News
Agranat files hint at consistent military problems
Amnon Meranda
Published: 07.10.08, 12:26
Comment Comment
Print comment Print comment
Back to article
15 Talkbacks for this article
1. Sharonism
observer   (10.07.08)
Sharon said: ....look at the 8th, when there were two divisions in the field… The regional commander should have been there or, if not, then his deputy… someone to coordinate between the forces… That was not true; the Israeli Communication Centers in Sinai were destroyed by the Egyptian Air Forces and brought into death silence in the first minutes of the war. Even if someone was there to coordinate between the forces, he did NOT have the efficient tools.
2. Dayan: Blablabla
Ronny ,   Germany   (10.07.08)
As if he had not known that if the MANPOWER is lacking there is a lot less deterrance... He just wanted to defend himself, which is ok, but his testimony should not be seen as equal to what really happened.
3. testimony in the interest of Egypt
observer   (10.07.08)
Sharon spoke of his conversations with the IDF outposts along the Bar-Lev fortification line, which were heavily bombarded and often crushed by storming Egyptian troops. "I heard their cries for help for days, until they were rescued," he said. "They constantly demanded to be evacuated." He also said that the IDF encountered "deep, unprecedented shock. Until then we had known no defeats."
4. War
Talula ,   Israel   (10.07.08)
We won the Yom Kippur war - at a second's notice. And to bad mouth our troops and strategy now, is really nauseating. I'm sure there was room for improvement and it's a pity that these files were not looked at before. So, even with all the negative remarks contained in these files, we still won. And that says it all.
5. We won
Diaspora Jew ,   South America   (10.07.08)
Doesn´t matter what everybody says, but at the end, the equation in simple: we won. The price was enourmous, a lot of pain inflicted and sufferred. We are still alive and bigger
6. #3, So why did Kissinger cry on live TV for Egypt?
Jake   (10.07.08)
So what if Egypt and Syria made initial advances against Israel, thanks to their surprise attack? That's also a divince victory for you? They were ultimately defeated by Israel. Kissinger was crying real tears on live TV because the Egyptian 3rd army was surrounded by the Israelis on all sides, and slowly dying. In the Golan Heights, Israel had reversed the Syrian advance and counterattacked so far into Syria that they no longer needed the air force, but could rely on artillery to shell the outskirts of Damascus. Use brain, before engaging fingertips.
7. I was there,believe me it was a mess.
Eric.. ,   Israel...   (10.07.08)
Nobody new what the hell was going on.Untill Sharon came along and then we moved. They just did not know what hit them.We won but with a huge price.Sad but true..
8. Any lessons learned from the Yom Kipur war must have been...
Stewart ,   U.S.A.   (10.07.08)
forgotten by the time of the last wars in Lebenon. Just look at the results.
9. AM ISRAEL HAY
Gag ,   Montreal,Canada   (10.07.08)
To all my people of Israel, and all over the world Hatima Tova, G.. bless you all
10. lessons forgotten
Israel Israeli ,   Tel Aviv   (10.07.08)
In 1970, Israel and Egypt signed a cease-fire agreement to stop the War of Attrition. The Egyptians immediately violated the agreement and began moving their antiaircraft missiles to the Suez Canal. Israel wanted to attack these missiles, but the US threatened Israel not to attack, and promised any weapons Israel wanted. Despite the promise, the US did not supply Israel with the electronic warfare to stop the missiles. When the Egyptians attacked in 1973, these missiles neutralized the Israeli airforce, allowing the Egyptians to destroy the Israeli ground forces. As #8 says, we must learn from the past. Don't trust the Americans because they have their own interests. If Condie forces you to remove roadblocks and give territory that allows Fatah to launch rockets at your airport, you are to blame.
11. #5,6
observer   (10.07.08)
Israel was occupying Egyptian Sinai and to justify that made PR campaign of lies of the type: holding strategic defense posts. Sinai is more than double the area of Israel! Israel used its air force to strike the depth of Egypt in a trial to win a home front aggression. Egypt warned that it can't hold its restraint anymore, however Egypt did not use its large stock of Al-Kaher and Al-Zafer rockets which the Israeli intelligence tried to stop that project in the 60s by targeting the German experts sharing to develop them. Many were used only to strike 31 strong posts on the eastern line of the Suez Canal. that would have been looking illogical in the eyes of Israelis, but that did happen. Had Egypt used the stock of rockets in its arsenal to strike the Israeli home front; Israel would have come to its knees. with the first stage of disengagement, Egypt withdrew 1000 tanks and 70,000 soldiers from Sinai according to the agreement with Sadat which the Egyptian army Generals strongly opposed. Sadat's decision was only a goodwill gesture! The Israelis had a pocket, 100 km from Cairo, a a little bit nearer than their original stand on the east of the canal; that was only PR gain not a strategic one. Actually the Israeli soldiers were practically besieged rather than were sieging. Why the Israelis were anxious that Egypt retreat 1000 tanks and 70,000 soldiers if they were really re-capturing the Suez canal, thwarting the Egyptian forces?
12. Israel needs to get act together
Larry ,   zefat Israell   (10.07.08)
General Sharon will not be there to bail you out in future wars.
13. #11. Don't waste your energy on B.S.
Jake   (10.07.08)
The 1973 war launched by Syria and Egypt against Israel on Yom Kippur cannot be justified by the usual canard of "Israeli occupation". The 6-Day War of 1967 had been brought to an end thanks to bilateral ceasefire agreements, signed between Israel and the Arab belligerents in that war, establishing new armistice lines, and making the final status of all territorial and other claims the result of a peacefully negociated solution. It was the decision of Arab League to issue it's 3 No's resolution (no peace with Israel, no recognition of Israel, no negociations with Israel) in 1967. It was the decision of Egypt to launch the war of attrition, in violation of the 1967 ceasefire agreements. It was the decision of Egypt and Syria to launch the 1973 war, in violation of the same.
14. Eric #7
Gee ,   Zikron Yaakov   (10.07.08)
I was there too and Sharon was a total idiot. We were ready to move, just waiting for the infantry when Sharon ordered us to attack without infantry support. We lost a lot of fine young men because Sharon couldn't figure out that Russian anti-tank missiles change the rules from '67. We told him and he ignored us and blamed every other officer in range. We won in spite of that idiot, we sure wouldn't have had the number of dead if he wasn't there and it would have resulted in FAR more tanks across the canal in the early part of the crossing. He was a lousy officer, terrible general and worse PM
15. I was there, Believe me it was a mess
zack margolies ,   Philadelphia, USA   (10.10.08)
More generals get it wrong than get it right. The American Civil War is case in point. Young soldiers die on the battle field. Generals die old men. Fact of life.
Back to article