Bold general statements, and the devil lies in the details.
The author should list the huge mistakes made and specifically why Israel has turned things around using actual metrics.
Otherwise, this article is about as believable as an oncologist that tells you we’re winning over the cancer but has zero to back up that claim.
David French is probably not the source I would go to for this type of analysis. He is an idiot.
Not aimed at you E. Pluribus Unum
It’s behind a paywall so I can’t read the whole article. But what seems to be missing is a question of choice. What choice did/does Israel have? They were either complacent, or diplomatically forced, to sit back and watch Hamas build smuggling tunnels, amass weapons, terrorize their own population into submission and fire rockets into Israel practically every day for 18 years. Hezbullah, the same. In 2005 they left Gaza and in 2006 they left Lebanon and that same year Hamas took power in Gaza. So what choices did Israel have, especially after October 7? That was so over the top, brutal, and unnecessary. Israel’s choice was to “lie back and enjoy it” or go to war and reverse the last 18 years of mistaken complacency.
Israel was lucky, smart, to have the iron dome system which basically protects them from a small number of rockets and missiles. And they put up with that and that probably led in part to their complacency. Knocking the rockets out of the sky costs some money which could be better spent, but it worked to protect the country and it worked to prevent a wider war. If the missiles don’t hit anybody, Israel doesn’t have to go in and Palestinians don’t get killed either. But faced with an onslaught of 1000’s launched at once, iron dome would probably be overwhelmed. It also doesn’t work against mortars and other low flying projectiles. It doesn’t stop invading hordes intent on murder, rape, mutilation and kidnapping (the infiltration and kidnapping of Israeli soldiers on the northern border is what instigated the 2006 incursion - and UN resolution to keep Hezbullah 25 km away from the border didn’t work and was basically unenforceable anyway).
On Oct 8 Hezbullah started firing rockets and mortars “in solidarity” with Gaza. This was Iranian directed - though I’m not sure if Iran gave the order for Oct 7, or if they expected such a wide scale achievement if they did. Anyway the bottom line is Israel faced a threat first from Gaza, which they now largely quelled but they were faced with a different problem in the north. Instead of 2000 marauders crossing the border they risked having their defenses overwhelmed by a massive barrage of missiles. So they had to act preemptively. And by the way this all unfolded in Lebanon, it looks like Israel was prepared for this contingency for a long time - they had been taking out supplies and supply lines in Syria. They clearly have developed a lot of human intel on the ground. They have air supremacy so they can gather all sorts of surveillance. They raided a rocket and drone factory just north of Lebanon in Syria. They strategically hit key figures with very targeted strikes. They targeted weapons depots. They targeted rocket launchers. They blew up 3000 pagers weakening the forces. Then the radios. They forced the leadership to gather in one place, knew when and where, and took them out. This has been very methodical and well planned. It was a plan that may never have been executed if Oct 7th didn’t happen. But even still it was a massive threat either way. Iran didn’t give Hezbullah 150,000 missiles and rockets for nothing it was both a potential offensive arsenal and also an Iranian contingency too. If the Iranian regime ever faced a threat of downfall for any reason they could unleash Hezbullah just out of spite, as a distraction, as retaliation. And so, like the Godfather, after Oct 7 Israel decided to settle all scores. Reverse 18 years of bad policy and totally change the dynamics. Yes, it is costly to them in blood and treasure and maybe diplomatic and world image. But the bottom line is what choice did they really have. Especially with our ridiculous Iranian appeasement policies there was no chance Hamas or Hezbullah would reverse course and seek peace. War was probably inevitable and Israel decided to take the initiative. They really didn’t have a choice and yes, it sets Iran back greatly. It may even help reform Syria and set Lebanon on a track to take control of their own country again. And most importantly for the Israelis, it very likely assures them a great deal more security at least in the medium term.
The next phase, after victory, can succeed if we get a President and world leaders who see the opportunity and move to help Lebanon achieve internal stability and control, maybe figure out a way to bring Syria into the fold and away from Iran, and get the Palestinians to renounce terror and accept Israel’s right to exist - for real this time not that fake Oslo deal. Such an achievement would not be possible before. It will be possible in the near future if we have leaders who are sincere, not corrupt, and seize the opportunity. Trump could do it. Harris, based on how they’ve handled this (and Ukraine) are simply not capable.
David French = quisling.
SPIT!
So it’s Israel’s fault for believing that Hamas would honor a ceasefire. But we demand that Israel agree to an immediate ceasefire with Hamas.