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Source: http://hnn.us/blogs/entries/126017.html
Israel's Strategic Value in the Post-Cold War Era
(History News Network) Judith Apter Klinghoffer - The Israeli military has done much to enhance U.S. military ability in the post-Cold War era. As retired IDF intelligence officer Dani Reshef writes: "When the U.S., for its own reasons, went to war against Muslim states, Israel possessed the most extensive knowledge base of the type of fighting involved as a consequence of its experience in Lebanon and in fighting Palestinian terror." "Since 2003, the American army in Iraq has made extensive use of Israeli technology in using and fortifying vehicles. Operational methods, defensive measures, identification and diffusion of mines as well as training methods were transferred from Israel to the American army and saved the lives of hundreds of American soldiers." In addition, "Israel helped to militarize and make more precise American drone technology....Indeed, it was the use of Israeli methods which enabled the U.S. to increase significantly its use of drones." "Foreign sources estimate that up to 400 American military personnel went through Israeli training in real-time intelligence gathering to identify and pinpoint military targets."