Its too expensive I may leave

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In a significant move, the United States is sending a highly advanced missile defense system, the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), along with 100 U.S. troops to Israel. This deployment, the first major one since the Gaza war began, reflects Washington’s deepening involvement in the ongoing conflict, just weeks before the U.S. presidential election. The mission underscores rising concerns in the U.S. administration about an imminent Israeli assault on Iran, potentially widening the conflict across the region.

 

 

The decision to deploy THAAD to Israel is seen as a precautionary measure in light of expected Iranian retaliation. According to Aaron David Miller, a Middle East expert and former advisor to both Republican and Democratic administrations, the U.S. anticipates Israel’s offensive will be comprehensive enough to provoke an Iranian response. The United States has already supplied Israel with more than 50,000 tons of armaments and military supplies since the conflict reignited in October, signaling strong military support for its ally.

 

 

Tensions have intensified since Israel's assassination of senior figures from Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah, which prompted Iran to launch a missile barrage against Israel on October 1. Although the attack inflicted minimal damage and resulted in no Israeli fatalities, it revealed vulnerabilities in Israel's missile defense network, as some missiles managed to reach Israeli soil. Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has promised a severe and unexpected retaliation against Iran, stating, “Our strike will be powerful, precise, and above all — surprising.”

 

Compounding the tension, an Iranian-backed Hezbollah drone struck an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) base in northern Israel, killing four soldiers. This highlighted gaps in Israel’s air defense capabilities, which the newly deployed U.S. THAAD system is expected to address. According to Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder, the move “underscores the United States’ ironclad commitment to the defense of Israel, and to defend Americans in Israel, from any further ballistic missile attacks by Iran.”

 

However, this decision comes with significant risks. The deployment of U.S. troops so close to an expected Israeli military action against Iran could endanger American personnel. If Iranian missiles or pro-Iranian militias target U.S. soldiers, the Biden administration may be forced to retaliate against Iran, drawing the U.S. further into the conflict. Miller warned, “If Iranian missiles hit a U.S. soldier or pro-Iranian militias in Iraq or Syria kill or wound U.S. personnel, there’s a high probability that the U.S. would take kinetic action against Iran.”

 

The deployment of the THAAD system, while effective in countering ballistic missiles, does not fully safeguard against other threats, particularly drones, which have already penetrated Israeli bases in recent attacks. Despite the system’s capabilities, the risk to U.S. troops stationed in Israeli bases remains significant.

 

Domestically, the U.S. role in the Israel-Gaza conflict has become a contentious issue, especially in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election. While both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have expressed strong support for Israel, the Democratic Party is divided. Younger voters and Arab Americans have criticized the Biden administration for continuing arms supplies to Israel amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where over 42,000 people have been killed.

 

Republicans, on the other hand, have attacked the administration for its cautious criticism of Israel’s military tactics, particularly following Hamas’s deadly October 7 attack on Israel, which left 1,200 people dead and more than 250 taken hostage.

 

As the conflict escalates, the deployment of U.S. troops and the THAAD system demonstrates that the U.S. is not merely an observer but is becoming increasingly entangled in the Middle East’s volatile dynamics. With U.S. personnel now in harm’s way, the stakes for the Biden administration—and for the broader region—are higher than ever.

 

Based on a report from the WP 2024-10-15

 

 

 

[Tug]

That’s a defensive move not offensive,it’s called standing shoulder to shoulder with an ally.not provocative at all.