Prepping the Battlespace (Opinion - blog)

Op For Blog Site ^ | john

[indianrightwinger]

Prepping the Battlespace By John

One of the lessons America, and the world, drew from the lightning campaigns of Gulf Wars I & II was the importance of battlesplace preparation. That is, the conditioning of the battlefield's environment prior to initiating full scale military operations.

What we are witnessing in southern Lebanon is concurrent with actions designed to prep a battlefield for the insertion of ground forces. So far, Israel has relied on its dominance in sea and air forces to isolate Hezbollah, rather than focusing their brunt of their superior forces on actual enemy positions. By blockading the coast, neutralizing Beruit's airport, and damaging roads and bridges into and out of Lebanon, the IDF has cut off Hezbollah's supply routes by land, sea, and air, and blocked all lines of escape.

These isolation actions are eerily similiar to Coalition movements prior to Operation Hail Mary during the first Gulf War, where allied aircraft severed supply lines to foward deployed Iraqi Army units.

The end result is a battlespace that traps the now ill-equipped enemy force, the ideal environment for Israel to crush Hezbollah forces.

I think that in the coming days, we will see a sizable Israeli ground incursion into southern Lebanon, a campaign designed to exploit the favorable conditions that Israel has created for itself. I have the feeling that once that invasion comes, Hezbollah's ability to launch rocket attacks into Israel proper will be severly reduced, if not eliminated.

Endstate: IDF holds the territory until it is satisfied that the Lebanese Army is A) free from Syrian control and B) capable of holding the southern border on their own.

**Update** Defense Tech and Stratfor concur.... July 16, 2006 12:51 PM Strategery

[indianrightwinger]

Very interesting.....

[Not now, Not ever!]

Building a better mousetrap.

Except his is not designed to CATCH them.

[Former Proud Canadian]

I said the same thing a few hours ago:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1666571/posts?page=34#34

[jdege]

Endstate: IDF holds the territory until it is satisfied that the Lebanese Army is A) free from Syrian control and B) capable of holding the southern border on their own.

Which won't happen until the IDF is sitting in Damascus.

[GSlob]

The territory held should either be made empty or resettled by friendlies. Otherwise it is a prescription for more trouble.

[Anti-Bubba182]

"...and blocked all lines of escape."

I don't buy that.

[ClearCase_guy]

I'd say you nailed it.

[indianrightwinger]

Awesome summary. I missed this post. Thanks for pointing to it. No wonder I hate to see, read and listen to MSM on war reports.

[Always A Marine]

The author's conclusion is obvious to any experienced military observer. Israel is clearly shaping the battlefield, or "prepping the battlespace" as we now say.

[Enterprise]

I pray for the Israelis. Hezbollah has been involved in the murders of American military personnel. My fervent hope is that the Israelis will trap and kill tens of thousands of Hezbollah militants. Let none escape alive.

[Always A Marine]

I agree. And for the reason you mention, this is very personal for me.

[TheDon]

That seems most likely. It would be a great win for our side if the Syrians would only provide a significant pretext for Israel to take them out.

[tcrlaf]

They may not have blocked all the "Lines of Escape", but they HAVE blocked all the lines of HEAVY REINFORCEMENT...

Mechanized Divisions, especially Soviet style conscript ones like Syria's, don't travel well over non-existent bridges...

[Anti-Bubba182]

I don't see them backpacking the rockets either, but the personel will be able to run.

[Southack]

Good thread. Good post.

No one is coming to Hezbollah's aid. There will soon be much gnashing of teeth in Southern Lebanon.

...And as Hezbollah starts getting whacked (which hasn't even *begun* yet), watch for Iraq to grow first a little bit loud (a last bit of lashing out), then...silent.

Hezbollah has been behind much suicide recruitment for the Iraqi insurgency, as well as has provided many munitions (you did wonder how Iranian weapons were making it to the insurgents, yes?!). Same for Hamas.

But Hezbollah and Hamas are pretty well cut off from Iraq right now...and they're a bit occupied (pun intended) at the moment.

And soon they'll be dead.

[nopardons]

Thanks for the ping ( yes, it is a good thread and post ), as well as for you usual great analysis.

[stumpy]

I'm sure that if the Israelis trap the rats some of the Christians will once again reap the revenge like they did to the Palies during the last go round.

[Enterprise]

Lord, let it be so. Payback times 1000. Let it be so.

[indianrightwinger]

Please also see post #3 of this thread for a similar take.

I found this analysis very interesting, especially after seeing a lot of coverage on CNN and MSNBC during the day.

[indianrightwinger]

Thank you for the service and sacrifice!