There is a great deal of rationalization in this article although I have no doubt it represents thinking in political & military circles. There is also a lot of what a professor I once had used to call, "reasons are excuses" - meaning that all manner of reasons can be drummed up but they are essentially excuses for not taking meaningful action. Meaningful action is unpleasant, risky, & engages those responsible with personal accountability for consequences. Inaction in the short term is less stressful to decision makers. There are political pretexts involved as well. Although barely touched upon in this article, one major reason is that we are hostage to an illusory peace process upon which many have mortgaged their political careers. Yet, the fact remains that preemption will always be our best military option. We are fooling ourselves by believing that all these defensive measures are better than preemptively dealing with the threats against us. In the long term, the consequences of a defensive strategy will cost us far more than "biting the bullet" & militarily defeating our foes now.

Iranian nuclearization remains an existential threat to Israel. Notwithstanding the recent and plainly inaccurate US National Inteligence Estimate (NIE) concerning Iran, this threat also remains authentically genocidal in the legal sense. It follows that Israel’s reliance upon its own nuclear strategy and nuclear deterrent will now necessarily expand. Israel shall soon have to make a long-postponed decision on preemption (anticipatory self-defense) against Iranian hard targets. If this decision should continue to be postponed, Israel will likely lose the chance to defend itself conventionally. More concerning the dangers of a nuclear Iran at : http://israelagainstterror.blogspot.com/2008/01/nuclear-power-and-anti-semitism.html

is that the world will throw a hissy fit and we'll be forced to stop. This is an unfortunate fact of life. We always had this problem but back in the day we realised we had to go all out from day one, now we just dither and so get the condemnation without the benefits.

Israel will accept attacks on her civilian population if they are not too intense and Israel will accept and supply Hamas, a racist organization openly dedicated to the genocide of Jews. In simple words, Israel has been defeated by Hamas. Olmert Kadima/Labor government: two wars, two defeats

problem solved.

This was an excellent article on Israeli strategy. Of course events on the ground (which happen quite rapidly in the Middle East) make it hard to look 3 or 6 years into the future. What I appreciate about your writing is that you are primarily acting as a detached reporter. You do not take a highly charged emotional stance. Thank You Stan

Yes, the world will throw a fit. We will be condemned almost universally, at least publically. But, with a little political will, we can obtain our objectives. The world forgets very fast these days - the attention span is limited & new problems make the headlines. If we are unapologetic about our actions, we will have more support than you think. Of course, as you say, we are condemned anyway - so at least let's be condemned for winning.

The clock is ticking for the next major war. But this time it's a 7 prong war: 1) Hamas Gaza 2) Hamas/PA West Bank 3) Hizbollah 4) Syria 5) Iran 6) Israeli Arabs 7) Intenational anti-Israel pressure Right now Tehran is just psychologically wearing Israel down. It's a sick Iranian style sadistic game. The cherry on top is getting Livni to push to surrender the Golan and most of the West Bank which she is working on diligently as we speak. Then when their nukes go online they will wave the war flag and all hell will break loose. In this situation there exists NO oportune time to strike except NOW! Ahmadinejad is right. Israel's time is limited ..But only as long as their men & women are running the Knesset.

Moronic BS! The way to solve the problem of Hamastan is devestating confrontation, and by the slice annexation of five kilometers per hostile event perpetrated against israel. Huge reprisal totally out of proportion and having lasting effect is the intelligent way to go. Wringing one's hands and belaboring the "bad" situation is for the vertabrate challenged. Making the enemy cry tears of blood is a particularly nice way to encourage the nasty neighbors to play nice.

For example, Saddam had a similar problem with the world. And when he went too far the world threw that fit. Damn world.

Actually you are wrong. As long as Saddam attacked Israel and Iran, the US and Arabs funded him and gave him weapons. The moment he turned on Saudi Arabia, the world (actually US alone) threw a fit and destroyed him.

Just don't go too far. The world won't force a peace deal on you but it also doesn't want a dangerous escalation just because some loonies can't agree how to divide their historical relics.