Israel sees new advantage in Iron Dome anti-missile system
McClatchy NewspapersMarch 26, 2012    The system, considered
among the most advanced in the world, fires a missile to
intercept incoming rockets after it gauges whether a rocket will
fall in an area where it can cause damage. It is, according to
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, a "game changer."  When
violence flared along the Israel-Gaza border earlier this month,
the effectiveness of the Iron Dome was tested, and Israeli
officials couldn't have been more pleased.  Of the approximately
250 rockets and mortars fired at Israel from Gaza, 166 entered
Israel's airspace, officials said. Of those, 74 would have
struck civilian areas or buildings. The Iron Dome system
intercepted 56 before they could land, a success rate of 75
percent. Israeli officials argue, however, that the Iron Dome
also identified rockets that were headed for open areas, such as
fields, and let them land harmlessly. Factoring those in,
Israeli military officials argue that only 1