Israeli Defense Forces Brig. Gen. Zvika Haimovich (right) and U.S. Maj. Gen. John L. Gronski sign an agreement during a ceremony at the Bislach Air Base, near Mitzpe Ramon, Israel, Monday. Israel and the United States announced plans Monday to open the first American air base in the Jewish state — a facility that will aim to bolster Israel’s aerial defenses. | AP
Associated Press
BISLACH AIR BASE, ISRAEL —
Israel and the U.S. inaugurated the first American military base on Israeli soil on Monday, which will serve dozens of soldiers operating a missile defense system.
The move comes at a time of growing Israeli concerns about archenemy Iran’s development of long-range missiles. Together with the U.S., Israel has developed a multilayered system of defenses against everything from long-range guided missile attacks from Iran to crude rockets fired from Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.
The base’s opening is largely symbolic and isn’t expected to bring operational changes. But the Israeli military says that along with other measures, it sends a message of readiness to Israel’s enemies.
“It’s a message that says Israel is better prepared. It’s a message that says Israel is improving the response to threats,” said Brig. Gen. Zvika Haimovich, the commander of Israel’s aerial defense.
The base is located within an existing Israeli air force base and will operate under Israeli military directives.
Israeli and U.S. military officials cut a ribbon at the base Monday, where the American and Israeli flags flew side by side and soldiers from both countries commingled.
That’s the official story, reported mostly in small newspapers overseas, and on a couple of blogs. Wonder why we haven’t seen it on ANY major media news outlet. Curious.
The take on Twitter:
SEEN ON FACEBOOK (Miss Marple):
This story got covered by DoD, Israel, and the Japan Times. Did we know about this? No. Our news media are useless.
This is the ONLY reason I wonder about Sessions and don’t completely crawl out on Old Lurker’s ledge. I didn’t know Podesta was called to testify in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee either, until I saw a tweet which ChiTown Lurker alerted me to.
I have to depend on people on Twitter for news. All of the MSM should hang their heads in shame.
They probably won’t, though, because most of them are actually our enemies.
Another fabulously inventive move by President Donald John Trump. If people would only open their eyes and see what he’s doing, they would stand back in awe. And that’s not overstating it.
There are none so blind as those who WILL NOT see.
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The reason for no MSM coverage. Can’t have the great unwashed seeing the brilliance of their President!
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Yes, I know Maj. Gen. John L. Gronski, knew his father. Not really impressed with the General. Badge and ticket puncher……
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Cone on now, to be fair most flag officers are ticket punchers. Politicians in flashy suits. I read their official CVs and you can see the ones who took the scenic route.
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With Israel receiving F-35s and the possible integration of the Israeli Iron Dome and US THAAD air defense systems this is a game changer.
Remember Trump’s speech at the UN where he talked about the Iran agreement being so bad? Well Israel’s been finagling for special stealthy external fuel tank add-ons that will increase their F-35’s range. The special electronics packages the Israelis will either get installed by the dealer or put in themselves will, with the stealthy plane itself, will go a long way to defeating the SA-300 missles the Russians have sold Iran and most likely have Russian crews manning. Whoops.
The US having a base there makes it less likely the Russians would hit or use surrogates to hit the base, after all the US refrained from hitting Russian bases in Syria and probably had a big hand in preventing the Turks from doing so.
A base in Israel would aldo increase the US’s ability to conduct operations in an area not all that friendly to us without our having to deal with long flights from NATO bases and permissions from countries en route to fly over. Reaction to es will be less too, re: Benghazi.
Great move long overdue. Can’t wait for reaction from our Moslem-lite, anti-US, anti-Israel, Baathist traitor you-know-who.
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