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August 31, 2006
If this is what a successful mission looks like I'd hate to see failure...
Powerline Blog linked to this very interesting 27 minute video documentary made about an Israeli regiment which sent several companies into the border area of Lebannon for what was supposed to be a three day operation.
In the operation shown on this video, they moved into an urban area (small town) quite near the border. They sent about 5 men into a house. All five were then wounded (one seriously) and they killed two enemy fighters (dressed, so they reported, in full Israeli combat uniform dress... nasty behavior that). The ammo in the house (Hezbullah) started burning as a result of the fighting.
Now, to my mind this is not a successful military operation. In World War II, by the time we got into Germany (late 1944), when we attacked urban areas, any building that was a center of resistance came under heavy artillery and tank fire. The normal pattern was to demolish enemy strong points using high explosives.
If I had been taking heavy fire (TOWs, RPGs) from a building in my sector, I would have blown that building to rubble and moved on to the next building. I would not have sent my men in to investigate. So they can get shot up by enemies who know the layout of the building and can conceal themselves.
Yes, its true they had no men dead but they lost a company (?) commander to a serious wound and five others with him will be out of action for days if not weeks. All to kill two enemy Hezbullah? Pretty poor exchange ratio I'd say.
Israel has overwhelming fire power and logistical superiority over Hezbullah. Why not use this? Destroy, and I mean level, buildings where resistance is coming from. If you have to level 1/3 of the town, then so be it. War isn't a joke. Fight wars like you mean it. The U.S. way of warfare in urban areas was (in part) "better to destroy buildings than lose soldiers".
Posted by rakhier at August 31, 2006 11:39 AM