Pentagon sent missiles to Israel w/o WH approval?

[kentuck]

And the President and Bibi had strong words in a phone call last night.

Who is the "Pentagon"? Would that be Chuck Hagel? Does he have that type of authority without WH approval?

If Hagel approved this shipment of missiles, then the President should immediately didmiss him, in my opinion.

[Trillo]

1. What strong words?

Got a link?

[Divernan]

2. Important news - please edit to tell us the source.

[MineralMan]

3. Source, please...

[Fred Sanders]

6. This?

http://online.wsj.com/articles/u-s-sway-over-israel-on-gaza-at-a-low-1407979365

MIDDLE EAST NEWS

Gaza Crisis: Israel Outflanks the White House on Strategy
White House Now Scrutinizing Israeli Requests for Ammunition



JERUSALEM—White House and State Department officials who were leading U.S. efforts to rein in Israel's military campaign in the Gaza Strip were caught off guard last month when they learned that the Israeli military had been quietly securing supplies of ammunition from the Pentagon without their approval.

Since then the Obama administration has tightened its control on arms transfers to Israel. But Israeli and U.S. officials say that the adroit bureaucratic maneuvering made it plain how little influence the White House...

[MineralMan]

7. Thanks. I was asking the OP for his source, though.

Just trying to get people to include sources, rather than just posting stuff.

[kentuck]

8. Looking for it?

I read it this morning - perhaps on DU? Will post when I find it. I am posting from tablet.
http://nypost.com/2014/08/14/amid-obama-netanyahu-rift-israel-stockpiles-weapons-through-back-channels/

[Fred Sanders]

4. Constitutional crisis? Started by the military giving unauthorized weaponry to Israel?

Should be the top story, bar none, if somehow confirmed. Only a top political or top government official could credibly confirm it, the military will not.

[FBaggins]

5. No WH or State permission was required.

Or... more clearly put... permission for their export was granted long ago. These were not "sent to Israel"... they were already in Israel in prepositioned locations. They just had to be purchased.

[TwilightGardener]

9. I think the accusation against the Pentagon (and I'm not sure at what level

these decisions are made) is that they should have known that there were sudden political considerations at play and should have checked with the WH or State first, before approving the ammo sale--but apparently the Pentagon was just doing what it always did. Now, if there are Israeli "helpers" or rogue agents quietly doing Israel's bidding inside our DoD, that would be a problem. But if the Pentagon was given this authority and has exercised it in the past, well...the WH and State should probably have just QUIETLY changed the authorization procedures afterward--or better yet, told the Pentagon not to do it before it happened--without leaking how mad they are now about it to the press.

[kentuck]

10. Is it any wonder...?

That the Pentagon is missing over $1 trillion dollars?

[TwilightGardener]

11. To be fair, the Pentagon spokesman said this has been handled

according to standard procedure on their end. The hellfire missile sale was stopped by the Pentagon because the WH objected.

[kentuck]

12. Then maybe " standard procerure" should be questioned ?

Huh?

[TwilightGardener]

13. Sure. But quietly. You don't blame agencies for doing things they were given

the authority to do. That's unfair. You make changes, but don't tell the world you had no idea what was actually going on. That makes it look like either the WH or State doesn't have a grip on things.

[leftynyc]

14. Not subject to WH approval

Arms sales are approved or not by congress, not the President.