Military intelligence is much an art as a science. Technology can only provide so much information, it usually requires humans on the ground to sniff out stuff the enemy is trying to keep secret.
Can you imagine anyone in Gaza willing to spy for Israel? Can you imagine an Israeli sneaking about in Gaza?
The biggest failure (as I see it from all the way around the world) is allowing civilians to be so close to the border.
I would like to believe Israel has learn from this experience.
You said it best!
People particularly on this site think it’s like TV or the movies with the James Bonds or the Jethro Gibbs’ all seducing women with plenty of explosions, gunfire & daring do! Where is all wrapped up in an hour to a satisfying conclusion! It’s not, nothing like that, not even close!!! It’s mostly painstakingly boring, trying to make sense of “disparate facts” of dubious quality. Putting together a narrative that’s full of holes but still logical. It’s full of holes because you don’t have enough “facts” questionable or otherwise and you never will. You never gain mathematical certainty! In the final analysis its educated guessing! You live with that and accept the fact that you can be very wrong!
You state, “Military intelligence is much an art as a science. Technology can only provide so much information, it usually requires humans on the ground to sniff out stuff the enemy is trying to keep secret.”
I would agree and I am reminded that when Jimmy Carter became President he named Adm. S. Turner to run the CIA. Turner was a great believer in technology, and the agents on the ground were greatly reduced. The CIA has never really recovered from that simplistic look at intelligence gathering.