Democratic Palestine : 23 (ص 23)
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- Democratic Palestine : 23 (ص 23)
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starters, this project itself will require a nuclear capacity,so the
argument that it will make nuclear arms obsolete is patently
false. The funds invested, plus the technological spin-offs
produced, especially in the military field, will be sufficient to
fulfill imperialism’s economic and military ambitions that have
so far been restrained by international accords. The SDI project
will also serve to activate the Israeli military industry and the
economy generally. According to Lt. Gen. James Abraham-
son, SDI director at the US Defense Department, high-tech is
to be channeled into improving Israeli military capabilities:
«The technology... will contribute to some of Israel’s very
pressing military needs.»
NOT CONFINED TO SPACE
The SDI is not a lot of ‘space-junk’ as many think. It is
much more down-to-earth than most imagine it to be. One of
the first technologies to emerge from SDI research is that need-
ed for anti-tactical ballistic missiles. Developing a workable
defense against tactical missiles, a small part of the SDI, could
be accomplished in the relatively near future with existing
weapons. It is believed that the computer software for the US’s
Patriot anti-aircraft missile, or the expensive AMRAAM (ad-
vanced medium range air-to-air missile) could be reprogram-
med. Either could then target ballistic missiles which are com-
paratively slower and lower flying than strategic missiles.
US and Zionist strategic analysts attach high priority to
anti-missile defense. Experts in military technology estimate
that ‘Israel’ will be cut out to develop systems capable of
locating and destroying ground-to-ground missiles with laser
beams operating in conjunction with an advanced computer
system. This technical know-how to be acquired through par-
ticipation in the SDI, will better enable the US to project its
military hegemony through Israeli battle performance.
No less connected to these projects are high expectations for
R&D in aircraft technology. The US is particularly involved in
projects related to this field in conjunction with ‘Israel’,
especially those carried out by the Israel Aircraft Industries
and Jadiran which produces technological components. Dr.
Robert O’Neill, director of the London-based International
Institute for Strategic Studies, says that by joining the SDI,
‘Israel’ will be able to update aviation electronics and combat
command and control systems, especially since it depends
greatly on air superiority.
The Israeli aircraft industry grew in tandem with the Tech-
nion’s aeronautical engineering faculty. Therefore it is natural
that this institute of technology in Haifa, should play an im-
portant role. For thirty years, the Israeli Technion research
center has been supported by three of the US armed services
with funds ranging in the millions of dollars. The institute
provides 70% of the country’s engineers and much of its scien-
tific research. Already the US had doubled donations to the
Technion to make up for the withdrawal of 50% of the Israeli
government’s subsidies.
In addition to improved anti-aircraft capacity, the US is
taking giant steps towards renovating and expanding the naval
forces and facilities in ‘Israel’, whether ships or submarines.
There is talk of bigger and more ships as well as enhanced
surveillance efforts to counter threats to US imperialist
military maneuvers in the region.
STAR WARS ON EARTH
Many arguments have been raised against the SDI in the US
and in ‘Israel’. These include the colossal technological and
financial effort needed to erect the so-called defense umbrella
off the ground. It is estimated that the SDI would require from
600 to 5,000 shuttles flights, costing $30-60 billion. In view of
the US’s shuttle disasters suffered during the past two years as
a result of pushing the shuttle launches to 15 a year, the SDI
does seem to be rather far-fetched. Moreover, writing instruc-
tions for the computers that would manage the ‘star wars’ bat-
tle is another colossal task. Even if it were technically possible
to produce the necessary software, there would be no way to
test it completely. Another obstacle is the effort needed to
mount a defensible platform from which to destroy missiles in
their boost phase. In addition, in space the duplication of
equipment required for high reliability is extremely expensive,
and realistic testing of the integrated hardware and software
after deployment is impossible.
With respect to ‘Israel’, many opponents of its participation
in the SDI have expressed skepticism in view of its infant space
agency, compared to the better established research and
development giants of the imperialist camp. The Israeli space
agency was only recently established (July 1983) under the
guidance of the Minister of Science and Development.
Operating out of a rented office with a handful of full-time
employees, it is sustained on a budget of $500,000 a year. This
office works in close coordination with NASA, with US
technicians installing a laser tracking station in the hills near
Jerusalem. The station will be one of 19 around the world. The
US claims that their main purpose is measuring the movement
of continents, but is this all?
Yet whether the SDI is feasible or not, the US and ‘Israel’
are forging ahead on an expanded level of alliance which will
tolerate no debate or opposition. Donald Hicks, US
undersecretary of defense, suggests that he will withhold
research grants from scientists who criticize Defense Depart-
ment policy. He particularly had the SDI in mind: «If they
want to get out and use their roles as profs to make statements,
that’s fine, it’s a free country,» he said in an interview with
Science magazine, but «freedom works both ways. They’re
free to keep their mouths shut... I’m also free not to give them
money.» (Mr. Hicks is the nation’s largest dispenser of
research funds.)
In short, being a part of the SDI, ‘Israel? would move up
with the leading edge of technology useful for military ap-
plication. «Space junk» is not the point - improvement in
computer technology, battle management systems and detec-
tion systems is. In the second week of February this year, US
Defense Secretary Weinberger stated that the US may be able
to deploy the first elements of the SDI within six years.
Newspaper reports confirmed that some of the components
first to be deployed have not so much to do with space, but are
advanced new weapons. The most immediate result of ‘Star
Wars’ may simply be more ‘advanced and efficient’ battles
here on earth.
Thus, opposition or skepticism on the basis that the SDI
cannot produce a 100% effective shield is beside the point. The
Pentagon’s military objectives could well be achieved if the
SDI can give the US enough of a first-strike edge against the
Soviet Union and any retaliatory strike, to guarantee its
political edge around the world. In this context, the US’s in-
tensified interest in fortifying ‘Israel’, its most reliable ally and
military base in the Middle East, is a number one priority of its
strategic policies.
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