Special to WorldTribune.com

TEL AVIV — The United States, concerned over an Iranian backlash,
has canceled a major ballistic missile defense exercise with Israel.

Israeli sources said the administration of President Barack Obama
requested the cancellation of Austere Challenge-2012, meant to take place
around April and include more than 2,000 soldiers. They said the administration
asserted that a ballistic missile defense exercise would be viewed as
hostile by Iran.

“There has been a decision in Washington to distance itself from Israel regarding Iran,” an Israeli source said.

At first, the Israeli state media reported that Austere Challenge, meant to have been the most ambitious BMD exercise, was canceled because of a budget shortfall. But hours later, Israeli sources as well as the state-operated Channel 2 television said the cancellation stemmed from U.S. diplomatic considerations.

The sources said Washington has pledged to reschedule Austere Challenge toward the end of 2012. They said the exercise as well Iran’s nuclear weapons program would be discussed during a visit to Israel by the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey, on Jan. 19. The Israeli military has determined that its BMD requirements would reach $4
billion over the next three years.

“There is a lack of stability,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a
parliamentary committee on Jan. 16. “And under these circumstances, we must
strengthen our defensive capabilities against air and ground attacks.”

The U.S. military has confirmed the cancellation of Austere Challenge.
U.S. European Command said the exercise would take place in the second half
of 2012.

“It is not unusual for such exercises to be postponed, and leaders of
both sides believe that the best participation of all units will be best
achieved later in the year,” Eucom spokesman Capt. John Ross said.

The sources said the administration has been concerned over an Iranian
backlash against U.S. allies in the Middle East and South Asia. They said
Washington, despite Iranian threats to close the Strait of Hormuz and attack
Israel, believes it needs Teheran to ensure a peaceful withdrawal from
Afghanistan in 2013.

Over the last week, Washington has disassociated from attacks on Iranian
nuclear scientists, which Teheran blamed on Israel and the United States. At
the same time, a major publication called “Foreign Policy” published a long
article that reported CIA fury over the behavior of Israel’s Mossad in
operations in Iran. The Israeli government denied the report.

The Defense Ministry said Israel and the United States were still
discussing the fate of Austere Challenge. In a statement on Jan. 15, the
ministry said the exercise was not canceled because of budgetary reasons.

Israeli Vice Prime Minister Moshe Ya’alon has acknowledged his
government’s disappointment with Washington’s policy on Iran. Ya’alon told
Israel state radio that the administration has been dragging its feet in
imposing tough sanctions on Teheran.

“In the United States, the Senate passed a resolution, by a majority of
100-to-1, to impose these sanctions, and in the U.S. administration there is
hesitation out of fear of oil prices rising this year and out of
election-year considerations,” Ya’alon said. “This is certainly a
disappointment.”

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