[mikegi]

I get a little tired of the "Israel is the master of war" nonsense. Oh yeah, we're 'ignorant' and the Israelis have to come in and save the day. What a pile of BS.

The IDF's reputation is based on wars with Arabs. When we fought the Arabs in the Gulf War they were surrendering to our UAVs and news reporters. That's the quality of opponent the IDF faced.

Israel should step aside, shut the ---- up, and let us take care of business.

[Diogenesis]

It is good America has an active alliance with Israel.

Compare with "friends" in Germany.

[katana]

I seem to remember an article a few months ago about a recent exercise in which US planes (not sure if it was Navy or USAF or both) were matched against the Israeli airforce. They kicked our ass. They can't match our (or the Arabs) numbers but they more than make up for it with the quality of training. If this article is true, it's excellent. If it's not, then it's great disinformation. Either way, the Iraqis are screwed.

[Cicero]

Why?

[Always A Marine]

I get a little tired of the "Israel is the master of war" nonsense. Oh yeah, we're 'ignorant' and the Israelis have to come in and save the day. What a pile of BS... The IDF's reputation is based on wars with Arabs. When we fought the Arabs in the Gulf War they were surrendering to our UAVs and news reporters. That's the quality of opponent the IDF faced. Is anyone surprised by this?

I don't think the article implied that Israel is doing anything we cannot also do -- or that we are not also doing. Common sense says that both Israel and the United States (and probably the U.K.) have had special forces teams on the ground in Iraq for much of the past year.

As for the quality of Israeli forces, I have observed it to be quite good. The IAF is a truly superior air force, always matching and sometimes outmatching our own in pilot skill. The IDF possesses some of the best-trained armored forces in the world, and excellent infantry. Reserve forces are seamlessly integrated into the force structure and operational tempo. All Israeli forces well-led by skilled and motivated officers and resourceful NCOs, and boast an enlisted force with perhaps the highest average intelligence of any military on earth.

You might not have much regard for Israel's adversaries, but the fact remains that a relatively tiny force has fought successfully against overwhelming odds for 50 years. Israel has been attacked several times at close range by large, mobile armies massed at its very borders -- and still won. That's not too shabby. And hard to compare with the Gulf War, during which the Iraqis were immobilized in a vast desert barrier with no cover from air power.

Israel should step aside, shut the ---- up, and let us take care of business.

Only a derelict or incompetent leader would agree with that statement, given that Israel is far more directly threatened by Iraq than is the United States. The Israelis are too smart to leave their security to anyone else. Since the first war Israel loses will be its last, I expect she will do whatever she needs to protect herself.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

Israel should step aside, shut the ---- up, and let us take care of business.

One advantage for us and for them is that Israel is not hampered by political correctness.

[solmar_israel]

Last I remember, during the Gulf War, we took plenty of time 'getting ready' for things, logistically.

We outnumbered them, both in terms of manpower, firepower, and technology.

In 1948, 1956, and 1967 the Israelis were not only outnumbered as many as 10 to 1 on the battlefield, 100 to 1 population wise, and 10,000 to 1 in land mass, but faught with INFERIOR TECHNOLOGY.

Additionally, the didn't just fight Iraq (as we did) but also faught Syria, Lebannon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and others, often simultaneously. Actually in 1948, they didn't even have a single armored tank or a real air force.

Israel is also 6 miles wide at its narrow point and can be cut in half. America didn't face that problem.

I don't think one can compare the Israeli-Arab wars to the American-Iraqi one.

Finally, one should remember that MANY of our fighting tactics, especially in regards to modern urban fighting, anti-terror, and special forces, are actually learned from the Israelis. Sharon's tactics in 1973 are also basic text book material for many of our officers.

The Israelis aren't supernatural, but from a purely military perspective, their military achievements against overwhelming odds are unmatched by ANY NATION, the world over in the second half of the 20th century, or perhaps in modern history.

It is okay to show a friend respect, especially when well deserved.