angtauchwee
05-08-2006, 08:25 AM
I've been closely monitoring the Israeli campaign in Lebanon. In the old days, when the Israeli military was at its peak, it would have done the job in six days. Remember how it thrashed Egypt, Jordan, Syria and others in a mere six days. But now it can't even stop a rag-tag guerilla force from firing Katyusha rockets into its own territories. Worse still, even its mighty Merkava tanks are being destroyed by Hezbollah RPGs. It's sad to se these great war machines limping back into Israel from the Lebanese border, smoke still coming out from the sections where the tank was hit by multiple RPG hits.
The balance of power has shifted. In today's world of assymetrical warfare, it is not advanced weapons that count. It is like judo. You can throw a more powerful opponent off his feet by knowing where to trip him. The cheap, mass-manufactured anti-tank rocket is the weapon of the day now. When fired in salvos, like the militia and insurgents do in Iraq, they can inflict real damage on a more advanced force.
The lesson here for us? Don't rely heavily on advanced weapons. Ultimately, the factor that counts and that provides the tipping point is the foot soldier. The Israeli F-16s have been bombing Lebanon for more than three weeks in so-called precision attacks. Totally useless. Their Apaches crashed into each other in the fog of war. What the Israeli bomb attacks achieve is murdering more and more civilians. The consequence: Every bomb dropped pushes more Lebanese to support Hezbollah.
Also, vigiliance is important. When the Israelis withdrew from Lebanon six years ago, they didn't keep up surveillance and monitoring of the Hezbollah. They got distracted by the Intifada in the west Bank, allowing Hezbollah to build up its military capabilities and, more importantly, build up support among the Lebanese people by providing socials and medical services. Of course they were bankrolled by the Iranians and Syrians. So, the lesson here is to never take your eyes off the ball.
Finally, the NS spirit has been eroded in the Israeli military over the years. The soldiers and their training are not of the same calibre as in the days of even the Yom Kippur War. I read that many Israeli youths are not committed to NS. Also, their leadership is weaker. They don't have charismatic and dynamic leaders like Ariel Sharon, leaders who are not averse to taking risks. Look at how he took a gamble and crossed the Suez to encircle an entire Egyptian army corp in the Yom Kippur War?. He went against the orders of his superior. It is this kind of balls that you need in battle. Not blind obedience to HQ. Sharon's bold manoeurvre turned the tide of the war in favour of the Israelis. Do we have such leaders? Do we allow our military leaders to take risks?
We had better heed the lessons of the Israeli campaign in Lebanon...or else....
The balance of power has shifted. In today's world of assymetrical warfare, it is not advanced weapons that count. It is like judo. You can throw a more powerful opponent off his feet by knowing where to trip him. The cheap, mass-manufactured anti-tank rocket is the weapon of the day now. When fired in salvos, like the militia and insurgents do in Iraq, they can inflict real damage on a more advanced force.
The lesson here for us? Don't rely heavily on advanced weapons. Ultimately, the factor that counts and that provides the tipping point is the foot soldier. The Israeli F-16s have been bombing Lebanon for more than three weeks in so-called precision attacks. Totally useless. Their Apaches crashed into each other in the fog of war. What the Israeli bomb attacks achieve is murdering more and more civilians. The consequence: Every bomb dropped pushes more Lebanese to support Hezbollah.
Also, vigiliance is important. When the Israelis withdrew from Lebanon six years ago, they didn't keep up surveillance and monitoring of the Hezbollah. They got distracted by the Intifada in the west Bank, allowing Hezbollah to build up its military capabilities and, more importantly, build up support among the Lebanese people by providing socials and medical services. Of course they were bankrolled by the Iranians and Syrians. So, the lesson here is to never take your eyes off the ball.
Finally, the NS spirit has been eroded in the Israeli military over the years. The soldiers and their training are not of the same calibre as in the days of even the Yom Kippur War. I read that many Israeli youths are not committed to NS. Also, their leadership is weaker. They don't have charismatic and dynamic leaders like Ariel Sharon, leaders who are not averse to taking risks. Look at how he took a gamble and crossed the Suez to encircle an entire Egyptian army corp in the Yom Kippur War?. He went against the orders of his superior. It is this kind of balls that you need in battle. Not blind obedience to HQ. Sharon's bold manoeurvre turned the tide of the war in favour of the Israelis. Do we have such leaders? Do we allow our military leaders to take risks?
We had better heed the lessons of the Israeli campaign in Lebanon...or else....