F-35? Israel shows extraordinary "chutzpah" at AIPAC confab

The Pro-Israel Lobby's Plan to Storm Congress
TIME
By Michael Scherer / Washington Monday, Mar. 22, 2010

Most days, lobbyist Steve Aserkoff focuses on directly shaping the opinions of his assigned target audience — 14 U.S. Senators and 65 members of the House. But on Sunday, the America Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) operative faced a different challenge: Preparing a conference room filled with several dozen grassroots Zionists, most of whom had never been to Capitol Hill before, to swarm the legislature in a mass lobbying effort.

"We are going to the Hill to ask for three particular things," Aserkoff told the group, between PowerPoint slides listing talking points and showing maps of the Capitol complex. "The Capitol Police are not TSA, so do not disrobe when you enter those buildings."

(1) "The United States needs to lead the international community in imposing crippling sanctions on Iran without delay"

(2) The second lobbying priority identified for AIPAC delegates was to reaffirm the U.S.-Israeli relationship, and pressure the Obama Administration to avoid airing disagreements publically

(3) The third "ask" that AIPAC supporters will make of Congress on Tuesday is to once again pass the $3 billion in U.S. aid provided annually to Israel. "It's a very tough ask this year," Aserkoff admitted, noting the U.S. domestic budgetary and economic challenges. Among other major purchases, the Israeli government has announced plans to replace its aging fleet of F-16 fighter jets with new, American-made F-35 fighters, a major cost that Israel hopes will be substantially born for by American taxpayers.

 This is the one that raises the hair on my neck

Israel has been salivating over the F-35 Lightning II since they talked with Robert Gates about it some time ago. Their are several countries in line, most of which have contributed to the project, but it is Israel who is first, even though they haven't contributed to the effort.

The following is attributed to absoluteastronomy.com

At the expense of being more detectable by radar, many more missiles, bombs and fuel tanks can be attached on four wing pylons and two near wingtip positions. The two wingtip locations can only carry AIM-9X Sidewinder. The other pylons can carry the AIM-120 AMRAAM, Storm Shadow

Storm Shadow is an Anglo-French air-launched cruise missile, manufactured by MBDA and used by France, Italy, the United Kingdom and Greece. Storm Shadow is the British name for the weapon; in French service it is called SCALP EG...

, AGM-158 Joint Air to Surface Stand-off Missile
AGM-158 JASSM
The AGM-158 JASSM is a low observable standoff cruise missile developed in the United States.- Overview :...

(JASSM) cruise missiles, guided bombs, 480-gallon and 600-gallon fuel tanks. An air-to-air load of eight AIM-120s and two AIM-9s is conceivable using internal and external weapons stations, as well as a configuration of six 2,000 lb bombs, two AIM-120s and two AIM-9s. With its payload capability, the F-35 can carry more air to air and air to ground weapons than legacy fighters it is to replace as well as the F-22 Raptor
F-22 Raptor
The Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is a fifth-generation fighter aircraft that uses stealth technology. It was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter, but has additional capabilities that include ground attack, electronic warfare, and signals intelligence roles...

. Solid-state lasers were being developed as optional weapons for the F-35 as of 2002.