Victory through air attack? It's pie in the sky

[bemildred]

The spectacle of Merkava tanks rumbling into the Gaza Strip last weekend served as complete proof that the massive Israeli onslaught from the air, killing hundreds of Palestinian men, women and children, utterly failed in its objective of crippling Hamas. I simply do not believe Ehud Barak's claim that Israel always planned a ground invasion as a necessary second stage of the offensive against Hamas. Those tanks so conspicuously parked along the borders of the Gaza Strip were simply intended to put extra psychological pressure on Hamas. Now they have been deployed in earnest - and the invaders have taken casualties.

The failure of the air onslaught to cow Hamas into surrender signifies that the Israeli leadership (including Mr Barak, a soldier who ought to know better) have yet again been deluded by the seductive fallacy that airpower (especially air power in today's hi-tech form) can win wars all on its own, and at no cost to those flying the bombers or directing the drones on TV from remote “PlayStations”.

The extra seduction of PlayStation warfare (as pioneered by the Americans in Iraq and Afghanistan) lies in hitting the enemy without the slightest risk to yourself. That time and again innocent families are massacred along with the targeted al-Qaeda, Taleban or Hamas leaders, comes conveniently under the heading “collateral damage”.

Instead of putting their faith in the F16 bomber and the drone, the Israeli leadership would have done better to study the history of airpower, from the Anglo-American strategic air offensive against Germany in the Second World War to Israel's own abortive attempt in 2006 to defeat Hezbollah in the Lebanon. The history clearly shows that air power alone cannot win wars. It only works as an extra dimension to land or sea warfare.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article5469051.ece

[Thothmes]

1. The fact that the Israelis called up thousands of reserves

and marshalled infantry and armored divisions along the border with Gaza, is pretty good evidence that the General's staff was under no delusion that air power by itself would suffice in destroying Hamas. You recommend study of the allied air efforts during WWII. on edit, Are you recommending the Israelis employ carpet boming or firestorm bombing on Gaza city like we did against Dresden.

[bemildred]

2. Are you drunk? I did not write the OP. I have not recommended anything. nt

[bemildred]

3. And then What?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=124x240268

[Thothmes]

4. Thank, I missed that thread.