Opinion> Paul Craig Roberts> U S Israeli Missile Defense War Game Signals Israeli Attack On Iran

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U.S.-Israeli Missile Defense War Game Signals Israeli Attack on Iran

There's no word in the Western press, but Al-jazeera reports that the U.S. and Israel are conducting tests of the high altitude missile defense system that the U.S. has provided to Israel.

The anti-missile system is useless against the short-range rockets of Hamas and Hezbollah. Its purpose is to protect Israel from longer-range Iranian missiles.

Everyone understands that Iran would not attack Israel except in retaliation. It is logical to conclude that the missile defense system signals an upcoming Israeli attack on Iran.

If the U.S. were opposed to an Israeli attack on Iran, the U.S. would not provide Israel with protection against retaliation and would not engage in war games with Israel to test the system. The best way to prevent an Israeli attack on Iran is to leave Israel open to retaliation.

This decision by the United States government is irresponsible in the extreme.

It enables Israel to spread aggression in the Middle East. By signaling an attack, it would encourage a less cautious country than Iran to strike first before the Israeli missile defense system is operative.

The joint U.S.-Israeli war games involving 2,000 troops from the U.S. European Command, the Israeli Army and 17 U.S. Navy ships is further indication to the world that no matter what crimes the Israelis commit, the U.S. will protect Israel from being held accountable.

In the world today, the U.S. and Israel are the two threats to peace.

To find out more about Paul Craig Roberts, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.