Israeli Military Amazed, "Jealous" At U.S. War Against Iraq

World Tribune.com ^ | 04/14/2003 | Special to World Tribune

[Dirk McQuickly]

TEL AVIV — Israeli defense officials and military commanders have expressed amazement over the capture of one of the largest and most powerful Arab countries by what they say amounted to fewer than three U.S. Army divisions.

The officials said the U.S. strategy of avoiding enemy troop concentrations as well as exploiting combat air supremacy comprises methods far more advanced than those employed by the Israeli military.

"This has been a very strange and unprecedented war and it will take us awhile to learn what took place," Yuval Steinetz, chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, said. "We will have to learn from this war and draw the conclusions."

"I am jealous of them [U.S. military]," Maj. Gen. Dan Harel, head of the Israel military's C4 directorate, said. "They have advanced in areas that we were leading in only a few years ago. They have the ability to put everything together in command and control. Our navy and air force have systems. but we have to integrate them."

Officials and military commanders agreed that the U.S. war in Iraq overshadowed the 1967 Israeli victory over four Arab countries, including Iraq. They said the United States sustained about 100 casualties in three weeks of fighting that resulted in the capture of Baghdad and most Iraqi cities. In contrast, about 600 Israeli soldiers were killed in the six days of the 1967 war, most of them in the ground battle with Egypt in the Sinai Peninsula.

[JusPasenThru]

It's interesting how Dasshole, when he was seeking to undermine GWB's efforts, kept harping on the fact that we really should be focusing our attention on NK. He never said exactly what he had in mind, though. I suspect having a nucular exchange with NK would not sit very well with the "War never solved anything" crowd.

[ApesForEvolution]

If we were to war with the chicomms or rushcomms, it would need to happen in the next 3-5 years IMO. The KIA #s would be astoundingly different and the nuclear threat would most certainly be on the table as soon as the battlefield tipped.

[ApesForEvolution]

Very good points. The dynamics would change extremely differently with most communist regimes that I would personally just nuke versus battle on the field.

[StriperSniper]

This is how we wage war against people we like, in full view of the press. Imagine if we were ticked off, or felt that out survival was in danger.

I've been thinking about something like that for a week or so. Part is Savage's new line about being the voice of 'The American Street'. Why is it O.K.(in the eyes of the left) for a Muslim to stub his toe on an "infidels'" sidewalk, and a billion people can scream for the death of all "infidels"? Americans can be murdered and must be sensitive and "understand", and can't even think about hitting back without being labled evil. Maybe if we had just been allowed to swagger a little and get PO'ed and yell and threaten, no shots would have been needed.

Are we really that far gone that this kind of s#!t is not grounds for commiting people to funny farms for being a danger to themselves and others?

[mdmathis6]

The Romans used a technique in battle called Maniples which allowed for fast reconfiguration of battle lines for devestating effect.

It would appear that that our armed services use a MENTAL version of the same technique, this decentralisation of decision making which allows for tremendous flexibility. If the mission is clear, if the officers are dead, even the privates can finish the job!

It reminds me of the verse in Proverbs: The locusts have no king, yet they march out in bands, laying waste....
(the implication being that their "mission" is intrinsic to their natures!)

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

Now that the focus is on North Korea the democRATs will have to change their shrill complaints to: "Why aren't we doing anything about China? China has more nukes than North Korea." They simply want to make comments that make their liberal buddies think that Bush isn't doing his job. Then again, they're idiots...

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

Now that the focus is on North Korea the democRATs will have to change their shrill complaints to: "Why aren't we doing anything about China? China has more nukes than North Korea." They simply want to make comments that make their liberal buddies think that Bush isn't doing his job. Then again, they're idiots...

[JusPasenThru]

Double post, and you were right both times.

[Beck_isright]

Watch the reruns of "Mail Call" on the History Channel. We are creating AAA which is "smart" that can intercept incoming artillery shells. It is some awesome s***.

V

[2nd Amendment]

This is not faint praise! I've always considered the IDF to be one of the finest fighting forces in the world. The advance over 500 miles on an enemy on his own turf with a fraction of the men is NOT an easy task! I'm tired of liberals describing this as a powder puff war. Yes, we had the technoloy and air support, but land had to be taken on the ground against guerilla insurgent forces.

[rmlew]

Politics.
Israel could crush teh Palies and expell them. It chjooses not to.

[Diddle E. Squat]

It may also lead to the death of liberalism, as one of the key qualifiers for the office of President has become possessing the credibility to defend the country from not just other countries, but terrorism. I think that unless Sam Nunn decides to run for President, the D's have lost any credibility to attend to national defense.

They could nominate a Wesley Clark. You and I know what a disaster a President Clark would be, but he would run with a clean slate and the benefit of the doubt, ala Clinton in '92. Or you could have a clean image outsider like a Jeff Bezos with no paper/soundbite trail on the military who just has to keep quiet for awhile and then express whatever military support is polling well. Think that they wouldn't survive the Dem primary? When the pre-Super Tuesday polls are showing all the far left candidates being trounced against Bush, but the supposedly moderate outsider or military candidate within striking distance, most of 'em will settle for a chance to quench their ultimate bloodlust, revenge for 2000.

[risk]

The Romans used a technique in battle called Maniples which allowed for fast reconfiguration of battle lines for devestating effect.

Thanks. I found a abulous website with graphics about Roman formations is here

[Lady In Blue]

Thanks! That's great to hear.I bet the Iraqi's will be relieved!

[AFreeBird]

I wonder if the same tactic of shock and awe would work on N. Korea?

Nope, a different one. One taylor made for NK - as successful campaigns invite further study by all, unsuccessful ones - don't.

[epow]

They are pretty darn good themselves and a lot better than they will admit.

Yeah, the Israelis saying this about our military is kinda like Sugar Ray Leonard complimenting Mohammed Ali on his boxing skills. Pound for pound the Israelis are pretty tough customers themselves, but of course we outweigh them by a ton.

[AFreeBird]

LOL! And what was the strategy behind spending three days punching and chipping holes in Yasar Arafat's compound with construction equipment. And then the Israelis turn around and leave. Hehehe..... That was about the weakest damn thing I have ever witnessed.....

Let be realistic here.

Isreal can take out Yassir and Co. anytime they want. They know it, and HE KNOW'S IT. The only thing holding them back is a whole $#!t load of world politics.

And in case you haven't been paying attention, world politics just got a major kick in the ass.

[epow]

LOL! And what was the strategy behind spending three days punching and chipping holes in Yasar Arafat's compound with construction equipment. And then the Israelis turn around and leave. Hehehe..... That was about the weakest damn thing I have ever witnessed.....

That wasn't because of any military weakness, it was the result of political considerations. The Israelis are severely limited in how much force they can exert on the Pallies by having to consider their every move so as not to damage their special relationship with the U.S. Israel would be in seriously deep doodoo without U.S. aid and support, and it knows it.

If the Israeli military was turned loose in earnest on Arafat and his assorted gangs of terrorist thugs, it would all be over in hours rather than days. If that ever happens, I'm sure a lot of Israelis who have lost loved ones to Arafat's bombers would like to see his hideously ugly head impaled on a pole, but their government is too civilized, and rightly so, to treat him the way he would treat them if he had the opportunity.

[epow]

Sheesh, I shoulda read your post before I went to the trouble of pecking out basically the same thing, but much less succinctly. Shoulda woulda coulda.

[epow]

Evidenced by naming their top comedian as minister of information.

LOL. I'm looking forward to seeing Baghdad Bob guesting on Leno's show any night now. His comedy routine is so outrageous he just might have a whole new career in show biz. That is, if they can patch him up well enough after those four JDAMs hit that shish-kabob joint.