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Washington may object over timing and tactics. Likely also is concern over Israel acting preemptively unannounced. Last fall, Joint Chiefs head General Martin Dempsey expressed alarm, telling Obama it's possible. This week, he's heading to Israel to meet with Israeli officials.
He'll first stop in Brussels to meet with IDF chief General Benny Gantz and other NATO officials. In a CNN interview, he said his biggest concern is that Iran will "miscalculate our resolve." He spoke one day after Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned Iran not to produce nuclear weapons.
No evidence suggests a nuclear weapons capability or intention to develop one. Panetta, other Obama officials and Israeli ones know but won't say. Playing the nuclear card is pretext perhaps for a planned attack.
The drill planned testing defenses against Iranian or other incoming missiles. According to Israel's Channel 2, drills are now scheduled for late summer. The Jerusalem Post said end of year. When held, they'll be the largest ever joint ones, involving thousands of forces.
US troops are already positioned in Israel's Negev, monitoring Iranian missile tests. America's European Command (EUCOM) also closely follows Israeli war preparations by satellite and other means.
According to Israel's Defense Ministry, the announced postponement came Friday. Discussions on both sides continue. Some reports suggested cancellation was for budgetary reasons. Israel put that notion to rest. Neither country skimps on military matters.
A late 2009 joint missile defense exercise involved about 1,000 personnel on both sides. This one when held will be five times larger.
The Jerusalem Post said sophisticated US THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) and shipbased Aegis ballistic missile defense systems are involved.
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