Thursday, August 17, 2006
The Black Cloud of Defeat with no Silver Linings
Ralph Peters is clear eyed about the recent defeat of the IDF in southern Lebanon. It's worse than you think. Money quote:
And that ain't all, folks. If you're an Israel supporter - as I proudly admit to being - get ready for some tough love: Not only did Israel's abysmally incompetent government start a war impulsively and prosecute it half-heartedly, the country's military leadership failed, too. Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz, who was going to destroy Hezbollah from the skies, reportedly put his main effort on the eve of war into selling off his stock holdings before his bombs could weigh down the market. Now that's insider trading!
But that was just one jerk-general dishonoring his uniform. The serious news is that the IDF's reserve forces were a shambles when they mobilized. Information from an inside source reveals that, when the reserves' warehouses and depots were opened, key stocks were missing - stolen.
What was gone? Fuel, weapons, ammunition, food, spare parts - all that a modern military needs to go to war. And I doubt it ended up in Iceland.
The IDF has great combat leaders and brave soldiers. But Hezbollah's boys proved tougher - and we can't pretty it up. The terrorists were willing - even eager - to die for their cause. Israeli leaders dreaded friendly casualties. And IDF troops - except in elite units - lacked the will to close with the enemy and defeat him at close quarters.
Israel tried to fight humanely. Hezbollah was out to win at any cost. The result was inevitable.
On the ground in southern Lebanon, the IDF was able to muster a ten-to-one advantage around contested villages. But its leaders lacked the guts to do what needed to be done. And Hezbollah's frontline fighters survived.
You can't win if you won't fight.
And that ain't all, folks. If you're an Israel supporter - as I proudly admit to being - get ready for some tough love: Not only did Israel's abysmally incompetent government start a war impulsively and prosecute it half-heartedly, the country's military leadership failed, too. Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz, who was going to destroy Hezbollah from the skies, reportedly put his main effort on the eve of war into selling off his stock holdings before his bombs could weigh down the market. Now that's insider trading!
But that was just one jerk-general dishonoring his uniform. The serious news is that the IDF's reserve forces were a shambles when they mobilized. Information from an inside source reveals that, when the reserves' warehouses and depots were opened, key stocks were missing - stolen.
What was gone? Fuel, weapons, ammunition, food, spare parts - all that a modern military needs to go to war. And I doubt it ended up in Iceland.
The IDF has great combat leaders and brave soldiers. But Hezbollah's boys proved tougher - and we can't pretty it up. The terrorists were willing - even eager - to die for their cause. Israeli leaders dreaded friendly casualties. And IDF troops - except in elite units - lacked the will to close with the enemy and defeat him at close quarters.
Israel tried to fight humanely. Hezbollah was out to win at any cost. The result was inevitable.
On the ground in southern Lebanon, the IDF was able to muster a ten-to-one advantage around contested villages. But its leaders lacked the guts to do what needed to be done. And Hezbollah's frontline fighters survived.
You can't win if you won't fight.
# posted by Roger Fraley @ 8:11 AM 
Comments:
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Yup, this turned out to be to Olmert what Iraq is to Junior. There were those who were capable to think rationally in both the U.S. and Israel, but they were silenced by lesser thinkers. I wish that, for instance, Israeli foreignminister, Tzipi Livni, would have had the reins instead of poor Olmert or, going back in time, Colin Powell would have had Junior's ear instead of the dick head, Rumsfeld.
# posted by 
: 2:45 PM
: 2:45 PM
Pekka, please let me know what country you are in so I can call your country's leaders vile and demeaning names. It really adds to your arguments to do so.
Arguments are wrong, partially right, or absolutely right depending on the facts. Nationality should play no role in judging whether person makes sense or not and the same goes with race, religion or even political leanings. You seem to need to know in which of your clearly marked boxes you could dump my files.
Granted, it's an organized way in conducting one's business. Too bad the results are dubious at best. Besides, your side kick, Diomedes aka Dr.Strangelove, worries me a lot and since I don't know if he has his eagerly twitching finger on one of those buttons...I better not tell my nationality.
You do have some nasty nukey staff burried deep down in the Rockies, don't you?
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Granted, it's an organized way in conducting one's business. Too bad the results are dubious at best. Besides, your side kick, Diomedes aka Dr.Strangelove, worries me a lot and since I don't know if he has his eagerly twitching finger on one of those buttons...I better not tell my nationality.
You do have some nasty nukey staff burried deep down in the Rockies, don't you?
# posted by : 4:02 PM
: 4:02 PM << Home
