Flight of the Lavi (H)

The Lavi was a new generation of high-performance jet aircraft that, in the mid-1980s, was supposed to be developed and manufactured in Israel with U.S. financial support. A great deal of prestige and money was at stake in the project, which embodied many of the commitments and expectations at the foundation of American-Israeli relations. But as development costs increased and doubts arose as to whether the Lavi would be the supreme warplane it was meant to be, the U.S. cooled to the project. As deputy undersecretary of defense for planning and resources during the Reagan administration, Zakheim was at the center of the development of the project--and of the U.S. steps to shut it down without unduly straining relations with Israel. His position was made even more difficult because he was, as he puts it, a ""practicing Orthodox Jew."" Here, Zakheim gives a thorough account of this complex, important and high-stakes affair, but his revelatory report isn't just for policy wonks. He covers economic issues such as how information on costs is gathered and costs are estimated; explores the political aspects of the project in both nations, as well as its national security considerations; and delves into the informal, unofficial side of international diplomacy. With his exceptional grasp of this story, and through his clear portraits of the major players in it, Zakheim shows readers that government is more than just politics. (Sept.)