Freedom Outdoors

That Friday night the government made the most controversial decision of the war, ordering what amounted to a 60-hour ground offensive toward the Litani River. Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz was the only member of the security cabinet who knew the Saluki area well. He called the prime minister to dissuade him from such a move. Even at that point, Mofaz still believed Olmert was simply using the threat of the operation as diplomatic leverage.

‘Why did these soldiers die?’ - Haaretz - Israel News

I remember when this occured, as I was preparing to head up North. I remember being rather surprised to hear that Mofaz had objected, but nobody really asked about it. If it had been any other cabinet minister, I wouldn’t blink about a near-unanymous decision. However, Mofaz is not just any other cabinet minister. He’s the most senior soldier on cabinet. He’s been both the Chief of General Staff and Defense Minister. He knows more about military strategy than Olmert and Peretz combined, and unlike Halutz, actually knows what it’s like to be on the ground in battle. So why is it only now that people are pointing out that Mofaz objected to the plans?

The cabinet vote is democratic, so a single objector/abstainer certainly can’t cause the decision to change. However, I would counter that the onus is on each and every person present to ask themselves if they really know why they’re voting against Mofaz. Did they ask him why he feels opposed? Did they understand his arguments fully? After all that, did they still all believe that their reasons to go ahead were better? It could be, but the discussion should have been continued until all questions were exhausted. I’m not sure it was, and that’s one of the points the enquiry will have to answer.

Most units, in their training and operations, followed fighting doctrines of police forces and not of standing armies. Hezbollah trains, fights and is equiped as an army, utilizing some of the most advanced anti-tank missiles and other weapons.

Policing Gaza blunted IDF - Haaretz - Israel News

Another very good point. It’s not a big stretch either. After all, the army’s primary focus of late was on counter-terror operations. This is not a bad thing. Really, I don’t think it is. If you make a concious decision that’s what you want to ask of the army. That being said, if that’s what you ask of the army, then you need to understand that if the prospect of a war comes up.

Ok, enough ranting. Here’s something really cool I came accross. The company that runs Highway 6, the electronic toll road, is going to be building a 300km bike trail on their land. I can’t wait to see it built. What a nice way to give back to the users.

[tags]military, war, Israel, Lebanon, IDF, mtb, cycling[/tags]