso or San Diego.

I’ve flown on the Israeli side of the “Philadelphi” strip of Gaza with Israeli officers in back. There does not appear to be a densely populated Palestinian presence near the Egyptian border that would be put out by forcing them to leave. In fact, from the looks of that area (unless it has changed a lot since 1990) it would not be missed, leading one to question the motives of those who do live there.

Perhaps the Israelis could build some points in the Arab world by building housing for those who are displaced…perhaps with help from the U.S. money-wise.

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