Next week Israel and America will undertake joint military exercises. Nothing unusual there. Operation Juniper Cobra (JC) is about missile defence. Nothing unusual there either, it's a regular event. It's an autumn deployment. Ah, that's different. In previous years Operation JC was scheduled for spring, and that was supposed to be the case this year. So what changed?
Timing is everything, and the timing of these war games comes just as the tension over the Iranian nuclear question has risen dramatically, as was always likely after the UN General Assembly. This may not be why the operation was shifted, but it makes sense.
War Games are required to iron out problems of strategy, technology, even personal relationships. But they are also used to send messages. When the Chinese mess around in boats near Tawian, they usually use landing craft boats. This sends the clear message that despite recently warmer relationships, the Chinese still have the option of one day landing back in what they say is part of the Motherland.The message from Juniper Cobra is that the US will help defend Israel, and that together they are capable of deflecting a ballistic missile attack by Iran.
The Americans and Israeli's will link up their Arrow and Patriot systems and other equipment. Most of the action will take place on computer screens, but there will be some live firing. It will be interesting to see if the cameras are allowed to film this, if they are it will indicate a deliberate show of strength and it will be noticed from Moscow, to Pyongyang, to Tehran.
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