Preparing to Die for Israel

Updated May 2018

With the Middle East heating up once again, thanks to Israel's killing of Palestinian protestors, the alleged use of chemical weapons in Syria, the conflict in Yemen and sabre-rattling when it comes to Iran, recent comments from a U.S. Airforce commander should be of particular interest to Americans.  

In the midst of March 2018's massive joint U.S. - Israel air defense exercise, Juniper Cobra, which consisted of 2000 Israeli Aerial Defense troops, 1100 U.S. Navy personnel and 1400 U.S. Marines, there was a key comment by U.S. Third Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Richard Clark as reported in the Jerusalem Post on March 8, 2018:

""The United States and Israel enjoy a strong and enduring military-to-military partnership built on a trust that has been developed over decades of cooperation,” said USAF Third Air Force commander Lt.-Gen. Richard Clark, who also serves as the commander for the deploying Joint Task Force – Israel.

“The Juniper Cobra exercises continue to strengthen this relationship, providing us with the opportunity to bolster interoperability and develop seamless integration with our Israeli partners.”

According to Clark, the US and Israeli troops will work side-by-side under each other’s relevant chain of command.

“As far as decision-making, it is a partnership,” he continued, stressing nonetheless that “at the end of the day it is about the protection of Israel – and if there is a question in regards to how we will operate, the last vote will probably go to Zvika [Haimovitch].”

Washington and Israel have signed an agreement which would see the US come to assist Israel with missile defense in times of war and, according to Haimovitch, “I am sure once the order comes we will find here US troops on the ground to be part of our deployment and team to defend the State of Israel.”

And those US troops who would be deployed to Israel, are prepared to die for the Jewish state, Clark said.

“We are ready to commit to the defense of Israel and anytime we get involved in a kinetic fight there is always the risk that there will be casualties. But we accept that – as every conflict we train for and enter, there is always that possibility,” he said." (my bold)

As background, the gentleman mentioned by Lt.-General Clark, Brigadier General Zvika Haimovitch, is the head of the Israeli Defense Force's Aerial Defense Division as shown here:

Not only has Lt.-General Clarke mentioned the commitment of American military forces to the defense of Israel, General Curtis Scaparrotti, Commander of the European Command (EUCOM) stated the following as reported in The Times of Israel in early March 2018:

"The US is deeply committed to the defense of Israel. We will continue to work alongside the IDF to promote stability throughout the region, not only for the purposes of this exercise, but in the event of any real-world contingency."

Let's step back for a moment and look at the involvement of the United States in the Juniper Cobra defense exercise and the purpose of the partnership.  One of Israel's greatest security concerns is the use of ballistic missiles against its territory and citizens, particularly precision-guided missiles used by Hezbollah and medium- and long-range missiles that are being developed by Iran.  As such, U.S. materiel played a key role in Juniper Cobra.  The exercise was used as a testing ground for Lockheed Martin's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, better known as THAAD:

...Raytheon's Patriot missile defense system:

...and the Aegis Combat System, which is touted by Lockheed Martin as the world's most advanced and only maritime ballistic missile defense and offence system:

As well, the Israelis tested their Iron Dome, David's Sling and  Arrow defense systems.  By using multiple systems from two nations, the exercise aided Israeli and American commanders in the logistics of coordinating offensive and defensive responses to an attack against Israel.  While all of this technology used in Juniper Cobra is more-or-less proven against a single missile launch, the Israelis have admitted that they will need assistance from the United States when it comes to multiple incoming missiles.

While I'm not a huge fan, let's look at a recent exchange between Fox News Tucker Carlson and Senator Roger Wicker (R - MS) on the reasons for American forces to enter the civil war in Syria:



Let's repeat Senator Wicker's comment from the 12 second mark of the video:

"Well, if you care about Israel..."

And there you have it.  The entire reason for entering the Syrian fray and, by extension, a potential conflict in Iran, is how it benefits Israel, not how it will benefit Syrian or Iranian citizens or improve global security and thus, the importance of the recent comments made by Lt. General Richard Clark.  

From all of this information, I hope that you will take away one key point; according to U.S. commanders, American military personnel must be prepared to both submit to the decisions of Israeli military commanders and be prepared to die in combat to protect Israel.  With Israel's ongoing actions against Assad's regime in Syria and its sabre-rattling directed towards Iran, American military personnel may find themselves on the front lines of a conflict in the Middle East sooner rather than later.  On the upside, any actions in the Middle East will create work for Americans who spend their days toiling for the nation's defense companies as they move forward their quest to kill even more human beings with technologically advanced weaponry as was tested in Operation Juniper Cobra.