Thu Nov 29, 2012, 01:47 PM
Ichingcarpenter (36,988 posts)
Why Is The US Building A Secret $100 Million Underground Facility Outside Tel Aviv?
By Walter Pincus, Thursday, November 29, 2:38 AM
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to supervise construction of a five-story underground facility for an Israel Defense Forces complex, oddly named “Site 911,” at an Israeli Air Force base near Tel Aviv. Expected to take more than two years to build, at a cost of up to $100 million, the facility is to have classrooms on Level 1, an auditorium on Level 3, a laboratory, shock-resistant doors, protection from nonionizing radiation and very tight security. Clearances will be required for all construction workers, guards will be at the fence and barriers will separate it from the rest of the base. Only U.S. construction firms are being allowed to bid on the contract and proposals are due Dec. 3, according to the latest Corps of Engineers notice. Site 911 is the latest in a long history of military construction projects the United States has undertaken for the IDF under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program. The 1998 Wye River Memorandum between Israel and the Palestinian Authority has led to about $500 million in U.S. construction of military facilities for the Israelis, most of them initially in an undeveloped part of the Negev Desert. It was done to ensure there were bases to which IDF forces stationed in the West Bank could be redeployed. As recorded in the Corps’ European District magazine, called Engineering in Europe, three bases were built to support 20,000 troops, and eventually the Israeli air force moved into the same area, creating Nevatim air base. A new runway, 2.5 miles long, was built there by the Corps along with about 100 new buildings and 10 miles of roads. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-overseeing-mysterious-construction-project-in-israel/2012/11/28/e5682d8e-38b6-11e2-a263-f0ebffed2f15_story.html Pincus also found this detailed description of the mezuzahs that will adorn every door in the facility: These mezuzas, notes the [US Army] Corps, “shall be written in inerasable ink, on . . . uncoated leather parchment” and be handwritten by a scribe “holding a written authorization according to Jewish law.” The writing may be “Ashkenazik or Sepharadik” but “not a mixture” and “must be uniform.” Also, “The Mezuzahs shall be proof-read by a computer at an authorized institution for Mezuzah inspection, as well as manually proof-read for the form of the letters by a proof-reader authorized by the Chief Rabbinate.” The mezuza shall be supplied with an aluminum housing with holes so it can be connected to the door frame or opening. Finally, “All Mezuzahs for the facility shall be affixed by the Base’s Rabbi or his appointed representative and not by the contractor staff.” Along with this request is another called 911 Phase 2. Also in the $100 million range, Pincus finds the “complex facility with site development challenges” requiring services that include “electrical, communication, mechanical/ HVAC [heating, ventilation, air conditioning] and plumbing” requirements telling; and along with the fact that the contractor must posses a U.S. or Israeli Secret Security Clearance, he believes this phase to be a secure command center. Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-us-is-building-secret-site-911-in-israel-2012-11#ixzz2DdQT7q4e
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40 replies, 7591 views
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Author | Time | Post |
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Ichingcarpenter | Nov 2012 | OP |
WilliamPitt | Nov 2012 | #1 | |
LiberalAndProud | Nov 2012 | #2 | |
Ichingcarpenter | Nov 2012 | #5 | |
JackRiddler | Nov 2012 | #19 | |
Smilo | Nov 2012 | #3 | |
Marrah_G | Nov 2012 | #4 | |
Ichingcarpenter | Nov 2012 | #6 | |
Plucketeer | Nov 2012 | #17 | |
woo me with science | Nov 2012 | #21 | |
Marrah_G | Nov 2012 | #23 | |
AlbertCat | Nov 2012 | #7 | |
libodem | Nov 2012 | #9 | |
FarCenter | Nov 2012 | #15 | |
Mosby | Nov 2012 | #22 | |
Marrah_G | Nov 2012 | #24 | |
Mosby | Nov 2012 | #30 | |
Marrah_G | Nov 2012 | #36 | |
jayfish | Nov 2012 | #8 | |
KansDem | Nov 2012 | #27 | |
patrice | Nov 2012 | #28 | |
KansDem | Nov 2012 | #33 | |
Blue_Tires | Nov 2012 | #10 | |
nineteen50 | Nov 2012 | #11 | |
Poll_Blind | Nov 2012 | #12 | |
robbob | Nov 2012 | #13 | |
dixiegrrrrl | Nov 2012 | #32 | |
FarCenter | Nov 2012 | #34 | |
AlbertCat | Nov 2012 | #37 | |
salib | Nov 2012 | #14 | |
yesphan | Nov 2012 | #16 | |
LiberalEsto | Nov 2012 | #18 | |
woo me with science | Nov 2012 | #20 | |
FiveGoodMen | Nov 2012 | #25 | |
G_j | Nov 2012 | #31 | |
Egalitarian Thug | Nov 2012 | #26 | |
patrice | Nov 2012 | #29 | |
FarCenter | Nov 2012 | #35 | |
hunter | Nov 2012 | #38 | |
tammywammy | Nov 2012 | #39 | |
Ichingcarpenter | Dec 2012 | #40 |
Response to Ichingcarpenter (Original post)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 01:54 PM
WilliamPitt (58,179 posts)
1. "Site 911"?
Wha wha WHA???
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Response to Ichingcarpenter (Original post)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 01:58 PM
LiberalAndProud (12,799 posts)
2. How is it secret if we read about it in the Washington Post and Business Insider?
If we didn't outspend the entire world on our military, perhaps we wouldn't be building Israel's defense complexes for them. But we have an eternal military presence in the Middle East, so everything is as it should be, no?
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Response to LiberalAndProud (Reply #2)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 02:08 PM
Ichingcarpenter (36,988 posts)
5. It wasn't announced by the army he dug up
the news.
He's an old school award winning journalist born in the thirties. |
Response to LiberalAndProud (Reply #2)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 05:02 PM
JackRiddler (24,979 posts)
19. Do you know what it does?
Secret is a relative term.
It's not a secret that $80 billion a year is parceled out from the taxpayers to the "Top Secret America" complex, and that 2/3 of it goes to private contractors. Do you know much about how this money is spent? Nope. |
Response to Ichingcarpenter (Original post)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 02:00 PM
Smilo (1,919 posts)
3. Clever of Israel name the project 911
and only allow American companies to bid.
Disgusting, but clever. |
Response to Ichingcarpenter (Original post)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 02:04 PM
Marrah_G (28,581 posts)
4. I was under the impression that we were broke....
I mean.... we are about to go over a cliff and need to cut programs to help the poor and the middle class, right?
Certainly if we are so broke, we can't be building underground facilities for other countries. I mean it must be for another country if the religious requirements of the building are all accurate. If it were an American government building separation of church and state would mean for something. What sort of American government buildings would need such specific religious orders included in the building of it? |
Response to Marrah_G (Reply #4)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 02:11 PM
Ichingcarpenter (36,988 posts)
6. Yeah the story and the money
is a WTF are we doing moment.
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Response to Ichingcarpenter (Reply #6)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 04:48 PM
Plucketeer (12,882 posts)
17. A WTFAWDM for SURE!
I'd like to know WHEN the american people were asked (or maybe volunteered the idea) whether or not this is something THEY deem necessary and desirable for us to spend money on!!! GAH!
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Response to Marrah_G (Reply #4)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 05:05 PM
woo me with science (32,139 posts)
21. It shows the smoke and mirrors, doesn't it.
This article makes my stomach queasy. They are preparing for something.
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Response to woo me with science (Reply #21)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 05:46 PM
Marrah_G (28,581 posts)
23. yup
And a big part of me wonders how many religious nuts are behind it, hoping to bring on the rapture.
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Response to Ichingcarpenter (Original post)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 03:12 PM
AlbertCat (17,505 posts)
7. the mezuzahs that will adorn every door in the facility
My Jewish friends keep telling me Israel is not a religious state.
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Response to AlbertCat (Reply #7)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 03:18 PM
libodem (19,288 posts)
9. Budding Theocracy
How can the people be so brilliant, funny and talented, and have such a skeezy bunch at the helm in their government.
I don't get it?... ![]() |
Response to AlbertCat (Reply #7)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 04:27 PM
FarCenter (19,429 posts)
15. It is unconstitutional for US taxpayers' money to be used to put up religious symbols.
If we sell the facility to the Israelis, they can put them up later.
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Response to AlbertCat (Reply #7)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 05:06 PM
Mosby (13,358 posts)
22. what's the big deal?
All the detail is to make sure that the mezuzot are kosher.
There are lots of religious Jews in Israel, which is why they put them up everywhere. Ever been into a Brake Masters in the US? Check out the door frame. |
Response to Mosby (Reply #22)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 05:47 PM
Marrah_G (28,581 posts)
24. Is brake masters a US government facility?
Response to Marrah_G (Reply #24)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 06:28 PM
Mosby (13,358 posts)
30. I suspect that the section in question
Is just standard language that is included in any building specs in Israel. If it violates american law it won't be implemented and the Israelis will provide the mezuzot.
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Response to Mosby (Reply #30)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 07:35 PM
Marrah_G (28,581 posts)
36. That may be but such things have NO business in an American facility
Response to Ichingcarpenter (Original post)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 03:17 PM
jayfish (9,370 posts)
8. Mushrooms?
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Response to jayfish (Reply #8)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 06:09 PM
KansDem (28,498 posts)
27. Yeah, really, really BIG mushrooms!
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Response to KansDem (Reply #27)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 06:12 PM
patrice (47,992 posts)
28. Ding! Ding! Ding! Thread winner, here!
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Response to patrice (Reply #28)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 06:57 PM
KansDem (28,498 posts)
33. Ah, shucks!
Last edited Fri Nov 30, 2012, 10:55 AM - Edit history (1) Tweren't nothin'
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Response to Ichingcarpenter (Original post)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 03:20 PM
Blue_Tires (55,443 posts)
10. site 911? no subtle undertones with this crowd...
does our longtime partnership with israel involve ANYTHING that isn't cash or military related?
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Response to Ichingcarpenter (Original post)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 03:24 PM
nineteen50 (1,187 posts)
11. When you do for others
what they should and could do for themselves you make them weaker.
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Response to Ichingcarpenter (Original post)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 03:33 PM
Poll_Blind (23,864 posts)
12. "Site 911"? Creepy! They should have called it something generic. Like "Building 7". nt
PB
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Response to Ichingcarpenter (Original post)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 03:46 PM
robbob (3,176 posts)
13. Getting ready?
Preparing for the war between Gog and Magog?
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Response to robbob (Reply #13)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 06:44 PM
dixiegrrrrl (59,952 posts)
32. "non-ionizing radiation"???????????
Why would they want an underground building that is supposed to keep out "non-ionizing radiation"?
Unless they know something we don't know..... |
Response to dixiegrrrrl (Reply #32)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 07:03 PM
FarCenter (19,429 posts)
34. Electromagnetic pulse protection -- You don't want your electronics fried by high-altitude nukes
Cold war underground installations were sheathed in 1/4 inch copper plate. Plus you have to properly attend to all doors and other apertures in the building.
A secondary advantage is preventing electronic eavesdropping. See "Tempest". |
Response to FarCenter (Reply #34)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 07:50 PM
AlbertCat (17,505 posts)
37. Plus you have to properly attend to all doors and other apertures in the building.
Won't the Mezuzahs protect them?
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Response to Ichingcarpenter (Original post)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 04:24 PM
salib (2,116 posts)
14. It's a bargain!
Way cheaper than the embassy in Iraq.
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Response to salib (Reply #14)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 04:32 PM
yesphan (1,555 posts)
16. Just wait.
By the time it's finished it'll be a lot closer to $1,000,000,000.00
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Response to Ichingcarpenter (Original post)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 04:58 PM
LiberalEsto (22,845 posts)
18. Why are we spending money on war and militarism anywhere abroad
when our own citizens are losing their homes and jobs, and falling into poverty?
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Response to Ichingcarpenter (Original post)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 05:03 PM
woo me with science (32,139 posts)
20. This news gives me a very sick feeling in my stomach.
We won the election, but we are still bought and sold.
We are still ruled by neocons, and we are headed for something very serious. |
Response to woo me with science (Reply #20)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 06:00 PM
FiveGoodMen (20,018 posts)
25. Sadly, I couldn't agree more.
Response to woo me with science (Reply #20)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 06:32 PM
G_j (40,257 posts)
31. sad
and frightening
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Response to Ichingcarpenter (Original post)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 06:07 PM
Egalitarian Thug (12,448 posts)
26. Nothing to see here, please move along. All is well and the adults are in charge. n/t
Response to Ichingcarpenter (Original post)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 06:14 PM
patrice (47,992 posts)
29. Not sure, but you can bet it has SOMETHING to do with OIL in the region. nt
Response to patrice (Reply #29)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 07:06 PM
FarCenter (19,429 posts)
35. Not anymore -- Israel has no value with respect to oil.
Israel only has enough hydrocabons for its own use. Supporting Israel jeopardizes US oil interests in the region, which are largely based on the US - Saudi alliance.
It is strictly special interest group politics in the US that accounts for support of Israel. Israel is of no geopolitical strategic value to the US. |
Response to Ichingcarpenter (Original post)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 08:12 PM
hunter (35,238 posts)
38. District 13.
A safe place for Israel's nukes.
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Response to Ichingcarpenter (Original post)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 08:23 PM
tammywammy (26,582 posts)
39. The Washington Post article notes that this is a foreign military sale (FMS)
That means Israel is paying for the facility. It reads that they're using the Corps as a contractor who has sent out a RFP. The winning proposal will be subcontractors to the Corps.
The US does a lot of FMS. |
Response to tammywammy (Reply #39)
Sun Dec 2, 2012, 05:04 PM
Ichingcarpenter (36,988 posts)
40. Bull shit......... it comes
from our military aid program
You make it sound like a GOOD FUCKING THING. |