Not out of the loop, just avoiding getting drawn in. I've been up for an hour and am already losing steam.
Been following the tickers and most of the posts here.
Also been re-reading accounts of 1973.
It is hard to convey just how fluid the IDF chain of command is. It is militarily in a class by itself, outside of certain conflicts in the Crusades, and very hard to predict.
The best I can do is to say that IDF seems to function very very well in an environment where "orders" can be, in some cases, taken as "suggestions", from the tactical all the way to the operational level.
When the Chief of Staff can issue orders, and have those orders conveyed exactly opposite in intent from the theater commander to division CO's, even long time local observers have a hard time projecting.
Outsiders like us have lesser chances of accuracy.
All I'm really trying to say is that assumption is the mother of disappointment. I'm going to wait and watch and respond to what happens, while trying to avoid extrapolation.
Good points, all.
I just really hate seeing the infantry messed with (being an infantry mom may make me a tad biased) this way...these are the guys who have to do the killing- they need their wits about them.