U.S. Reduces BMD Exercise With Israel

TEL AVIV [MENL] -- The United States, amid rising tension, has significantly
reduced a ballistic missile defense exercise with Israel.
Israeli and U.S. sources said the administration of President Barack
Obama ordered the scaling back of Austere Challenge 2012. They said
Washington cited budget cuts for the sharp reduction in U.S. manpower and
assets for the long-awaited BMD exercise.