Don't Be Confused

13 Tishrei 5785 

If you follow the news, and I understand why many don't, the announcement about the US sending a THAAD array to Israel might cause some confusion.

Biden sends antimissile system and 100 troops to Israel, deepening U.S. role

...The deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile system, or THAAD, is the latest indication that the United States expects the Israeli assault to be “so comprehensive that the Iranians will have to respond,” said Aaron David Miller, a Middle East expert who has advised multiple Republican and Democratic administrations. 

...“The THAAD Battery will augment Israel’s integrated air defense system,” said Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder. “This action underscores the United States’ ironclad commitment to the defense of Israel, and to defend Americans in Israel, from any further ballistic missile attacks by Iran.”

[Harrison] Mann said the risk to U.S. soldiers who will crew the THAAD system is clear.

“Those soldiers will be operating from Israeli military bases, which Iran already demonstrated the will and capability to strike, at a time when additional Iranian strikes are expected imminently,” he said. “Even if we make the unreasonably optimistic assumption that this THAAD battery can defeat any and all missiles headed its way, the Israeli military cannot guarantee the safety of these troops from drones, which have successfully penetrated Israeli bases in the past.”

First they tell us only diplomacy can work, there must be a ceasefire, (even now in Lebanon!), but at the same time they continue to send war materiel to Israel. To understand how to possibly resolve the confusion, it is helpful to backtrack to 2008 to "Site 512"...

“Site 512,” a Secret US Military Base in Israel to Detect Iranian Missile Launches

According to previous reports, the primary function of the military base known as "Site 512" is to operate a long-range radar facility for the United States. This facility is tasked with monitoring any ballistic missile launches by Iran or its proxy groups against Israel and other allies in the Middle East.

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — Located atop Mount Har Qeren in Israel’s Negev Desert lies a secret United States military facility, known only to defense observers as “Site 512,” approximately 20 miles from the Gaza Strip.

According to previous reports, the primary function of this base, “Site 512,” is to operate a long-range American radar system.

This system is designed to monitor any ballistic missile launches by Iran or its proxy groups against Israel and other allies in the Middle East.

In recent days, this long-range radar facility has been actively assisting Washington and Tel Aviv in detecting Iranian ballistic missiles aimed at Israel.

The main objective of “Site 512” is to track ballistic missile threats; however, it is not equipped to monitor the thousands of rockets launched by Palestinian militants against Israel.

...Capable of detecting targets from 540 miles to nearly 1,860 miles away, the AN/TPY-2 radar is among the most powerful on the market for tracking ballistic missiles.

Specifically developed to detect and track short, medium, and long-range ballistic missiles, the radar operates in the X-Band of the electromagnetic spectrum, which allows for clearer target visibility.

...Months before the recent escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the U.S. Army allocated $32 million (equivalent to approximately RM153 million) to construct additional housing facilities for its troops stationed at this secret military site.

This likely indicates efforts to increase the presence of U.S. military personnel at “Site 512” and to expand its long-range radar capabilities in Israel.

There is also a potential plan to add about 1,000 U.S. troops to “Site 512”. — DSA

[See also U.S. Deploys X-Band Radar In Israel In Shield Against Incoming Iranian Missiles Such As Shahabs.]

My best guess, and one that makes a lot of sense in my opinion, is that this THAAD Battery is coming to protect Site 512 and its contingent of American military personnel.  It makes sense even more so when you consider the damage done to a base in the Negev in the last onslaught of Iranian ballistic missiles.

Apparently, I'm not the only one asking this question or coming to the same conclusion.  [See Why the US is giving Israel a powerful Thaad anti-missile system.]

The upshot of all this is that there is no need for confusion as long as you keep your mind focused on one overriding fact:  the USA is not our friend and is only ever looking out for their own best interests, especially when they conflict with ours.

I guess we'll find out soon enough.

If you haven't already read my 2013 blog post on American military bases in Israel, I invite you to do so now:  "Not-so-secret US Military Involvement in the Jewish State".

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I noticed this yesterday. Everything is in motion right now.  And GoguMagog was always connected to Sukkot!

Israel Realtime Updates (15/10/24 AM)

❓WORLD WAR EVENTS that may indirectly affected Israel:

.. North Korea threatening South Korea, and blowing up bridges and roads that cross the borders.

.. Russia brings a military alliance pact with North Korea, who is supplying them with heavy ammunition for use against Ukraine, to their parliament.

.. Russia is “clawing back” Russian territory invaded by Ukraine over the summer and pushing hard on the Ukrainian fronts.

.. China, in a ‘drill’, encircled Taiwan with mass military and air forces - and directly describes the exercise as practice for an invasion and takeover.

.. Effect on Israel: The US has ally commitments to South Korea and Taiwan, and is a major supplier of war equipment to Ukraine. Some resources may be redirected.

.. Could these events be coordinated? Possibly.