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Former general: Israel can't defeat Iran
Dudi Cohen
Published: 18.12.08, 17:49
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104 Talkbacks for this article
1. I hope that this is a ploy...
Judah ,   Golan Heights,ISRAEL   (12.18.08)
so that Iran lowers its defences. Yet if this man truly believes that Israel cannot stop Iran and now he announces this to the world then Eiland is really harming Israels' security by opening his big mouth.
2. Just a few words...
Jim   (12.18.08)
Low Yeald Tactical Nuke....
3. Giora Eiland is smart....
Dave Wilson ,   usa   (12.18.08)
Finally, some one in Israel not driven by testosterone!
4. What went wrong with Israel?
Yunan ,   telaviv   (12.18.08)
We should be realisitc and listen to GIORA EILAND. He certainly knows what he is talking about unlike Olmert's bravado that led to humiliation in 2006. We dont need another humiliation. We lost our deterrent capabilities. Even on the leadership level, Hezbollah seems to have outdone our leaders. What went wrong? We used to be powerfull and capable to dictate events. No more. Those days are long gone. We need a solution urgently before its too late.
5. miracles and hands
Asher ,   cleveland   (12.18.08)
Historically miracles do not happen when people will not give G-D the credit. When people admit that their hand cannot do it then a miracle can happen
6. What do we have nuclear weapons for?
Israel   (12.18.08)
7. Israel sould pick on someone their own size!
IRAN#1   (12.18.08)
Iran is too much to handle for a tiny country like Israel even when supported to the hilt by the so called "western democracies". Know your place in the world.
8. I don`t understand
jorge ,   mexico   (12.18.08)
Is difficult to comprehend these statements coming from former National Security(!!!)Council chairman even if there are true.
9. It is not always 1+1=2 in the war
Marek ,   Czech Rep.   (12.18.08)
Israel fought stronger enemy always and she succeeded.
10. Destroy as much as you can as a start.
Bunnie Meyer ,   Los Angeles, CA USA   (12.18.08)
11. he is right however
simon doerksen   (12.18.08)
there are other options. The regime in tehran is an enemy to it's own people the economy is on the rocks and with oil prices low they are losing the cash source they need to support foreign spending via iraq/lebanon they are not a boogie man. Just a competing 'islamic power', and like most of these islamic powers it's a weak dictatorship built on a unproductive economy and a police state apparatus. They talk big but they are struggling to survive.
12. Eiland is wrong
Brod ,   USA   (12.18.08)
Eiland does not know what he is talking about. Is he underestimating Israel's capability? Does he prefer to have a 'Hiroshima' on Israel? The fact is Israel possesses the capability to obliterate Iran's nukes. Israel's enemies better understand this. Otherwise, they will be repeating history.
13. Eiland suggests preemptive surrender
Nora ,   Tel Aviv   (12.18.08)
What is your alternative Mr. Eiland ? A PREEMPTIVE SURRENDER ? Ever heard of Ben Gurion`s decisions? He fought five armies against all bets. Fight back and the world will fight with you. The alternative is a lost State of Israel and new Jewish memorials all over Europe.
14. ANOTHER DEFEATIST
DAVID ,   JUDEA   (12.18.08)
It is abundantly clear that many israelis have chosen to be a bunch of pessimistic loosers , who lack any Emunah. This is what happens when you choose an hedonistic lifestyle worshipping Liberalism, opposing one's true roots. But he is right there will be no blessing only failure in any undertaking by this government and its hencemen. Maybey another expulsion to feed the macho ego's might do the trick.
15. Iran is not the enemy
Israel Israeli ,   Tel Aviv   (12.18.08)
Iran is not Israel's enemy. The people who must fear Iran are the Arabs. Let the Arabs and the Americans worry about Iran. Israel should only ask, under what conditions could Israel better defend against a possible Iranian attack: holding the hills of Judea, Samaria and Golan or giving the hills to the Iranian allies Syria and Hamas? And how will the Israeli population better survive an attack? On the flat and narrow coastal plain, or spread out in the rocky hills of Golan, Judea and Samaria?
16. #4 What went wrong is what is still going wrong (pt.1)
Aharon   (12.18.08)
Failure to adapt. There was a time when we could "dictate events" - when we were at the height of our military power in comparison to our neighbors (at least in terms of quality of training and equipment), and the geo-political reality was such that we could act, more or less, with impunity. This was the reality that allowed us to win overwhelming victories in 1956 and 1967 - at that time our understanding of the Middle East was flawed and tainted with a mentality of perpetual victimhood - but the geo-political reality of the Cold War and our clear military superiority over our neighbours allowed us, in spite of our failure to truly grasp the Arab world and Middle Eastern politics, to "dictate events" through sheer force. At that time, the world was clearly divided into two "teams" - we were on one, and our neighbours were on the other. We were with the Americans, the Egyptians and Syrians were with the Soviets. This is what enabled us to use our military force with impunity at that time with relatively little international diplomatic pressure against us (from the Western world - our allies). But after 1973 the realities on the ground changed. Firstly, the par between our military capabilities and that of our enemies was clearly shrinking - Egypt had been able to modify its tactics to inflict heavy casualties against the IDF and demonstrated that they were a capable opponent (as opposed to their humiliating defeat in the two previous wars). To complicate things further, Egypt was pulled into the American camp through the American-imposed Israel-Egypt treaty of peace, and Jordan would follow. Meanwhile our military edge over our neighbors has been significantly eroded, or otherwise negated by guerilla tactics. Not only has our military edge been weakened, but the "teams" into which we were divided no longer exist - now every action we take impacts upon American and European interests in the region. The realities on the ground changed - but our mentality did not. We, as a society, still fail to fully grasp the intricacies of politics in the Middle East - the difference is that now we do not have the ability to impose our will by sheer force as we once could, and we constantly suffer from failed attempts to do so. Our minds are stuck in the 1960s, longing for the days when our neighbours were humiliated and defeated by us, and believing that such a reality is still possible. But it is not. Israel cannot continue to operate as though this is 1967, and we can exercise our military force with impunity.
17. #4 What went wrong is what is still going wrong (pt.1)
Aharon   (12.18.08)
The time has come to adapt, and I believe that this is slowly happening. Iran will have nuclear power, and in all likelihood, it will also have a nuclear bomb. This put Israel in a difficult situation and will even further weaken our position in the region, but it is by no means the end of the world. Iran will not bomb Israel - the capability to do so an the implicit threat that accompanies that threat are rewards enough in and of themselves, which will serve Iran's goal of increasing its influence in the Middle East (believe it or not, Israel is not at the top of Iran's agenda - not even close). We need to accept this new reality, and prepare to adapt for the geopolitical changes it will bring. Firstly, it is in our interests to come to some sort of negotiated settlement with the Palestinians so that: (1) We can move forward in our relations with Europe, with a long-term goal of joining NATO; (2) We divert the attention of the Sunni Arab states away from Israel toward Iran, whom they are as concerned about as we are (if not more). The specific details of the "peace process" are another issue entirely which are beyond the scope of this TB. We should also consider moving forward on the Syrian track, but do so with extreme caution and maintain a tough negotiating stance. Naturally, we should also continue developing our defense capabilities, especially ABM systems. In an extreme situation, in which we failed to reach an agreement with the Palestinians and Syrians and Iran has already obtained a nuclear bomb, it may be in Israel's interests to test a nuclear device and end its nuclear ambiguity, though this would almost certainly result in a dangerous arms race in the Middle East. In short, nothing has gone wrong. The only reason you perceive Israel to have "fallen" is that as a society we have simply failed to accept and adapt to new realities on the ground - and if we wish to survive, we had better begin adapting while we can.
18. #12 How do you know? You're a general or something?
(12.18.08)
19. What a great boost to our morale!!!
Righteous Zionist ,   Israel   (12.18.08)
20. Wait till Armageddon
Dennis ,   usa   (12.18.08)
and see what and who gets spanked beyond what your intellects can handle. God again will take care of business. Oh, Your wilfull ignorance about it wont stop it.
21. He means with conventional weapons.
Terry ,   Eilat, Israel   (12.18.08)
We can still nuke them off the face of the earth. I'd feel bad about it but not as bad as if they nuke us first.
22. Classic Deception and Disinformation
Lawrence Tendler ,   Safed Israel   (12.18.08)
23. The solution is:
Akram ,   Paris / Beirut   (12.18.08)
EMP bomb that puts all electric equipment in Iran to HALT. However, I doubt if Israel has any!
24. Either this is a cover, or he should be indicted for treason
Global Citizen ,   Israel & USA   (12.18.08)
25. Eiland is correct
Steven ,   San Francisco   (12.18.08)
All this testosterone and machismo will get you the equivalent of a bus crashed in a ravine on a national scale. Count your blessings while you still have them. Tend your own garden. Prepare your defenses. Don't be the first to strike a blow. Know your limits.
26. Israel Is Not Alone
USABorn   (12.18.08)
So Iran dominates Israel. So what now? Is Israel going to put herself in the hands of Allah? Big mistake. They said Israel couldn't win in 1948 and 1973. The odds were stacked against them, but they won. The EU and the USA will help Israel.
27. #7: Our place in the world will always be above yours
5th generation ,   Israel   (12.18.08)
No matter what has happened, we have always come out better off in our quality of life, as you sink lower and lower. Enjoy your size - hopes it keeps you warm at night.
28. EILAND IS A HAS BEEN...HE'S NOTHING
(12.18.08)
29. Words I Would Expect From Jimmy Carter
David H ,   Marietta Georgia   (12.18.08)
30. #9 Marek, Czech Rep
Dave Wilson ,   usa   (12.18.08)
Marek you seem to be an idiot who knows more than the former national security council chairman, who is an ex General in the IDF.
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