International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, Dec. 13, 2002

During a visit to Jerusalem on Thursday, US Undersecretary of Defense Douglas Feith counseled Israeli leaders to stick with vague statements about what Israel might do if attacked by Saddam Hussein, so as to keep him guessing about the eventual response they will take.

Feith arrived Wednesday evening for 24 hours of talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and leading defense officials on a range of strategic issues.

"If Israel is attacked, it reserves the right to retaliate," said Feith, a senior civilian advisor serving immediately under the Pentagon's number two man, Paul Wolfowitz. Both are Jewish and considered leading hawks in the Bush Administration.

"Everyone recognizes the value of Saddam being uncertain of the possibilities of what will happen if attacked. No one has any intention of reducing that uncertainty."

Feith, the undersecretary of defense for policy, told reporters at a briefing that one of the purposes of his visit was to set up communications links "so policy runs smoothly now and in the event of a crisis." Feith's visit comes in advance of a large-scale US-Israeli military joint anti-aircraft exercise slated for next week.

Israeli security officials said the exercise, which Feith said is a biennial event, will test Arrow, Hawk, and Patriot missile systems and the overall air-defense system.

The US sent two Patriot missile batteries to Israel this week in preparation for the exercise, and Germany has also agreed to deliver two more Patriot batteries.