Faut-il bombarder l'Iran ? Martin Van Creveld

[rossana at comodinoposta.org]

http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0,36-973478,0.html

WASHINGTON --- On October 29, 2007 the Defense Security Cooperation 
Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Israel 
of missiles and munitions as well as associated equipment and services.

The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as 
$1.329 billion.

The Government of the Israel has requested a possible sale of:

Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
- 2,000 Radio Frequency (RF) TOW 2A Missiles
- 14 RF TOW 2A Fly-to-buy Missiles
- 1,000 AGM-114K3 HELLFIRE II Missiles
- 200 AGM-114L3 HELLFIRE II Longbow Missiles
- 500 AGM-114M3 HELLFIRE II Missiles
- 100 PATRIOT Guidance Enhanced Missile Plus (GEM+)
- 150,048 M433 40mm High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) Cartridges
- 8,000 M930 120mm Illuminating Cartridges
- 30,003 M889A1 81mm HE Cartridges with M935 Fuzes
- 100,000 M107 155mm HE Projectiles
- 5,000 M141 83mm Bunker Defeat Munitions

Also includes non-MDE cartridges, projectiles, charges, fuzes, 
containers, spare and repair parts, test and tool sets, personnel 
training and equipment, publications, U.S. Government and contractor 
engineering and logistics personnel services, Quality Assurance Team 
support services, and other related elements of logistics support. The 
estimated cost is $1.329 billion.

Israel’s strategic position makes it vital to the United States’ 
interests throughout the Middle East. Our policy has been to promote 
Middle East peace, support Israeli commitment to peace with other 
regional Arab countries, enhance regional stability and promote Israeli 
readiness and self-sufficiency. It is vital to the U.S. national 
interest to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready 
self-defense capability. This proposed sale is consistent with those 
objectives.

Israel will have no difficulty absorbing these additional missiles and 
munitions into its armed forces. The proposed sale will not affect the 
basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractors will be:

- Hellfire Systems Limited Liability Company of Orlando, Florida
- Raytheon Company of Tucson, Arizona
- Raytheon Company of Tewksbury, Massachusetts.

There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this 
potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of 
any U.S. Government or contractor representatives to the Israel.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of 
this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law; it does not mean 
that the sale has been concluded.