US anti-missile ship to dock in Haifa

[spotbird]

Source: Jerusalem Post

An American missile ship set to dock at Haifa Port on Monday is equipped with an anti-missile defense system that could be deployed in the region in the event of an Iranian missile attack against Israel.


The USS San Jacinto is an AEGIS cruiser in the Ticonderoga Class and was commissioned in 1988. It carries the most advanced underwater surveillance system available today and is equipped with the AEGIS missile defense system, which was developed by Lockheed Martin to protect against aircraft and missiles. The ship will remain in Haifa for three days.

....

Defense analysts said the decision to dock at Haifa could also be part of a growing competition between the United States and Russia over military control in the Middle East. Russia recently decided to reestablish its naval presence in the region at Tartus, Syria. In recent months, Syria has begun renovations at the port to facilitate the docking of large Russian Navy ships.



Read more: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?c=JPArticle&cid=1202064573279&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

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Looks like Bush is going to get another war after all.

[leftchick]

1. does it have cable cutting capabilities too?

?

[Changenow]

2. Quite a coincidence,

isn't it?

[leftchick]

3. one thing I have learned over these last long seven years

there are no coincidences with the BFEE.

[dipsydoodle]

4. What's it called -

Patriot 2 ? From memory the original system was about as useful as an ashtray on a Harley.

[hack89]

6. No

It fires an SM-3 missile. Different completely from the Army Patriot. BTW - the PAC-3 missile is the latest Patriot missile.

[atreides1]

5. I'm sure the AEGIS missile defense system will work

As long as the Iranians provide all the information needed, like direction, target, speed, and anything else that follows the same procedures as when the testing was done!!!!!

[Nihil]

9. I bet it does well against civilian passenger planes ...

... its predecessors certainly did ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_Air_Flight_655

290 civilians killed. The men of the Vincennes were all awarded
combat-action ribbons. The US government never admitted wrongdoing,
accepted responsibility, nor apologized to the Iranian government.
Both IR655 and the Vincennes were inside Iranian territorial waters
at the time of the attack. Coming up to the 20th anniversary too
(July 3rd, 1988).

There again, one shouldn't think of it just as a defensive weapon ...
Lockheed Martin describes it as "the world's premier naval defense system"
and notes that it "can simultaneously attack land targets, submarines, and
surface ships while automatically implementing defenses to protect the fleet
against aircraft and missiles."

:shrug:

[FATCATs]

7. AND...4th Undersea Cable Break

Looks like George and Dick are up to their old tricks.:nuke:

[ohio2007]

8. a scheduled port visit becomes some sort of a bomb Iran link?

...Defense analysts said the decision to dock at Haifa could also be part of a growing competition between the United States and Russia over military control in the Middle East. Russia recently decided to reestablish its naval presence in the region at Tartus, Syria....

Even though I've never been to Tartus, I'll bet liberty call in Haifa beats any armpit attractions offered by that Syrians city.
The city of Haifa is like being state side.