Skies and lies
There are certain assumptions built into the current situation that we take for granted. One of the most significant is the Israeli control of the skies. Since about 1956 the IDF has had total control of the skies in this region, and this has been the absolute prerequisite for IDF victories and for the safety of the State of Israel. Although suicide bombers and rockets kill people, they are no danger to the existence of the State.
In 1956, three British RAF jet fighters were sent over Sinai as a warning to Israel not to attack Egyptian positions. The fledgling IAF shot them down. Such was the shock of this happening that the RAF never came back. In 1967, the whole war was predicated on IAF superiority and it lasted only 6 days because the Arab States had to be rescued from absolute annihilation.
In 1973, the Egyptians shocked the IAF by using a missile shield supplied by the Russians that projected into Sinai. But, once the Egyptian forces in an excess of confidence ventured beyond their missile shield the IAF regained control. In 1982, it was said that the Syrian pilots were the bravest in the world because they knew as soon as they engaged the IAF they were doomed. In that war, Syria lost 82 planes to 1 of Israel. Now in the war against Hizbollah, IAF absolute superiority ensures that they can run sorties all day and all night without fear of retaliation. And this means that a ground incursion into Lebanon, with IEDs ("informal explosive devices", as in Iraq) and ambushes along the roads is avoided, thus greatly reducing IDF casualties.
Unfortunately in Nablus in the West Bank last night an Israeli patrol that had arrested some terrorists was attacked with an explosive device and one soldier was killed. A crowd of Palestinians gathered around his mutilated body and held a celebration and handed out sweets, and there was a spontaneous demonstration in favor of Hizbollah. The patrol was looking for a specific suicide bomber, and one was found in the center of Jerusalem with a 5 kg bomb in his bag. Luckily he was found before he exploded himself.
Another assumption we make is that Iran and Syria are behind this current war. This seems obvious to us, yet on TV I saw the Syrian Government spokesman, Dr,. Bashaan, emphatically deny to an interviewer that Syria supplies weapons or missiles to Hizbollah and state that this is an "old story" and a fabrication of Israeli intelligence. So explain how Hizbollah came to hold 10,000 missiles, all of which have been manufactured in Syria or Iran. Explain how pictures have been taken of missiles being off-loaded at Beirut airport from regular Hizbollah flights? Explain how long-range missiles (not easily hidden) have been seen being transported along the Damscus-Beirut highway? Explain how Syrian and Iranian missiles are raining down on Israeli cities? These were no doubt supposed to have been used if Iran was ever attacked by the US or Israel over its nuclear bomb making facilities. With such pathetic lies, when even the Lebanese Government agrees that Syria has been supplying arms to Hizbollah, there is no dealing with them.
Apparently the whole Sunni Arab world knows that Iran is behind this outbreak and resents them manipulating the situation and triggering a war in their own backyard. Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt are spearheading a campaign to criticize Hizbollah, and indirectly Syria and Iran for their "adventurism." Remember that Damascus and Cairo have historically been the leaders of competing camps in the Arab world. Some editorials in Government controlled newspapers in Arab countries could almost have been written in Israel. There has been no spontaneous Arab street support for Hizbollah throughout the Arab world, except in the PA territories. Especially in Lebanon, now that Hizbollah is on the ropes, Lebanese Christians and others are beginning to criticize Hizbollah. The Shi' ite area of south Beirut, Dahiya, where Hizbollah had its HQ, was a virtual city within a city, and in order to enter it people had to pass through Hizbollah checkpoints. Now the IAF have reduced the area to a ruin and the unification of Lebanon is now more possible than ever before. Israel did the same for Lebanon in 1982 by forcing out the PLO that had controlled their own state-within-a-state in the south and now they have done it again with Hizbollah. The Lebanese may eventually show their gratitude for this, but don't count on it.
In 1956, three British RAF jet fighters were sent over Sinai as a warning to Israel not to attack Egyptian positions. The fledgling IAF shot them down. Such was the shock of this happening that the RAF never came back. In 1967, the whole war was predicated on IAF superiority and it lasted only 6 days because the Arab States had to be rescued from absolute annihilation.
In 1973, the Egyptians shocked the IAF by using a missile shield supplied by the Russians that projected into Sinai. But, once the Egyptian forces in an excess of confidence ventured beyond their missile shield the IAF regained control. In 1982, it was said that the Syrian pilots were the bravest in the world because they knew as soon as they engaged the IAF they were doomed. In that war, Syria lost 82 planes to 1 of Israel. Now in the war against Hizbollah, IAF absolute superiority ensures that they can run sorties all day and all night without fear of retaliation. And this means that a ground incursion into Lebanon, with IEDs ("informal explosive devices", as in Iraq) and ambushes along the roads is avoided, thus greatly reducing IDF casualties.
Unfortunately in Nablus in the West Bank last night an Israeli patrol that had arrested some terrorists was attacked with an explosive device and one soldier was killed. A crowd of Palestinians gathered around his mutilated body and held a celebration and handed out sweets, and there was a spontaneous demonstration in favor of Hizbollah. The patrol was looking for a specific suicide bomber, and one was found in the center of Jerusalem with a 5 kg bomb in his bag. Luckily he was found before he exploded himself.
Another assumption we make is that Iran and Syria are behind this current war. This seems obvious to us, yet on TV I saw the Syrian Government spokesman, Dr,. Bashaan, emphatically deny to an interviewer that Syria supplies weapons or missiles to Hizbollah and state that this is an "old story" and a fabrication of Israeli intelligence. So explain how Hizbollah came to hold 10,000 missiles, all of which have been manufactured in Syria or Iran. Explain how pictures have been taken of missiles being off-loaded at Beirut airport from regular Hizbollah flights? Explain how long-range missiles (not easily hidden) have been seen being transported along the Damscus-Beirut highway? Explain how Syrian and Iranian missiles are raining down on Israeli cities? These were no doubt supposed to have been used if Iran was ever attacked by the US or Israel over its nuclear bomb making facilities. With such pathetic lies, when even the Lebanese Government agrees that Syria has been supplying arms to Hizbollah, there is no dealing with them.
Apparently the whole Sunni Arab world knows that Iran is behind this outbreak and resents them manipulating the situation and triggering a war in their own backyard. Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt are spearheading a campaign to criticize Hizbollah, and indirectly Syria and Iran for their "adventurism." Remember that Damascus and Cairo have historically been the leaders of competing camps in the Arab world. Some editorials in Government controlled newspapers in Arab countries could almost have been written in Israel. There has been no spontaneous Arab street support for Hizbollah throughout the Arab world, except in the PA territories. Especially in Lebanon, now that Hizbollah is on the ropes, Lebanese Christians and others are beginning to criticize Hizbollah. The Shi' ite area of south Beirut, Dahiya, where Hizbollah had its HQ, was a virtual city within a city, and in order to enter it people had to pass through Hizbollah checkpoints. Now the IAF have reduced the area to a ruin and the unification of Lebanon is now more possible than ever before. Israel did the same for Lebanon in 1982 by forcing out the PLO that had controlled their own state-within-a-state in the south and now they have done it again with Hizbollah. The Lebanese may eventually show their gratitude for this, but don't count on it.
posted by Jack Cohen at 5:58 PM
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