Israel's missile shield against Iran: Three Americans in a trailer

By Aluf Benn and Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondents Last update - 07:46 24/08/2008

www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1014503.html

[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: The beauty of the set-up from an American standpoint is that while the operation has the ability/option to forward critical data to Israel about incoming threats, the transfer of the information isn't "hard wired" and is subject to American discretion, in sharp contrast, "Israel's freedom of action against Iran or Syria will be significantly curtailed. Israel will be required to obtain U.S. permission for any such operation, since it would endanger the lives of the U.S. personnel operating the system. The ground station itself would likely become the target of any reprisal attack by Iran or Syria. " This creates a situation where the requirement of an American OK could even block operations Washington would otherwise silently support due to an American .desire to distance itself from the move for diplomatic and other reasons.]