War and Diplomacy

I like the IDF strategy if it is really a strategy. Consider that maneuver warfare requires some geography over which to operate. The Hezbollah is deeply embedded into a tightly packed populace so they can melt away only to later threaten the IDF’s rear and logistic supply. Territory fought in an advance certainly would have to be re-won in a retreat. The Hezbollah is bleeding the IDF by a thousand cuts and maintaining its cover when it is time to cut and run. The IDF can maneuver up to Hezbollah’s positions of strength, call in air cover, artillery, and make incursions at will. The best way for the IDF to maintain a semblance of momentum while implementing maneuver warfare doctrine in such a small territory is to insert, engage, and redeploy back to fall back positions when the enemy has melted into the populous. Surveil all movements when disengaging and attack new positions or old ones based on updated intel. Use the tactic with an over all strategy of acquiescing in principle with diplomatic demarches. Give it a go to comply. Let Hezbollah reestablish positions and continue the assault.

Engage-disengage is maneuver warfare in tight spaces or the proverbial knife fight in a phone booth.

Israel, a nation surrounded by enemies, has an innate ability to hold secrets and to therefore surprise and to perplex their enemies. The United States, a nation that is comprised of enemies, couldn’t keep NSA anti-terrorist wiretaps secret. We need to publish our war plan in the NYT and if Patrick Schroeder doesn’t approve it, certainly Hillary will demand that she get a chance to rearrange the set pieces in a manner that her superior sensibility would allow. Democrats would be the first to launch a full scale invasion.

Seems we need to define victory. For Islamists, death is a second victory. For the forces of the West, death of Islamists’ is considered victory. See, we can agree on something.


Sonspot says:
What the IDF may be doing reminds me of when I was a kid and our house had this roach problem. In the days before cable TV I had alot of fun killing roaches, but could only kill them by surprise before they could scurry off. When this would happen, I would simply turn off the lights and leave the room for 15 minutes. When I came back they would all be out again.

I killed alot of roaches that way.

I like the roaches analogy. I think that is it. A roaches little brain uses cunning and stealth to attrit its enemies. A nine year old with a light switch can control the battle space by keeping the insect OpFor off guard. Now imagine instead of a light switch an unseen UAV overhead with see in the dark capability. That’s the way I see it.


I like the roach analogy the more I think about it. The verminous roaches, like Hezbollah, in the end, will inherit the earth we are told, but DOW chemical begs to differ.