IDF teaches US soldiers guerilla response

Jerusalem Post ^ | Aug. 18, 2004 | MARGOT DUDKEVITCH

[yonif]

In order to improve their skills and learn firsthand tactics adopted by the IDF in urban and guerilla warfare in the West Bank and Gaza, US Army units are undergoing training in the special anti-terror school located in the Adam base near Modi'in.

After completing their training, the units will return to Iraq. The IDF Spokesman said, "The army does not comment on cooperation with foreign armies," but did not deny US forces were currently training in Israel.

In November last year, US generals visited Israel to study tactics adopted by the IDF in its ongoing war against terror. A report in the New York Times claimed US military officials were studying the tactics and strategy used by IDF forces operating in the West Bank and Gaza within densely populated Palestinian areas.

US Army officials later adopted the IDF's policy of demolishing houses belonging to terrorists suspected of attacking US troops in Iraq, set up checkpoints similar to those in the West Bank, deployed sniffer dogs to seek out explosives, and in a number of cases arrested relatives of terror suspects to glean information.

Last year, a senior OC Ground Forces officer told The Jerusalem Post the IDF will rent out the new urban warfare training center located at Tze'elim in the Negev to foreign armies in an attempt to revive the slashed defense budget. Since then, a number of countries, including Germany, have sent units to the center.

The center, expected to be completely operational within two years, is considered the largest of its kind in the world and boasts a digital battlefield. Even while it is under construction entire divisions, infantry, and armored units will be able to train without using their vehicles.

[yonif]

US Army officials later adopted the IDF's policy of demolishing houses belonging to terrorists suspected of attacking US troops in Iraq, set up checkpoints similar to those in the West Bank, deployed sniffer dogs to seek out explosives, and in a number of cases arrested relatives of terror suspects to glean information.

And yet the foreign policy dept. of the US continues to criticize the IDF using these very tactics, in addition to airstrikes on terrorists and their houses, etc.

[yonif]

Ping.

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...


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[SevenofNine]

ALright rack IDF here kicker it same US State dept that diss IDF for heavy handed tactics we learn lessons from them

HEY POWELL SHUT UP

[Tuco Ramirez]

If the IDF was winning, this training would make sense.

[blasater1960]

The IDF is doing a fantastic job! Even though they (and now us)have to fight a PC war against the Ishmaelites..

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[yonif]

The IDF is winning. Take for example the limited amount of deaths among its troops.

[Tuco Ramirez]

I won't get into the details of the conflict; "winning" is not a possibility for many reasons.

[yonif]

ok, however, one can truly say that the IDF has mastered the way to fight this kind of war, and the US military can learn a lot from the IDF especially when it comes to troop protection and the intercepting of terrorists.

[Tuco Ramirez]

Probably, but the US lacks the will (or need) to deal with it for 55 years. I understand the positive contributions of the IDF, but they are facing a different situation. Americans would never tolerate what is happening in the Holy Land for that length of time. September 11th was 3 years ago, and they have already lost interest in the Afghanistan war (which BOTH sides of the aisle support).

[Terpfen]

"September 11th was 3 years ago, and they have already lost interest in the Afghanistan war"

I disagree. "Lost interest" is the wrong phrase. We won in Afghanistan, the Afghanis have an interim government going with elections coming up in a few months, and meanwhile the war on terror has shifted to another country. In this context, we've "lost interest" in Afghanistan the same way we "lost interest" in Japan, Italy, and Germany after WW2.

[Terpfen]

I hope the IDF knows something we don't, but I really doubt it. I remember reports that Israeli generals were startled by how quickly we subdued Iraq, and spent as much time as they could learning from our game plan. I understand this isn't training for a theater war, but training for a block war--but I think putting down the various terrorist flare-ups over the past year have proven that we're plenty competent in that area.

I just don't see us as needing the IDF's help.

[Tuco Ramirez]

What country has the "War on Terror" shifted to? There weren't any terrorists in Iraq, and US troops are still dying in Afghanistan. The Afghan war isn't over; it is just faring a little better than the Iraq war (in terms of number of troops required).

Before I get flamed, understand that I voted for Bush in 2000, and wholeheartedly intend to vote for him in 2004.

[yonif]

They were not startled but respectful of the accomplishments of the US in defeating the Iraqi army so quickly in a conventional way. The US has less experience in gaining the upper hand in non-conventional, guerilla type warfare, an area which the IDF has lots of experience.

Months after the war started and US soldiers were being killed, IDF officers remarked that the US should be using armored vehicles to minimize their casulaties. This took some time to be widely implemented by the US, and maybe some of the deaths in the start of the war could have been prevented.

In addition, as this article notes, many of the IDF's tactics have been adopted by the US army.

The US needs the IDF help, and the IDF is more then happy to accord it, as this article paints.

but I think putting down the various terrorist flare-ups over the past year have proven that we're plenty competent in that area.

Many of these terrorist flareups are still ongoing, as they are all over Iraq. The US can learn a lot from the IDF.

And for those who say the IDF has not destroyed the Arab terror around it, let me say that the IDF can do so, but as in every democratic country, politics dictate its actions.

[montag813]

IDF teaches US soldiers guerilla response

Shhh...don't say it too loud, it might ENRAGE the Muslims! And we can't have that! Just as it's better for dozens of GI's to die than to step foot in Al Sadr's Mosque, even one used as an ammo depot and snipers' nest (never mind that we blew up churches the Nazis used to snipe at us...this is different!). Just as it's better for thousands of Americans to be murdered than to offend a perceived bloc of voters by defending our very own borders.

The inmates are truly running the asylum.

"IT'S A MADHOUSE...A MADHOUSE!!!"

[Terpfen]

There were and are terrorists in Iraq. I'm sorry that you don't believe this, but there IS a man named al Zarqawi in Iraq right now. He was there before US troops crossed the border, and will be there until we get rid of him--either by capture or by forcing him to abandon his base of operations. He planned terrorist attacks with Saddam's support. Saddam had terrorists trained in the "art" of hijacking airliners at Salmon Pak. There's a mountain of evidence that Saddam supported terrorists. Please read "The Connection" by Stephen Hayes, as this is the last I'll say on the topic.

The Afghani war is over as our purposes for invasion were complete. The operations we're performing there now are small-scale operations, border patrols, and training--basically assisting the interim government while it establishes the just rule of law and prepares for public elections. The Taliban are nearly wiped out, and the country is no longer a terrorist haven. I'd say we won quite conclusively.

And hey, I wasn't going to question your Republican credentials, just your judgment. But your need to flash the voter affiliation is perking my ears a little bit.

[Tuco Ramirez]

I'm not a Republican (or Democrat); the war in Afghanistan is over in the same way it is in Iraq (read: not at all).

There are terrorists all over the world, and the US ignores most of them. Iraq didn't have the kind we were looking for (suicidal bastards looking to kill innocents in NYC).

Don't disgrace our president/country by portraying it as anything else. Even without weapons of mass destruction or a connection to 9/11, the pictures of gassed Kurds are reason enough for me (and I suspect many others) to take out Saddam Hussein.

[Terpfen]

"And for those who say the IDF has not destroyed the Arab terror around it, let me say that the IDF can do so, but as in every democratic country, politics dictate its actions."

Agreed. I'm not one of those people who look down on the IDF and say, "Well, unleashing Israel's military hasn't won peace." The IDF's always acted in a very restrained manner, and if Israeli politics demanded it, and America was indifferent to it, the IDF would roll over anything within 200 mile drive of the border.

All I'm saying is that I don't believe we're going to learn anything from the IDF that we haven't already after a year of experience in Iraq. If we do, then I have to wonder about the flexibility of our combat commanders.

As for the IDF reaction to the US invasion, I firmly remember that the generals were shocked by its speed and success. I could perhaps be confusing this with the 1991 invasion, or some other event. But I don't think I am.

[yonif]

As for the IDF reaction to the US invasion, I firmly remember that the generals were shocked by its speed and success. I could perhaps be confusing this with the 1991 invasion, or some other event. But I don't think I am.

I heard about their response after it. I wouldn't say shocked but awed by how successful the US was in getting into Baghdad.