A shot in the arm for missile defense contractors. However, the cost of the missile defense systen can be prohibitive for Israel and by extension for the US, which is facing a "Fiscal cliff." One has just to look at the relative costs of the interceptors and the projectiles launched from Gaza. It is only going to get worse as one tries to intercept longer range missiles. Contrary to the conventional wisdom, it is not the Iron Dome that is the game changer. It is the new Middle East. Ending the occupation and achieving a just peace in the Middle East is the answer, not more missile defense.

It's good to see my tax money at work.

Am I the only one who's getting tired of this tribalistic nonsense? It's about time the Israelis and the Palestinians grew the **** up!

It wouldn't make sense to expect much from the often superficial stories filed by the aptly named reporter. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A skeptical reader will remember that just after the Gulf War, supposedly 90 percent of missiles aimed as U.S. troops and at Israel had been shot down by Raytheon's anti-missle batteries. That turned out to be government propaganda, but it took time for the truth to emerge: none of the incoming missiles had been destroyed, although some may have been knocked off-course. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So readers may wonder whether a newer generation of anti-missile defense is any better. The rockets fired from Gaza are easier targets in some ways, flying at much lower altitudes and slower speeds, but the numbers being relayed by other reporters make clear that at least half of them were not intercepted.