Penalizing Israel for Hamas
War Crimes?
It was a pro forma notice by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notifying Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Egypt. Taken from the www.defense-aerospace.com website, the notice reads:
The Government of Egypt has requested a possible sale of 12 AH-64D Block II APACHE Longbow Helicopters, 27 T700-GE-701D Engines, 36 Modernized Targeting Acquisition and Designation Systems/Pilot Night Vision Sensors, 28 M299 Hellfire Longbow Missile Launchers, 14 AN/ALQ-144(V)3 Infrared jammers, and 14 AN/APR-39B(V)2 Radar Signal Detecting Sets. Also included: composite horizontal stabilizers, Integrated Helmet and Display Sight Systems, repair and return, transportation, depot maintenance, spare and repair parts, support equipment, publications and technical documentation, U.S. Government and contractor technical support, and other related elements of program support.
That's a lot of equipment for a country not at war. The notice continues, "Egypt will use the AH-64D for its national security and protecting its borders. The aircraft will provide the Egyptian military more advanced targeting and engagement capabilities. The proposed sale will provide for the defense of vital installations and will provide close air support for the military ground forces."
It includes the required verbiage:
This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country, which has been and continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East...The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.
In a decidedly NOT formal notification, MENL reports that the Obama administration has held up Israel's request for six AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters. Sources told MENL the request was undergoing an "interagency review" to "determine whether additional Longbow helicopters would threaten Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip. 'During the recent war, Israel made considerable use of the Longbow, and there were high civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip,' a source close to the administration said."
So Egypt can protect its borders and can provide close air support for its ground forces, but Israel cannot defend its citizens from rockets and missiles launched by a terrorist organization? Israel's operation in Gaza was a limited response to an increasingly lethal Hamas threat. The deaths of Gaza civilians - while regrettable - are entirely the responsibility of the Hamas leadership that located rocket launchers in civilian areas and hid behind human shields. To blame and penalize Israel for Hamas (and Hezbollah) war crimes would be outrageous.
The good news is that DSCA concludes: "This notice of a potential sale is required by law. It does not mean that the sale has been concluded." Congress will have an opportunity to vet the sale to Egypt and while doing so might consider whether the defense interests of the United States are best served by providing more capability to Egypt while withholding it from Israel.
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