Israeli Defense Chief: 'We must brace for rocket onslaught'

The Woodward Report ^ | November 10, 2009 | REBECCA ANNA STOIL

[antiobamacare]

Israel must prepare itself for the fact that in a coming war, the IDF will not be able to block all incoming rockets from hitting civilian areas, despite the anticipated deployment of the Iron Dome system in 2010, IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Tuesday morning.

During the general periodical briefing to the powerful committee, the commander of the IDF focused heavily on Iran and Israel's security, offering cautious optimism regarding the efficacy of international sanctions, while warning that with Teheran's help, Hezbollah had amassed "tens of thousands" of rockets to be used against Israel.

While the majority of those rockets have limited ranges, similar to those deployed against Israel in the Second Lebanon War, some of them, Ashkenazi said, had a range of over 300 kilometers.

Both Hizbullah and Hamas are among the beneficiaries of Iran's weapons trafficking and terror-training activities, said Ashkenazi, explaining that "there is a battle in the Middle East between the radicals and the moderates which is pushing Iran to radical acts, to fund terror."

Ashkenazi said that in 2010 Israel will deploy the first two "Iron Dome" batteries along the southern border with the Gaza Strip, but moments later, while discussing the recent joint exercise held by American and Israeli forces, warned that "you cannot build a canopy of iron over the whole country. It is an illusion. In future wars, rockets will fall here." The IDF's obligation, in light of that fact, he continued, was "to reduce the number of incidents - and the damage that will be caused - by increasing warning times to allow us to evacuate areas where we suspect a rocket could fall...

[Lurker]

Dear General,

The best defense is a good offense. Just sayin'.

[Terry Mross]

This may be a “warning” that an offensive is about to start. Especially if they don’t feel assured they’re going to get the misslle defense system. And with a mussie in the white house I wouldn’t feel assured about anything if I was Israel.

[uncbob]

Hezbollah had amassed "tens of thousands" of rockets to be used against Israel.

How are they going to stop Tens Of Thousands

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Bounce the rubble five miles out.

[thefactor]

kill anyone who’s willing to fire a rocket.

[The Comedian]

You want peace in the middle east?

Israel needs to make the following statement:

"The next Islamic rocket to land in Israel, regardless of source, will automatically trigger two fission weapon counterstrikes: One on Mecca centered on the Kabah, and one on Medina.

The second Islamic rocket to land in Israel, regardless of source, will automatically trigger a sequential launch of fission weapons targeted on 6 Islamic capital cities.

If a third Islamic rocket lands in Israel, a biological agent counterstrike against all Palestinian encampments will be automatically released.

Israel reserves the right to change the order of the automated counterstrikes.

End of transmission."

Keep the animals scared and guessing, and they'll behave.

Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

[combat_boots]

God bless and preserve Israel.

[FreedomPoster]

General Curt LeMay would approve that post.

[paul51]

How are they going to stop Tens Of Thousands

By destroying them on the ground along with those that would launch them

[RinaseaofDs]

I don’t disagree that it is coming to this. The problem, of course, is that currently it is Israel vs Iran, with Egypt and Saudi Arabia allied with Israel.

The only thing the Persians hate with slightly less ardor than Jews are Arabs. The Saudis would love the Israelis to wipe out Iran. In fact, the entire region would. The’ve been nothing but trouble since Carter fumbled the ball in the 70’s and let the Shah get taken down by the Idiots.

The Russians are allied with Iran, with whom they share a border. The Saudis are under no illusions about the Russians. They know that the Afghan war in the 80’s was adventurism eventually aimed at the seizure of Iranian, and eventually Saudi oil assets. Afghanistan was the first stop, but they never made it out of Afghanistan.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I recall when LeMay ran as VP candidate with George Wallace in ‘68.

[dancusa]

“Bombs Away Lemay.”

[The Comedian]

Interesting analysis, thanks for the insight!

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

..................

A simple statement of fact, In future wars, rockets will fall here

[justiceseeker93]

Can someone please give a brief description of what the “Iron Dome” system is?

[SJackson]

On this one, wikipedia is as good as anyone

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Dome

[Little Ray]

Anti-missile system. Uses missiles. Costs about $35-50K person against “cheaper than dirt” rockets.
Hezbollah will do more damage to Israel’s budget with rockets than they will to Israel.

[LucyT]

** Iron Dome (Hebrew: כיפת ברזל‎) is a mobile air defense system in development by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems designed to intercept short-range rockets and artillery shells. The system is being created as a defensive countermeasure to the rocket threat against Israel's civilian population on its northern and southern border.**

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Dome

[SunkenCiv]

It’s Israel’s (more or less) homegrown anti-missile system.