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August 25, 2006
Israel's New Submarines
The Germans have always had a talent for building submarines, and Israel is making good use of it. Austin Bay notes a report that Israel has purchased two new submarines capable of delivering nuclear-armed missiles. From an ABC News report:
The new submarines, built at a cost of $1.3 billion with Germany footing one-third of the bill, have diesel-electric propulsion systems that allow them to remain submerged for longer periods of time than the three nuclear arms-capable submarines already in Israel's fleet, the Jerusalem Post reported.The latest submarines not only would be able to carry out a first strike should Israel choose to do so, but they also would provide Israel with crucial second-strike capabilities, said Paul Beaver, a London-based independent defense analyst.
There's been lots of speculation about the concept of Mutual Assured Destruction as it applies to Israel and Iran, and whether the ruling mullahcracy's fanaticism precludes any positive influence from deterrence. MAD depends upon at least a vestige of rationality and it's entirely possible that there's none to be found in the mullah's camp.
MAD might still have some value in an indirect manner. Ahmadinejad might be bent on martyrdom, but millions of his fellow citizens might not be. To reference the old Sting song, let's hope that ordinary Iranians love their children enough to refuse to sacrifice them on the altar of jihadism.
It's also interesting to note that Germany is footing one third of the bill for those new subs--that's over $430 million.
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