The Undertaker, 10/12/223 cartoon in CTXT
The US announced that it will send 14,000 M830A1 120 millimetre tank cartridges and other services to Israel in an emergency operation without Congressional approval.
The US government has used emergency legislation to allow the sale of some 14,000 shells to Israel without congressional oversight. The deal is worth $106.5 million, according to Pentagon sources.
But that's not all, the sale is just an appetizer for a deal that will need to go through Congress and includes 45,000 shells for Israel's Merkava tanks, worth about $500 million.
The Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) memo dated 9 December read:
'The Government of Israel has requested the purchase of thirteen thousand nine hundred and eighty-one (13,981) 120mm M830A1 Multi-Purpose Anti-Tank High Explosive Tracer Anti-Tank (MPAT) rounds. Also included are publications and technical documentation; US Government and contractor technical, logistical and engineering support services; and other related logistical and programme support elements. The total estimated cost is $106.5 million.
The Secretary of State made a detailed determination and justification to Congress that an emergency exists requiring the immediate sale to the Government of Israel of items and services in defence of US national security interests, thereby waiving the congressional review requirements under Section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended.
There you have one of the US government's real motives for vetoing the immediate humanitarian ceasefire sought by the UN.
