Explains A Lot?

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And at this point, were I an Israeli analyst I'd be even more worried. Israel has to have thought that their army had a massive advantage over Hezbollah on the ground. What they've discovered is that they don't. Casualty ratios, though hard to determine exactly, seem to be running about 2:1, or 3:1 in Israel's favour - and that's with complete air supremacy. Imagine if Israel only had air superiority - couldn't operate completely freely over Lebanese airspace?

It's probably true except on legalistic terms that Hezbollah is already more than a militia - that it is a fully professional army. Add in the ability to contest the air and things start getting truly scary for the Israelis. They are facing an army that is capable of both guerilla operations for years on end and has the ability to engage in sophisticated light infantry tactics. The army has near fanatical morale (I am aware of no significant morale failures despite overwhelming odds against them during the entire war), nearly impervious command and control and commanders and troops who take the initiative on their own when necessary.

Israel either has to destroy them now; has to get a permanent force (foreign "peacekeepers" or Israeli occupation troops) on the ground to keep them occupied and make it difficult for them to take delivery of serious military hardware - or they have to get used to the idea that there is going to be a very competent, professional army on their border, which while not a credible existential threat to Israel, is certainly too strong to be discounted.

In a sense, taking the longer view, Hezbollah or something like it was nearly inevitable. Think of it as military darwinism - the Israelis kept destroying anyone who wasn't strong enough to fight them and survive. Hezbollah is the result of 18 years of selection - anyone who couldn't survive fighting Israelis wound up 6 feet under. The ones who are left appear to be the toughest, smartest and most adaptable light infantry in the Arab world and are probably, unit for unit, amongst the best in the world period.

(a bit more ...)

Agonist

along beside the hezbollah now which would kind`a mean the regular troops at least welcome the hezbollah fighters. looks like israel kind`a screwed up...

Thanks for posting this. If the author is correct, then SOMEONE capable of challenging Israel is inevitable. If not Hiz'bollah, then someone else. This also shows the futility of Israel's scorched earth policies-- they simply hasten the day when that challenger will grow strong enough to balance Israeli military force.

Air superiority/dominance appears to be the one critical advantage that the IDF holds. If will be a different game if that erodes.

it appears there is an attempt being made to condition us to hate Hezbollah as an evil demonic enemy in the "war on terror". they are showing caskets from the attack during ray-gun's term.

I have become completely cynical about "the news".

...that should not be regarded as propaganda, IMO. Nothing. When the weather guy says he expects rain, there is probably a manipulative motive involved somewhere. Mr. Cynicism is your best friend.

But the US media is the worst offender -- people should use critical thinking to check any news piece they read and sift through a variety sources including opinions they don't like. If context is not given or one feels information is being suppressed, then they should spend a few minutes with google and look at 'background'.

I have found, as you no doubt have, that people tend to be confused ultimately at the pretzel logic of the MSM and providing context usually helps them sort through a lot of this confusion.

Good post and advice... :toast:

our ''press'' is no longer independent -- and fewer american journalists are even interested in presenting a 360 look at events.

estimated:

about 400 hizballa dead - 21 israeli


20:1 ratio