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3 reserve battalions called up
Hanan Greenberg
Published: 18.07.06, 00:34
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1. Israel Must Go In On The Ground
Yitzchak ,   NYC   (07.18.06)
ISRAEL'S NEW FEAR By RALPH PETERS SOMETHING big hasn't happened in the current round of fighting between Israel and its terrorist foes. That absence represents a potentially fatal change in Israeli policy. For all of the air-attacks on targets in Lebanon, the Israeli Defense Force has not sent in ground troops. If IDF tanks don't thrust across the border in force in the next few days, it will reflect the greatest crisis of will in Israel's history. Israel is signaling its enemies that it's afraid to risk its soldiers' lives. And the terrorists read the message clearly. This caution will only encourage Israel's enemies - just when the seemingly inevitable advent of Iranian nuclear weapons poses the greatest threat to Israel since 1948. Israel never squandered the lives of its soldiers. It couldn't afford to. But in past crises a sense of necessity prevailed. The IDF did what it had to do, and did it well for two generations. Then came the long involvement in Lebanon, "Israel's Vietnam." It broke something inside the IDF. Is Israel's spirit of sacrifice dying? If so, it may prove fatal. Once brilliant in the attack, the IDF has declined into a defensive mindset that air-strikes can't camouflage. Meanwhile, the ruthlessness of Israel's enemies has increased horrifically. They would sacrifice millions of their own people to destroy Israel. Perhaps the air campaign to date is only meant to prepare the battlefield for a strike by ground forces. For Israel's sake, let's hope so. Because Israel's enemies will only be unified - and never defeated - by attacks from 15,000 feet. Precision munitions can't turn the tide in struggles of the soul. And the souls of men are Hezbollah's center of gravity. Israeli decision-makers appear to have learned nothing from the failure of our "Shock and Awe" air campaign against Saddam's regime. After all the ludicrous claims that a sound-and-light show over Baghdad would drive Saddam to surrender, the war had to be won the old-fashioned way, with the Army and Marines battling their way to Baghdad. If the U.S. Air Force, with all its resources, couldn't break Saddam's regime, IDF jets won't defeat Hezbollah - an organization with genuine popular support - by blowing holes in runways in Beirut and humiliating the Lebanese people. But that's about all that air power acting alone can do. One of the many frustrating aspects of Hezbollah is that, while it's increasingly a potent, disciplined military force, it doesn't present many conventional military targets. It's maddeningly difficult to find dispersed clusters of terrorists - and it's impossible to corner and kill them in significant numbers without boots on the ground. Israel is making the American mistake of betting on technology to defeat primal beliefs. The result is the opposite of the one desired: Stand-off attacks only convince religion-fueled terrorists that we - Americans or Israelis - lack the courage to "face them like men."
2. Great Job!!!
Moira ,   USA   (07.18.06)
It is sad that Lebanon is left with the mop up. If they would have followed UN resolution to dismantle this scurge hizzbullah, they would have a beautiful country today.
3. War, but.......
(07.18.06)
we dont need to see soldiers kills we have the BEST!! Army , and the best IAF in the World, we dont need so resuce life, we need to save life, Soldiers = OUT! IAF = IN
4. Still not going to work
John ,   US   (07.18.06)
Why don't you bomb Syria?
5. war, but
joe   (07.18.06)
but what if you can't stop the missiles with the IAF? a big mistake was made by letting hizbollah flourish, and now the cost to correct it may have to be as big
6. Very suspect article
Ibrahim ,   S. Arabia   (07.18.06)
America won the Gulf war about Kuwait by using the Air Force as much as possible first. The author advises something that can jeopardise the success of the Israelis: Go in before the things that help Hezbullah are taken out from the air. Hezbullah thanks you.
7. Never invade countries, Just bomb the hell out of them!
(07.18.06)
8. General Japinsky
hanina ,   usa   (07.18.06)
General Japinsksy scares the hell out of me and all I am doing is looing at his picture. I would run scared if he was after me. Let him do his job.
9. The only way IAF could clean it up is by vaporizing Lebanon
AK   (07.18.06)
Since this is out of the question, Israeli Infantry must go in, or Israelis may close the shop and surrender -- if not now, then real soon.
10. self-restraint as a principle of war is absurd
Prof.P.Eidelberg ,   ISRAEL   (07.18.06)
Dear friends: I recently pointed out in “Israel’s War Aims”: “…self-restraint as a principle of war is absurd and self-destructive. Israel’s war aims should be not only to destroy the enemy’s forces, but also to eradicate the enemy’s desire to wage war for a hundred years—as the Allied powers did in Germany and the United States in Japan.” Ponder, therefore this letter I received from Tom Carew of Dublin, Ireland, who has kindly given me to disseminate it. It’s worthy of careful reading: Shalom Paul, Some 600,000 German civilians were lost due to Allied bombings alone, nearly 1% of their pre-war population. A very large minority had voted for Hitler, as has also happened with the Palestinian Arabs and their neo-Nazi Hamas. The total German dead were 10.82% which equals 154,592 from Gaza and 266,225 West Bank Arabs, or 420,817 in total. The much lower Japanese 3.61% rate of dead gives 51,578 for Gaza, 88,824 for West Bank, or 140,402 in total. By either standard, Palestinians have suffered little - so far. And as the 14 Hezbollah members in the Lebanese Parliament out of 128 are 10.94%, then that genocidal element in Lebanon would suffer 45,857 to 15,300 dead by WW II Axis standards. The 100,000 dead from all sides in 1975-1991 in their Civil War was only 2.58%. Again, not comparable to what Japan or Germany lost. And both Japan and Germany suffered enough to never want a repeat. Let’s hope and pray that this Israeli Government has learnt these brutal lessons from history, and that the IDF land forces crossing the border this morning will be let finish the job. But what moral or military or historical logic suggests to Chirac and Putin that Israel [response to Hezbollah’s attack] is "disproportionate"? Since when is the aggressor entitled to suffer only the same losses as the defender? Did De Gaulle or Stalin make that complaint in, or after, WW II? A Just War is not for revenge or reprisal, but to eliminate a deadly threat. The Fanatical Jihadi Fringe is such a threat, and for other Arabs and Muslims as well. The "proportionate" casualties they take are whatever it takes to conquer them thoroughly, and remove their aggressive capacity for good. Our hopes and prayers are with the "Armed Democrats" of the IDF, on land, sea and air, on whose courage, determination, and skills not only the people of Israel depend, but all those who are, or who seek to be, truly free. With best wishes, Tom Carew, Dublin, Ireland. Tf : 00353-1-497-8293
11. Err, 3 battalions (gdudim), not brigades (hativot)
avi   (07.18.06)
Err, 3 battalions (gdudim), not brigades (hativot)
12. #9
Manny ,   NY, USA   (07.18.06)
Actually fuel-air-explosive ordinance dropped by F-15/16s would create 100meter wide swaths with no damage elsewhere (but would totally kill any enemy forces) allowing for the IDF to choose its own routes to section off grids of territory and systematically destroy Hesbollah at will. Tell civies to leave area (like in Beirut) and kill everyone else. A ground invasion will draw out the enemy like a magnet, except you don`t repeat the bad tactics of 1982.
13. Ibrahim
Leon ,   Grand Rapids U S A   (07.18.06)
Air power is fine at the beginning, but military doctrine has always been occupation to end the fighting. Air power is the modern equivalent of artillery. Napoleon tried artillery alone, and soon realized foot soldiers are the means to the end. Sorry, it's bloodier that way, but was is bloody, ALAS !
14. Israeli reserves Called Up
Hendrik Van den Berg ,   Lincoln, Nebraska   (07.18.06)
Apparently Israel wants to trn this into a permanent war. However, destroying the Lebanese economy is a particularly stupid thing to do; it alienates an entire country that is not entirely hostile to Israel yet. I really do not understand the Israeli strategy here. This could be the turning point where even Americans begin to question the motives and reasoning of the Israelis. With their cruel bombing of civilians and the destruction of the Lebanese economy, Israel has certainly lost my sympathy. I hope they suffer serious losses and are forced to begin serious negotiations with the Palestinians.
15. Israel Must Go In On The Ground
Mark Zilberman ,   North Bergen USA   (07.18.06)
In which battle for which borough did you gain your military expertise?
16. TO YITZCHAK
(07.18.06)
I DON'T SEE HIZBOLLAH COMING OUT OF THEIR HOLES AND FIGHTING LIKE MEN. THEY ARE BLINDLY SENDING OVER ROCKETS - WE DON'T SEE THEIR FACES. THEY ARE THE TRUE COWARDS.
17. An Eye for a Tooth
Joseph Kaufman ,   Oakland, California   (07.18.06)
We are reminded now of the principles of Van Clausowitz...the outcome of the war is determined by who controls the ground. Enough of this nonsense about technological superiority. His principals in warfare still apply. Go Go IDF
18. hanina #8
Omar ,   Dubai   (07.18.06)
Because you born to be scared. Is he going to be more scary than Sharon? Where is he by the way? He is in deep coma getting help from nurses to keep him alive. And this is your brain too. In deep coma and needs someone to take care of it till you are awake. People of Israel: wakeup, you will not remain in your power forever. And allow me to remind you that the ant can kill the elephant.
19. Omar #18
Rick S. ,   L.A.   (07.18.06)
Let's not forget that the Arabs are the elephant and little Israel is the ant. You are correct in one respect. Israel will not remain strong if the weak kneed and spineless left run the country. Israel needs Likud in gov't.
20. to #18 - Omar
jordan ,   Oregon, USA   (07.18.06)
There is literally no chance for Israel to lose this war. You need to take an english class if you want to post on an english-speaking board, otherwise you appear a much larger idiot than you are if that is even possible. Islam is a disease and Isreal holds the cure.
21. i agree with 1
paulo ,   lisbon,portugal   (07.18.06)
i completely agree with 1. Nasrallah was convinced Israel has no guts to return to lebanon and face hezbollah again. That is why he strike in the first place. Hezzbolah need a beating and I doubt airpower can do it.
22. do not go in
giora ,   london   (07.18.06)
let the iaf do the work and perhaps the special forces.do not enter that rat hole.
23. Respond to: jordan , Oregon, USA
Ryan ,   Johannesburg   (07.18.06)
Well Jordan after blasting Omar for his command of the english lanuage you go and spell Israel wrong. That is so classic ha ha
24. You make me laugh..
Jennifer ,   Tel Aviv, Israel   (07.18.06)
All you self righteous people living miles away from either Israel or Lebanon... it is so easy to criticise when you are sitting on the other side of the world... do you think that Israel would have gone in and "destroyed" Lebanon if the soldiers hadn't been kidnapped? Israel suffered 6 years - (since their withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000 ) of attacks in the North of Israel - what were they supposed to do? To sit back and accept this? The reason civilians have been hurt in Lebanon is because the Hezbollah have set up camp within the civilian towns. No I don't agree that we should destroy a country, nor an economy that is not looking for a war with Israel - BUT we need to stop this ongoing violence and this seems to be the only language that they understand. Sorry - I hope that the Hezbollah see sense and stop attacking Israeli towns so that we can finish this war without hurting too many innocent people on both sides.
25. Yitzchak (#1) - Is it nice in NYC???
Jeremy ,   Jerusalem   (07.18.06)
It is very easy to sit in America and comment on what Israel is scared to do in a war. Have you ever been in the military? Are your children? It's very easy to live half a world away, and pretend to know all the answers. You do not live with any of the consequences; you are not out there fighting, nor are your children. You make your decisions, and form opinions secure in the knowledge that you will not get that phone call from the army, telling you to go up north. I say Yitzchak, if you know all the answers, and you are not scared. Leave your safe home in America - Come here and fight with us!!!
26. Reserves called up
Allan ,   london   (07.18.06)
Its about time that this happened and is a prelude to a ground offensive and i hope, to take on Syria and take out some of their capacity to ship weapons to terrorists. It has taken along time for Israel to finally wake up and realise that certain countries want to wipe them out. Mainly Syria and Iran... They sponsor terrorism and fund insurgents in Iraq, Israel and I would say other places too. The time for peace is finished for now.. Unless the arab world can see that waging endless war is not in their interests. Egypt and Jordan worked this out along time ago, maybe other countries will realise. If not let the Americans help Israel to get rid of Hizbollah and take on Iran before they get atomic weapons. Other arabs dont want to see a Nuclear armed Iran any more than Israel does. perhaps a watershed moment, when Arabs will realise Israel isnt out to get them, but islamic extremism is. One can only hope. If not then this will get worse and Israel will have no choice but to use the more advanced weapons it has held back from using.
27. to #20
Omar ,   Dubai   (07.18.06)
Haaa.. I don't have to.. I'm proud of my Arabiclanguage and learning English is not my top priority. I’m not going to reply with naughty words as you did and behave as you do.. my great Islam stops me from doing that. However, the fact is that sooner or later things will change. And I’m quit sure that most of you feel it deep inside. It’s just a matter of time. Keep this note in front of you.. you will need it one day..!
28. yeah have your kids join Machal
Paul ,   Tel Aviv, Israel   (07.18.06)
I love how American Jews are so gung-ho, but then freak out when their kids visit here or -god forbid- join Machal or otherwise volunteer for the army. I guess it's okay when it's not you, or your kids. My request for 'patriotic' American Jews: Shut your mouth.
29. us jews 'advice'
baruch ,   new york   (07.18.06)
To all your Israelis that are so indignant at getting ‘advise’ from the American Jews: It was not the American Jews that voted for your governments that put you in this position over many years of idiotic policy. It was you. And perhaps if you had heeded that unwanted advice in the past, you would not be sitting in the bomb shelters today. And let me tell you, if all the likes of you would move to America and leave Eretz Israel to the proud Jews, many people from here would be happy to move to a truly Jewsh country. As things stand right now, I am happy not to be governed by the likes of you and the government you elect and I am not prepared to risk my life in vain nor fight for the government that does not value Jewsh lifes. Having said that, I want to wish you all to safely survive this war and then grow some brains.
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