Article - 00004 - THAAD
an Archangel article
ᴮʸ ᴬʳᶜʰᵃⁿᵍᵉˡ
17 Reasons Why America Needs to Deny lsrael's Request for Another of our valuable THAAD batteries.
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙏𝙃𝘼𝘼𝘿, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙨𝙠? The THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) battery is a badass, expensive, portable, self-contained anti-ballistic missile system designed to intercept and destroy short, medium, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles during their terminal phase (descent or re-entry) by hitting them directly or with a close approach. In short, its a portable Iron Dome, with classified tech, so it can only be operated by American troops.
We already GAVE lsrael one of these, complete with American troops, and of course, now that they are picking a fight with Iran, they want another one. Here are my 17 reasons we should say NO:
1. 𝙀𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙩: Providing advanced defense systems like THAAD will encourage lsrael to engage in even more aggressive actions against Iran, who is NOT our enemy, leading to a broader regional conflict.
2. 𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙚𝙨: America has only a very few of theseTHAAD batteries. Like twenty. Deploying another to lsrael would deplete resources needed for defending other strategic locations, like Guam, Marshal Islands, remote RADAR bases, mobile battle groups, or strategic missile sites, against threats.
3. 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙄𝙧𝙖𝙣: The presence of advanced US military assets in Israel might provoke Iran, increasing the risk of direct confrontation not just with Israel but with American forces in the region, escalating tensions.
4. 𝙍𝙞𝙨𝙠 𝙩𝙤 𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙥𝙨: As American troops are required to operate the THAAD system, their deployment in lsrael will place them at higher risk of retaliation from Iranian forces, or whichever of the 8 countries lsrael keeps starting conflicts with.
5. 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙘 𝙊𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝: I argue this move represents a form of strategic overreach, where America might be overcommitting to one region at the expense of global strategic interests, and interests here at home. Iran is not even our eneny, It's lsrael's.
6. 𝙀𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙨𝙧𝙖𝙚𝙡𝙞 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙨: The THAAD system would be perceived as giving Israel a green light to strike Iran, knowing they have enhanced defenses, thus potentially crossing red lines that would lead to wider conflict. lsrael might want that, but we don't. It could trigger WW3.
7. 𝙋𝙤𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙍𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨: Such deployments could strain relations with other Middle Eastern countries, particularly those not aligned with US policies towards Israel, further isolating the US diplomatically. Again, lsrael migh5 want that, but we certainly do not.
8. 𝘾𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙈𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚: The financial cost of deploying, maintaining, and potentially replacing THAAD systems in a conflict zone like Israel is far too high, especially with domestic economic challenges like, um, hurricanes?.
9. 𝘼𝙡𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝘿𝙚𝙛𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚 𝙈𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙨: I have an idea, call me zany, but how about if lsrael rely on its own existing defense systems or develop new onee, rather than continuously depending on American military aid. Maybe they would have less trouble if there were consequences for their actions.
10. 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝘼𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩: Deploying such rare and expensive high-tech defense systems would certainly be interpreted as unconditional support for all of Israel's actions, further complicating diplomatic efforts in the region.
11. 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙀𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣: Deploying advanced defense systems in lsrael will be seen as provocative, further escalating tensions and encouraging military actions that would lead to further conflict or even war.
12.𝙈𝙞𝙨𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙈𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝘼𝙞𝙙: I argue that uch military support would be interpreted as endorsing and enabling lsrael's aggressive (and in my opinion, EVIL) policies, especially when lsrael eventually uses the enhanced security to undertake actions that are ethically questionable, flat immoral, or disproportionate.
13. 𝙐𝙎 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙥𝙨 𝙖𝙩 𝙍𝙞𝙨𝙠: The deployment requires American soldiers to operate the system, putting U.S. lives at risk, which raises questions about the ethical implications of involving American personnel in regional conflicts.
14. 𝙡𝙨𝙧𝙖𝙚𝙡 𝘿𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣❜𝙩 𝘿𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚 𝙄𝙩: lsrael calls themself our "Greatest Ally". We don't call them that, they call themselves that. Tbey have attacked us on a number of occasions (see USS Liberty), they spy on us, they have infiltrated our congress with "Dual citizens", they pay our representatives more than we do. They drags us into constant war. No. The teat needs to go dry.
15. 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙨: The focus on military defense will divert attention and resources from humanitarian efforts, particularly in regions experiencing conflict or crisis, questioning the moral priority of defense over human welfare.
16. 𝙂𝙡𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙡 𝘼𝙧𝙢𝙨 𝙍𝙖𝙘𝙚: Providing such advanced technology could spur an arms race in the region, where other nations might seek similar or counter technologies, destabilizing the balance of power and potentially leading to more widespread militarization.
17. 𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝘿𝙞𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙘 𝙍𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨: Enhanced defense capabilities could lead to miscalculations by either side, thinking they have a defensive advantage, which would obviously lower the threshold for engaging in military actions.
This rounds out my 17 reasons to deny lsrael their request for a second piece of classified, rare, top secret, high tech equipment. In my opinion, they should not have gotten the first THAAD battery.