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Ichingcarpenter

(36,988 posts)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 01:47 PM Nov 2012

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

40 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Why Is The US Building A Secret $100 Million Underground Facility Outside Tel Aviv? (Original Post) Ichingcarpenter Nov 2012 OP
"Site 911"? WilliamPitt Nov 2012 #1
How is it secret if we read about it in the Washington Post and Business Insider? LiberalAndProud Nov 2012 #2
It wasn't announced by the army he dug up Ichingcarpenter Nov 2012 #5
Do you know what it does? JackRiddler Nov 2012 #19
Clever of Israel name the project 911 Smilo Nov 2012 #3
I was under the impression that we were broke.... Marrah_G Nov 2012 #4
Yeah the story and the money Ichingcarpenter Nov 2012 #6
A WTFAWDM for SURE! Plucketeer Nov 2012 #17
It shows the smoke and mirrors, doesn't it. woo me with science Nov 2012 #21
yup Marrah_G Nov 2012 #23
the mezuzahs that will adorn every door in the facility AlbertCat Nov 2012 #7
Budding Theocracy libodem Nov 2012 #9
It is unconstitutional for US taxpayers' money to be used to put up religious symbols. FarCenter Nov 2012 #15
what's the big deal? Mosby Nov 2012 #22
Is brake masters a US government facility? Marrah_G Nov 2012 #24
I suspect that the section in question Mosby Nov 2012 #30
That may be but such things have NO business in an American facility Marrah_G Nov 2012 #36
Mushrooms? jayfish Nov 2012 #8
Yeah, really, really BIG mushrooms! KansDem Nov 2012 #27
Ding! Ding! Ding! Thread winner, here! patrice Nov 2012 #28
Ah, shucks! KansDem Nov 2012 #33
site 911? no subtle undertones with this crowd... Blue_Tires Nov 2012 #10
When you do for others nineteen50 Nov 2012 #11
"Site 911"? Creepy! They should have called it something generic. Like "Building 7". nt Poll_Blind Nov 2012 #12
Getting ready? robbob Nov 2012 #13
"non-ionizing radiation"??????????? dixiegrrrrl Nov 2012 #32
Electromagnetic pulse protection -- You don't want your electronics fried by high-altitude nukes FarCenter Nov 2012 #34
Plus you have to properly attend to all doors and other apertures in the building. AlbertCat Nov 2012 #37
It's a bargain! salib Nov 2012 #14
Just wait. yesphan Nov 2012 #16
Why are we spending money on war and militarism anywhere abroad LiberalEsto Nov 2012 #18
This news gives me a very sick feeling in my stomach. woo me with science Nov 2012 #20
Sadly, I couldn't agree more. FiveGoodMen Nov 2012 #25
sad G_j Nov 2012 #31
Nothing to see here, please move along. All is well and the adults are in charge. n/t Egalitarian Thug Nov 2012 #26
Not sure, but you can bet it has SOMETHING to do with OIL in the region. nt patrice Nov 2012 #29
Not anymore -- Israel has no value with respect to oil. FarCenter Nov 2012 #35
District 13. hunter Nov 2012 #38
The Washington Post article notes that this is a foreign military sale (FMS) tammywammy Nov 2012 #39
Bull shit......... it comes Ichingcarpenter Dec 2012 #40

LiberalAndProud

(12,799 posts)
2. How is it secret if we read about it in the Washington Post and Business Insider?
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 01:58 PM
Nov 2012

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?

Ichingcarpenter

(36,988 posts)
5. It wasn't announced by the army he dug up
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 02:08 PM
Nov 2012

the news.

He's an old school award winning journalist born in the thirties.

 

JackRiddler

(24,979 posts)
19. Do you know what it does?
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 05:02 PM
Nov 2012

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.

Marrah_G

(28,581 posts)
4. I was under the impression that we were broke....
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 02:04 PM
Nov 2012

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?

 

Plucketeer

(12,882 posts)
17. A WTFAWDM for SURE!
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 04:48 PM
Nov 2012

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!

woo me with science

(32,139 posts)
21. It shows the smoke and mirrors, doesn't it.
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 05:05 PM
Nov 2012

This article makes my stomach queasy. They are preparing for something.

 

AlbertCat

(17,505 posts)
7. the mezuzahs that will adorn every door in the facility
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 03:12 PM
Nov 2012

My Jewish friends keep telling me Israel is not a religious state.

libodem

(19,288 posts)
9. Budding Theocracy
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 03:18 PM
Nov 2012

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?...

 

FarCenter

(19,429 posts)
15. It is unconstitutional for US taxpayers' money to be used to put up religious symbols.
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 04:27 PM
Nov 2012

If we sell the facility to the Israelis, they can put them up later.

Mosby

(16,168 posts)
22. what's the big deal?
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 05:06 PM
Nov 2012

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.

Mosby

(16,168 posts)
30. I suspect that the section in question
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 06:28 PM
Nov 2012

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.

Blue_Tires

(55,445 posts)
10. site 911? no subtle undertones with this crowd...
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 03:20 PM
Nov 2012

does our longtime partnership with israel involve ANYTHING that isn't cash or military related?

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)
32. "non-ionizing radiation"???????????
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 06:44 PM
Nov 2012

Why would they want an underground building that is supposed to keep out "non-ionizing radiation"?

Unless they know something we don't know.....

 

FarCenter

(19,429 posts)
34. Electromagnetic pulse protection -- You don't want your electronics fried by high-altitude nukes
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 07:03 PM
Nov 2012

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".

 

AlbertCat

(17,505 posts)
37. Plus you have to properly attend to all doors and other apertures in the building.
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 07:50 PM
Nov 2012

Won't the Mezuzahs protect them?

 

LiberalEsto

(22,845 posts)
18. Why are we spending money on war and militarism anywhere abroad
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 04:58 PM
Nov 2012

when our own citizens are losing their homes and jobs, and falling into poverty?

woo me with science

(32,139 posts)
20. This news gives me a very sick feeling in my stomach.
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 05:03 PM
Nov 2012

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.

 

FarCenter

(19,429 posts)
35. Not anymore -- Israel has no value with respect to oil.
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 07:06 PM
Nov 2012

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.

tammywammy

(26,582 posts)
39. The Washington Post article notes that this is a foreign military sale (FMS)
Thu Nov 29, 2012, 08:23 PM
Nov 2012

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.

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