Israeli sub transits Suez Canal

Posted By Thomas E. Ricks Monday, July 6, 2009 - 4:39 PM Share

It surprised me that the government of Egypt recently permitted an Israel submarine to move to the Red Sea through the Suez Canal. I wonder what signal Egypt is sending to Iran by permitting this. It would be easy enough for the Israelis to offload any nuclear-tipped missiles at one of its Mediterranean port sbefore the canal transit, and then pick them up down in Eilat.

Meanwhile, Bahrain just sent its first-ever official delegation to Israel. Maybe the neocon dream of the Arab world deciding to focus on Iran instead of Israel is two small steps closer? Even a stopped clock ...

Meanwhile, I see in the new issue of Proceedings that in May, Australia had only one submarine available for immediate sea duty. That's kind of sad.

Joris Machielse/Flickr

EXPLORE:MIDDLE EAST, IRAN, ISRAEL/PALESTINE

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WALKING WOUNDED

5:21 PM ET

July 6, 2009

subs offer

stealth, deniability, and unrestricted attacks on civil shipping.

The first two at least aren't high on the list of Aussie male character traits. The ones I know prefer to insult a friend to his face, and just knock a competitor down.

Tom, why do you think that the many countries (Moscow, Egypt, Iraq, Iran) threatened over the years by Israeli nukes are unwilling to make an overt case against Israeli proliferation and continuing nuke arms buildup? What's in it for the US to continue to turn a blind eye to the primary driver in the ME nuclear arms race? The Soviet-Arab era is over. The idea that Israel is providing stability for global oil supply is a hoot.

Given the USN's longstanding quarrels with the IDF, US missile-shield radar in the Negev may be a way to provide our fleets with early warning. When the ME balloon goes up, that's the likely center of the action. Do we have our fleet trailing their subs in the Indian Ocean?

SSKELLY

5:23 PM ET

July 7, 2009

Yet ADF is looking at a new 12 boat program in 2009 White Paper!

If you're gonna go, go big...

Perhaps the "there's no stimulus like massive defence (a little deference to our mates) acquisition stimulus" concept plays better in Oz than it seems to around these parts.

And what better way to keep an eye on things in Port Moresby, Suva and any of the other teams in the AA league of failed state wannabes that is their neighborhood, than by a look-see through the periscope?