40,000 soldiers await word to enter southern Lebanon

[bemildred]

Tens of thousands of IDF troops amassed along the northern border Wednesday evening in preparation for Israel's largest and deepest ground incursion into southern Lebanon since the beginning of Operation Change of Direction last month.

The security cabinet on Wednesday approved a plan presented by IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz, under which military forces by the thousands will head up to the Litani river over 20 kilometers from Israel and beyond in an effort to prevent the incessant Katyusha rocket attacks on northern Israel.

Some 7,000 IDF troops were operating in southern Lebanon Wednesday, clashing with Hizbullah guerrillas in several villages while holding and maintaining position along a 10-kilometer-deep security zone the IDF had created. An additional 40,000 IDF troops and reservists were waiting along the northern border in preparation for the major push to the Litani.

A high-ranking IDF officer and member of the General Staff told The Jerusalem Post Wednesday that it would take the military at least one week to reach the Litani and beyond, and to set up position and begin taking control of the area.

Jerusalem Post

[plasticsundance]

1. Dumbasses.

Following the US lead as in Iraq, and look how swimmingly that turned out. :sarcasm:

And Westmoreland kept asking LBJ for more troops. Should be a damn costly operation, too.

[High Plains]

6. It's the dance of the dunces. The US followed Israel's lead in Iraq.

And in the war on terror. I wonder when we'll figure out that the Israeli way may be the "tough" way, but it's not the smart way.

[Kagemusha]

2. And it's time!! For another round of.... "Let The IDF Win!!"

Behold! If you invade S. Lebanon with 40,000 troops, the following COULD be yours...:

Door #1: A heroic campaign to rid your neighboring country of Hezbollah terrorists near your nothern border! Experts predict that this campaign will go VERY well with the use of overwhelming force so long as increased casualties are blissfully ignored. This glory CAN be yours!

Door #2: YOU will be the PROUD OWNER of all of Southern Lebanon up to the Litani river... and perhaps, beyond! Since no international military force will be forming to take it from you, holding onto this prize will cost you years of blood via a prolongued guerilla campaign, but no pain, no gain!

Door #3: Diplomatic isolation! With the exception of the United States - which some see as the only friend you'll ever need - you will be abandoned by virtually ALL the countries of the world in response to your glorious invasion. But hey, as long as you have your pride, why do you need these guys, anyway?

And the BEST PART is...

You don't HAVE to pick between Door #1, Door #2 and Door #3. In fact, you can't choose between them. Merely by deciding to play the game, ALL OF THIS CAN BE YOURS... and WILL BE!!

[breakaleg]

3. all joking aside, this is what they are choosing, quite happily, in fact

[Kagemusha]

5. I know - it's not really to be funny, just to draw attention to it

Irony or whatever.

[Tight_rope]

4. Israel is as dumb if not dumber then the USA! Let the games begin!

:spank:

[plasticsundance]

7. I think they're desperate

As many have pointed out at DU, it appears Israel is trying to goad Iran and/or Syria into the war. The extent in the lack of success the US is having establishing its hegemony, I believe is not going unnoticed by Israel. IMO, Israel feels that it needs to do this, because it is not so much under threat of being "wiped off the map," as it really is afraid it will lose its bully pulpit and the amount of leverage the US will be able to supply to its goals in the future. This is all being done against the backfrop of geopolitical and geostrategical competition for global resources, such as for energy demands, as other nations enter and rise in the global market.

In addition, I'm sure there are many in the Israeli government that realize it hasn't actually been honest brokers with other nations over the existence of its historical career.