Israel may get F-22s if nation at risk

Debmey

By YAAKOV KATZ

The United States would be inclined to allow the sale of advanced stealth F-22 fighter jets to the Israeli Air Force if the State of Israel's security was in jeopardy, former US Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen told The Jerusalem Post Thursday night.

On a 24-hour visit to Israel, Cohen, who served as defense chief under President Bill Clinton from 1996 until 2000, met on Thursday with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Amir Peretz and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni for talks on the looming Iranian nuclear threat and other regional issues.

Cohen currently heads the Cohen Group, which provides business consulting services and advice on tactical and strategic opportunities around the globe.

The Post reported last week that the Air Force has expressed newfound interest in receiving the F-22 - a US-developed fifth generation stealth fighter jet - and has requested that the Defense Ministry present the request on its behalf to the Pentagon. Defense officials have asked to receive the jet so Israel can retain its military edge in the region in face of American plans to sell smart bombs to Saudi Arabia.

"There is no stronger relationship than with Israel," Cohen said. "There could be circumstances that that level of technology would be released to Israelis."

While Congress and the Pentagon would be hesitant to release classified technology like the F-22 to Israel, "if it came to a question of Israeli security, I am confident they will come to help."

The F-22 has been forbidden for export by the Pentagon.

Cohen arrived in Israel Wednesday night after visiting a number of Gulf states, including Abu Dhabi and Dubai, as well as Jordan. Cohen said that during his talks with leaders in those counties he heard "sentiments" acknowledging that Iran was the greatest threat to stability in the Middle East and no longer Israel. Cohen visited Israel as secretary of defense in 2000.

"They understand that Iran is a threat to them all," he said. "There is a convergence of interest evolving and you can find that Israel is not being seen as the adversary."

With Iran funding Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Hizbullah in Lebanon and Syria, there was a need to focus on the "center" when looking to find the catalyst for instability in the Middle East, Cohen said.

"The prospect of Iran getting nuclear weapons changes the dynamics in the region with great impact for rest of world," he said. "We try to seek ways that the Gulf states can cooperate with the US. They are not yet ready to announce diplomatic relations with Israel but the sentiment is shifting and they understand that Iran is the major threat to them and not Israel."

'the sale of advanced stealth F-22 fighter jets to the Israeli Air Force '

What sale? It would probably come free from US tax payers.

Debmey

Thats because you guys have been eating KFC, McDonalds, using Intel chips and Microsoft and other softwares. Its all your fault babe.

supergripen

dude..just ignore this fella.it'll just be a waste of ur time.

bayo

isn't the KFC. McDonald, Intel chips, Microsoft softwares across the causeway are much cheaper that the locals have difficulties entering into one or buying?

So, dont complain la when the Herzies and other groups get free weapons courtesy of Arab nations....hehehe!

Debmey

They don't get it for free, they pay for it, they have the money.
When you use your computer, you are supporting them.

mentosonline

One thing for sure, Israel can certainly afford to purchase those F-22s.
Their GDP is $160billion, slightly more than Singapore's but lower than Malaysia's $290billon, although the GDP per capita is much higher because Israel have only a quarter the population of Malaysia
But it is far more impressive considering that it has been attacked many times in the past by neighbours,燼nd爄s爐he爉ost爏uccessful爄n燼ll爐he爊ations燼t爃igh-technology燼gricultural燾onsidering爊ot爉uch爋f爐he爈and爄s燼rable.

mentosonline

No, economic aid to Israel was only $240million in 2006, which will be barely enough to buy  just one plane and spare parts.

[ Last edited by  mentosonline at 3-5-2007 03:51 PM ]

IceMallet

Pity those Americans who have to make ends meet, live in trailer parks, cannot afford medical treatment and so on..just bcoz the real masters of the US wants some F22s..

alien7749

How the F-22 going to fight hezb guerillas?

mentosonline

Hezbollah won't put Israel at risk unless they get nukes.
The article hints at Iran and Israel's Arab neighbours rather.

ef/x

hezb guerillas? nah....after they got kicked in the arse by hezb they choose to fight palestinian stone thrower instead !

Nick_Perelman

Originally posted by ef/x at 3-5-2007 05:26 PM
hezb guerillas? nah....after they got kicked in the arse by hezb they choose to fight palestinian stone thrower instead !

Hezies are good in bravade, however in reality they suffered very heavy blow. Thats why they conseal real number of their casualties (which is over 600). Thats why they didnt fire single bullet towards Israel for 9 months since the war, although before the war they were firing rockets and mortars on regular basis. Wish them more victories like that.

P.S. Palestinians have tens of thousands guns, machince guns, RPGs, mortars.

I dont thnik so. Foreign military aid to Israel caps about US5billion.

Debmey

Originally posted by Nick_Perelman at 3-5-2007 07:30 PM

Hezies are good in bravade, however in reality they suffered very heavy blow. Thats why they conseal real number of their casualties (which is over 600). Thats why they didnt fire single bullet ...

You Isrealis could have & should have killed more! Forget about prisoner exchange, there shld be no negotiation with terrorists.

Eokboy

I read that as an insult to the IDF.

Debmey

not an insult, its a criticism. I think these Isrealis are too soft.

Eokboy

You're a lowly puny chinese on a small obscure island. Who are you to criticize superior Ashkenazi Jews? They are where they are today because they can think and make the best decisions for themselves, not by taking advice from some islander conscript.

Debmey

you think jews are superior? perhaps.