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U.S. Cancels Israeli Military Exercises
WASHINGTON, May 25 (IslamOnline) - In the wake of the volatile situation in the Middle East, the United States has cancelled a scheduled military exercise with Israel, a news agency report confirms.
The decision to cancel the exercise code named "Noble Shirley" was reportedly taken on Tuesday and announced to reporters Wednesday. Observers see the cancellation as an indication that U.S. does not want to portray itself as taking sides in the conflict.
Maj. Gen. Robert Magnus, assistant deputy commandant for plans, policies and operation, said the U.S. European Command, the Pentagon and the State Department made the decision.
The live-fire training exercise for U.S. and Israeli soldiers is usually held in southern Negev Desert region of Israel in July and December. The 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit on the USS Kearsarge warship in the Mediterranean Sea was supposed to take part in the exercise.
Magnus said, "There are political reasons and military-force protection reasons," for not conducting the exercises.
News agencies citing a Pentagon source said that Israel is currently viewed as posing a higher-than-normal risk of "terrorist" attack. Magnus did not explain the political reasons, but according to a government official, the U.S. does not want to be seen practicing with the Israeli military while the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) are using "disproportionate military force" against Palestinians.
But Magnus did say that the U.S. military does not approve of Israeli tactics in Palestinian populated areas. "We don't consider that to be the way we would prefer to do things," he said.
Meanwhile in Israel, Major General Giora Eiland, chief of strategic planning for the Israeli army admitted that the F-16 attack against Palestinians was flawed.
Eiland, speaking in London Wednesday, said that attack's mission to kill alleged Hamas member Mahmoud Abu Hanoud was not a complete success.
"We decided to target that building, hoping to kill him. He was only lightly wounded and in this sense the operation was not a complete success," Eiland said.
"Sometimes our attacks are not effective. I'm not saying we always know what to do and how to do it," he added.
Eiland further claimed that the motive behind Israeli military tactics is to create a wedge between Arafat and the Palestinian masses.
"When we bomb a target we are trying to show the Palestinian leadership that there are costs on both sides. In the long run, this will create problems for the Palestinian regime and that will help persuade them to stop the violence."
When asked about the killings of innocent civilians by Israeli army he said that they get caught in the crossfire because "militants" operate from among them.
"Of course we regret it when a baby gets killed. But the situation is complicated. Sometimes civilians must be hurt."
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