Israel's 'Iron Dome' Anti-Missile 'Shield' Is Another Israeli Super MYTH: Stops Only 5% of Incoming Missiles, Says MIT Researcher

"In all fairness, there are reasons that could be justified in warfare for lying. First of all you could lie because it calms your population to think that they're being defended. Now there's a double-edge sword here though. Because if people think they are being defended they may not take shelter. And in November of 2012 three people were killed on a porch because they were out looking at the Iron Dome supposedly intercepting a missile."—Theodore Postal

Israel's 'Iron Dome' missile defense system at Paris Air Show, 2013. (Photo from Wikimedia
Commons)

Israel's 'Iron Dome' missile defense system is merely an expensive "light show," says MIT physicist Theodore Postol. The system is stopping only five percent or less of the missiles fired from Gaza by Hamas. The key to the low number of Israeli casualties from incoming missiles is fourfold: 1) Low accuracy of the incoming missiles, 2) Low lethality of the incoming missiles (contain only 5-10 pounds of explosive), 3) Early warning of incoming missiles, and 4) Widespread availability of bomb shelters. 

RELATED STORY: An Explanation of the Evidence of Weaknesses in the Iron Dome Defense System by Professor Theodore Postol

Israel's alleged 'Iron Dome' is paid for by hundreds of millions of American tax payer dollars, and results in a cost of over $100,000 per 'Iron Dome' missile versus just $500-$1000 per Hamas missile:

"The interceptor probably costs well in excess of $100,000 per interceptor and it's may be achieving a five percent rate [of interception], may be - it could be lower - against rockets that maybe cost $1000 each or $500 dollars each. So the cost exchange ratio is fine, if you're Israeli and the dollars are not coming out of your pocket."—Theodore Postol

Physicist Theodore Postol is a professor of science, technology and national security policy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an expert in missiles and missile defenses.

Watch the entire interview and download a transcript HERE.