On verge of Gaza war

[Jefferson23]

Special: Israel was on verge of launching major Gaza operation, but Hamas blinked

Alex Fishman Published: 08.26.11, 22:39 / Israel News

When Defense Minister Ehud Barak arrived at the Defense Ministry Headquarters’ meeting room last Saturday, a thick war book titled “Operation South” was already awaiting his approval on his desk. In those hours, Israel was on the verge of embarking on war in the Gaza Strip.

The book did not pertain to a limited operation. The selected targets would have certainly prompted a major flare-up, including difficult regional implications. Just like in Operation Cast Lead, the political leadership granted immunity to no one in the Strip, regardless of his position or stature.



The detailed plans – the targets, scope, power and timing – would have left Hamas no breathing space and time to debate its response. It would have gone for the jackpot, right away. Indeed, Israel’s war plan included preparations for massive rocket fire from Gaza, including long-range missiles aimed at central Israel in general, and at Tel Aviv in particular.



Last weekend, the General Staff Headquarters looked like on the eve of war. Officials were working around the clock and sleeping in their offices. While formulating the plans, top officials recalled the curse of arrogance of the Second Lebanon War. Back then, the decision to launch a war was taken without sufficient preparation. The military and political leadership decided to deliver a blow, immediately, without taking into account the implications, the enemy’s response, the home front’s condition and the ability to counter rocket barrages. This time around, a full, detailed plan was drafted; it also included the IDF Home Front Command’s deployment. Only then was the scheme presented to the political echelon.

remainder: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4114255,00.html

[leveymg]

1. Could they possibly be more transparent? Effort to preempt UNGA vote on Pal statehood.

By any means necessary.

[bemildred]

2. Yeah, that Barak, he's a real tough guy.

:sarcasm:

[Dick Dastardly]

3. He actually is a bad ass. He was part of an elite commando unit and became its commander as well.

He is the most decorated soldier in Israel. He was involved in many dangerous special ops missions including operation thunderbolt which is the raid on Entebbe. On a side note Bibis brother was killed in the Entebbe raid.

So say what you want about Barak but there is no question he is "real tough guy".


http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3418778,00.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sayeret_Matkal

[bemildred]

4. He is posturing to cover his butt:

Barak nixed proposal to launch preemptive strike ahead of Negev terror attack

Barak last week decided not to authorize a preemptive strike before the terrorist attack on the Egyptian border, a senior official in Jerusalem said. Barak feared that the move would spark a serious conflagration in the Gaza Strip.

The head of the Shin Bet security service, Yoram Cohen, recommended a strike against a terror cell of the Popular Resistance Committees
The senior official said the recommendation followed precise intelligence on an effort to launch a terror attack out of Sinai; the organization had warned about it for some time.

The same intelligence was used several hours after the attack to kill the gunmen.

According to an Army Radio report, when the operational opportunity arose to strike at the militants, the Shin Bet recommended that action be taken. Nonetheless, senior defense officials and political leaders turned down the request, according to Army Radio.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=124x361412

[pelsar]

5. military intelligence.......

is only 100% correct when politicians and the army are busy covering their behinds in hind site.....other than that, not only is its "coin toss' whether or not its correct, the implications of a strike based on MI is nothing more than guesswork.

[bemildred]

6. OK, they are both posturing to cover their butts.

The first thing that struck me about the Negev attack was how IDF etc. apparently were caught with their pants around their ankles. THe second was how they knew all about who did it and planned it etc. right after it happened.

[pelsar]

7. funny how that is...

they knew and they didn't know.......or they knew and decided to wait (73 war a few hours before it started) or they knew and someone decided that the conclusion was wrong (73 war a few days before it started) or they knew they just didn't know when (the most plausible and realistic answer).

[bemildred]

8. It's your government.

If you think it's funny, who am I to complain?