By Micah Halpern
I've Been Thinking:
I have been writing and speaking about increased tensions between the United States and Israel for weeks now.
Yesterday the Wall Street Journal ran a very important piece illustrating some of those tensions. They wrote that Israel tried to fast track the restocking of their arsenal by going through the Pentagon for Hell-Fire air-to-surface missiles and the White House shut them down.
Of course, the administration denies that anything has changed. But it has.
Just listen to how Marie Harf, deputy spokesperson at the State Department, dealt with the issue.
1st she said: "Let me make it very clear - there has been no change in policy. Period."
2nd she said: ... "no other country is as supportive"
3rd she said: ... "it is normal in crisis that each agency pay close attention"
4th she said: there has been "no broad change in our policy"
5th she said "We made it clear publicly that we thought Israel could do more to protect civilians."
It seems that there was a change, but not a broad change and there was a reason for it.
As she continued Harf intimated that Israel was able to strike and even hurt civilians because of US support and weapons and, she said, that was what the United States was concerned about. Her exact phraseology was: "a number of their capabilities because of our support" but nonetheless, the US "continued to provide offensive capabilities as well."
This entire exchange in the State Department briefing room confirms the WSJ report, not the administration's denial.
Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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