Posted on 09/22/2012 12:20:09 PM PDT by Former Fetus
The world watches the war of words between Israel and Iran. President Ahmadinejad’s call for the annihilation of the Zionist regime has lost its edge because of overuse. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s reply that Israel has the right to defend itself is as expected as the sun rising in the morning. However, tensions rose to a new high last week with the comment by Iran’s Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi that “of course this confrontation has always continued; however, since we are in the era of The Coming, this war will be a significant war” (Mashregh news). He was referring to Imam Mahdi, the Shi’ites’ 12th Imam who they believe will reappear to kill all infidels and establish a global Muslim caliphate .
>>SNIP<<
According to the Times of Israel, newly released documents reveal that the Mossad knew a week in advance that Egypt was planning to launch a surprise attack on Yom Kippur but, in the Times’ words, “did not pass the information on in an orderly and explicit way to Prime Minister Golda Meir’s office”. Yes, Israel won the war, but the failure to launch a pre-emptive strike almost led to the destruction of the Jewish State.
(Excerpt) Read more at begonashope.blogspot.com ...
A friend who visits the area often said it will start soon. Weeks not months.
1973 was the closest the world has come to full nuclear war.
Most think it was the 1962 Cuban Missile crisis.
Not so!
Soviets had pledged to back Egypt after Israel kicked their butt, and America told Soviets, “no you won’t!”.
I was Nuke Weapons Specialist at the time.
We were getting ready in ways we’ve never prepared before or since.
Kahalani and his troops in the Golan Heights is a great story. Over the years, I’ve gained respect for the Syrians. Not well trained, but advancing as the other tanks brewed up around them.
Can anyone give his/her take on Ahmad Vahidi’s comment in Mashreg News referring to the coming?
THE HEIGHTS OF COURAGE.
another great overall book is THE YOM KIPPUR WAR by rabinovich. the first 100 pages are the politics and decision making.
a number of other good reads on the war. i have been in an IDF mode for a bit; have a shelf of IDF kits and another of soviet equipment i will do up as arab. i am building an IDF SHO'T KAL and have photos and decals of kahalani’s tank however mine will be from the BARAK BDE, also on the heights and took the initial syrian assault.
it wasn't a lack of intelligence; it was a combination of complacency after the stunning victory in ‘67, a mind set that the next war would be identical and the arabs would not learn, and the inability of senior officials to believe the facts placed before them RIGHT UP UNTIL “they're taking the nets off the guns” at 1400. some of the bde and bn commanders ramped up ahead of time on their own and golda mier had to consider political ramifications as well (hence no pre-war strike like in ‘67). intelligence is only as good as decision makers decide it is.
i never realized how a near thing the suez crossings were.
In October 1973, while in Thailand, between my assigned duties in aircraft maintenance support, and the B-52 base going on alert, my ears were glued to that oft-forgotten thing called a shortwave receiver.
I was listening to all the BBC broadcasts that I could find. I was getting the Asian broadcasts during the day, and the Middle East broadcasts in the evening. I received all the reports, from both sides, and could tell that the Israelis were really dusting up the place!
Now, as the author has written, the comparison of “The Lady Sniper”, and “The Hero of Entebbe”, are not lost.
As for me, no matter how many Arabs, Bedouins, or Ottomans there are, Israel shall remain. They’ve got my vote.
Most think it was the 1962 Cuban Missile crisis.
Not so!M/i>
Soviets had pledged to back Egypt after Israel kicked their butt, and America told Soviets, “no you won’t!”.
I remember reading an article about this years ago. Israel was about to lose the war, the entire Sinai had been overrun, they were losing to the North against Syria, and was preparing to use their nuclear weapons. It was only when the USA helped resupply Israel that they were able to counterattack and take back the entire Sinai peninsula. At that point, Israel had surrounded the Egyptian army and had moved across the Suez into Egypt proper, and Israeli forces and artillery was within 50 miles of Damascus.
At that point, the Soviets made it clear to the USA that if Israel didn't withdraw, they would openly enter the war against Israel, taking it from a proxy war between the the Israelis and the arabs, to a real shooting war between the USA and Soviets. I seem to recall seeing a photo of David Hackworth standing in front of Israeli tanks, blocking their advance in to Syria, though I may have that mixed up with another incident.
Mark
Iran has to attack while Obama is in office or they’re dumber than anyone thinks.
1973 yom kippur nickel grass site:freerepublic.com
It’s true — in one of those first nights of the war, Moshe Dayan went to Golda Meir as it appeared that less than 12 hours remained, and said, “the third temple is ending.” Israel started to load a-bombs onto bombers. By morning of the 9th, the IDF had hammered at the Egyptians in the Sinai, at great cost (more accurately, Ariel Sharon led the troops and tanks under his command, some called for his dismissal; a photo of him, his bandaged head protruding from a tank, began his ascent to a higher public profile), tens of thousands of reservists had reported and driven “to work” (particularly on the Golan, which was more critical due to proximity to Israel’s population), some from honeymoons in foreign countries, and probably saved the entire human race (other than those who would die in the war itself, of course). The bombs were returned to storage.
Early in the conflict, though in the throes of Watergate aftermath, President Nixon ordered an airlift. When asked how large a commitment, he turned and said, “you will send everything that will fly.” Only the Azores (which was still Portuguese territory) was available for the project. Refueling, crew exchange, and sleeping quarters were there. The C141s were more numerous, but the C5s carried more tonnage, and despite the much greater distance, the US beat the pants off the Soviet airlifts to their allies.
Kissinger and Sadat played the Soviets like a bazouki; Egypt and Israel negotiated face to face for the first time, and the Soviets were ignominiously ejected from Egypt. The so-called Arab cause was pushed feet first into a wood chipper. It was costly for Israel, and the political leadership were (justifiably) blamed for having been caught with their pants down — King Hussein had actually passed the exact date of the attack through his contact in London (UK), a doctor that he had to see for some ailment.
http://www.jewishaz.com/jewishnews/980925/yom-sb.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Nickel_Grass
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barak_Armored_Brigade
[snip] During the Yom Kippur War, it played an important role defending Israel’s border against Syria’s attack in the southern Golan Heights. 112 soldiers were killed in action, including the brigade commander. The brigade was almost completely destroyed. The main Syrian attack at 14:30-14:50 PM, confronted by the newly positioned 74th Tank Battalion, under the command of Lt.Col. Yair Nafshi. Nafshi moved his battalion position 1.5 km forward from its previous defensive position, a maneuver that saved his men and machines from the Syrian artilerry barrage. His was the only remaining tank force, equipped with 36 Israeli modified Centurion tanks to fight the Syrians for 3 continuous days, until enforcements and reserves were moved into positions. His battalion was reinforced with a tanks company from the 53rd battalion. After 4 days of fighting, his battalion was reduced to 5 operational tanks. More than 102 soldiers and officers died defending the southern Golan Line, from reinforced points (bunkers) 107 to 114. For his gallant, professional and courageous behavior during the war, Yair Nafshi received Israel’s second highest decoration, the Medal of Valor. He retired from the army with the rank of Brigadier General.
During the battle, Lieutenant Zvika Greengold, who had arrived unattached to any unit, fought off attacks with his single tank until help arrived. “For the next 20 hours, Zvika Force, as he came to be known on the radio net, fought running battles with Syrian tanks—sometimes alone, sometimes as part of a larger unit, changing tanks half a dozen times as they were knocked out. He was wounded and burned but stayed in action and repeatedly showed up at critical moments from an unexpected direction to change the course of a skirmish.” [/snip]
“A friend who visits the area often said it will start soon. Weeks not months.”
Let’s all remember Israel in our prayers.
The entire Sinai was not overrun. The Egyptians advanced about 6 miles east of the canal.....exactly as they’d planned. After they moved their reserve armor to the east side, a second thrust was thwarted by the Israelis in the largest tank battle since 1943. Israel then counterattacked, crossed the canal and chewed up the Egyptian SAM batteries, then the IAF was able to go to work. Israeli tanks then encircled the Egyptian 3rd army on the west side of the canal, in Egypt. In the north, I believe the IDF got within artillery range of Damascus, about 20 miles or so....
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