A clandestine undertaking on behalf of Israel, the Jets and the Jews.

 
Fighting to the Last Israeli

Did you hear, the cabinet finally decided to send troops deep into Lebanon. I don't know what they were waiting for. It's about time to go after those guys.

-Overheard today at Kosher Deluxe.

I've never served in an army and don't claim to be a military expect. When I heard today that Israel's cabinet had authorized Prime Minister Olmert to direct the IDF to substantially expand operations in Lebanon, my first thought was about the many reservists who have been, and will be, called up, and, God forbid, won't come home, or will sustain injuries. Indeed, whenever I see IDF troops on TV, my first thought is concern about their safety.

I'm not naive about the painful costs of war, and I certainly believe Israel's current war is justified and necessary. But there's something repellent to me about American Jews expressing excitement over the broadening of a war, especially since few of these American Jews are even visiting Israel now, let alone serving in the IDF.

That said, while I'm not an expect on military strategy, and don't know whether Israel should commence a massive ground operation to take control over all of southern Lebanon up to the Litani River or should instead take a different military approach, I do have serious questions and concerns about the lack of secrecy with which this war is being operated.

Whether out of hubris or out of unnecessarily exaggerated insistence on providing access to the media, Israel is far too open about what it is doing and what it plans to do. One could turn on FOX or CNN, and immediately find out where soldiers are currently deployed, and where Hezbollah's latest barrage of rockets fell. Worse, also in real time, Israel announces what it will be doing and when.

Something tells me that if, on the evening of June 6, 1967, Israel had announced that it had authorized the IDF to take control over the Old City of Jerusalem and would be commencing a military operation the next morning, many more soldiers would have died in that battle. If, two days later, Prime Minister Eshkol had announced that Israel had decided to try to take the Golan Heights, the UN would surely have imposed a ceasefire to prevent that.

While Israel seeks to provide free access to the media, it must not do so if it in any way reduces the element of surprise, thereby limiting the effectiveness of operations and putting soldiers in additional (and unnecessary) jeopardy.
posted on 8/09/2006