May 18, 2006

Bertram Cohen is highly critical of the following report

JINSA Report #559, March 27, 2006

Israel as a Security Asset for the United States

In 1979, JINSA published a “quick reference guide” to the capabilities Israel brings to U.S.-Israel security cooperation. We review it periodically, revise it slightly and republish it when some people - including professors at Harvard and the University of Chicago - seem unsure why the U.S. regards Israel as a partner in a difficult region rather than the beneficiary of “The Lobby.” Twenty-seven years after its debut, the list remains largely intact.

Israel has:

1. A secure location in a crucial part of the world
2. A well-developed military infrastructure
3. The ability to maintain, service and repair U.S.-origin equipment
4. An excellent deep-water port in Haifa
5. Modern air facilities
6. A position close to sea-lanes and an ability to project power over long distances
7. A domestic air force larger than many in Western Europe and possessing more up-to-date hardware
8. Multilingual capabilities, including facility in English, Arabic and the languages of the (former) Soviet Union
9. Combat familiarity with Soviet/Russian-style tactics and equipment
10. The ability to assist U.S. naval fleets, including common equipment
11. The ability to support American operations and to provide emergency air cover
12. A democratic political system with a strong orientation to support the United States and the NATO system.

In 1996, we noted that Israel’s military R&D capabilities complement those of the U.S.; its intelligence services cooperate closely with ours - to our benefit; and large numbers of American troops train in Israel.

In 2006, we would add that, in large measure through JINSA’s Law Enforcement Exchange Program, American police and law enforcement officials have reaped the benefit of close cooperation with Israeli law enforcement in the areas of first response and counter-terrorism practices.

Israel and the United States are drawn together by common values and common threats to our well-being. The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction across the Middle East and Asia, and the ballistic missile technology to deliver systems across wide areas require cooperation in intelligence, technology and security policy. Terrorism and the origins and dissemination of violent Islamic radicalism also need to be addressed multi-laterally when possible.

In a volatile region so vital to the U.S., where other states cannot be relied upon, it would be foolish to disengage - or denigrate - an ally such as Israel. The war against terrorists and the states that harbor and support them will be long and hard, and success will depend in no
small measure on the allies who stand with us and with whom we stand.

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To JINSA

This is an important issue because too few people appreciate Israel as a security asset to the U.S. Propaganda attacks on Israel and on AIPAC attempt to portray Israel as a liability. Such efforts would be far less effective if the general public understood how much Israel has helped America. Also, most Jews have little appreciation for Israel as a security asset and Israel’s supporters generally rely on statements such as: ‘Israel is the only democracy in that region’; ‘we share common values’ and ‘embattled Israel needs our help’. Such ideas are really weak arguments on which to rely and they suggest that there is little else that Israel has to offer, especially since they export no oil, the Arabs provide a far larger export market to the U.S. and people may tire of sending nearly $3 billion annually to Israel.

If you would sample American Jewish opinion, including rabbis and lay leaders, you might find that they are largely unaware of the huge assistance that Israel has provided and continues to provide to America. And the Jewish public knows even less than Jewish leaders. The American Jewish community is ill-equipped to educate the American public when it, itself, is ill-informed.

In reading your JINSA Report #559 I was disappointed. Your list of Israeli capabilities is largely irrelevant to impress the American people. Other countries also have impressive capabilities. Americans need to know what Israel has actually done to assist America and merely listing capabilities does not properly answer that question.

In my opinion there is a far better approach to addressing this issue. We should first advance the proposition that, more than any other ally, Israel has assisted America in winning the cold war. In addition Israel has been a huge asset to America in its current war on terror.

Details should be collected and presented to support the following points:

Captured Soviet weapons were provided to the U.S. during the cold war.

American weapons systems were battle tested and improved with Israeli innovations.

High value intelligence was provided. (The late General George F. Keegan, former head of U.S. intelligence, had stated that the intelligence that Israel provided to America, he could not have obtained with five C.I.A.’s.)

Israeli military innovations became available to America. (In the 1982 Lebanon war Israeli technology defeated the best Soviet air defense system installed in Syria and downed 80 Syrian Migs with no Israeli losses. That Israel technology became available to America and the Soviets had to spend a fortune to redesign their entire air defense system in response which, in turn, had to weaken their economy.)

Israeli civilian technology benefited America and our economy from innovations in computers, computer programs, cell phone technology, advances in medicine and pharmaceuticals and much more.

Today Israeli technology for fighting terrorism also enhances American military capabilities including drones that can also launch precision missiles, electronic counter measures, etc.

Also, the dollar-value of these benefits to America should be balanced against the roughly three billion in annual aid. It has been estimated that the dollar benefit to America is two to three times the three billion in annual aid to Israel. In addition the value of American aid to Israel should be discounted by the effect of American arms and training to Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan because none of these countries is truly at peace with Israel which must dedicate resources in case of attack from them.

This task should also include direct testimony from both American and Israeli officials, (including; military, intelligence and diplomatic) to convincingly document this largely untold story. The full story would comprise a sizeable book. A summary of such a story should then be released to the media, the Jewish community and should be given maximum exposure until it becomes as well known as our annual aid to Israel.