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To: robowombat
The same happened to the British when they were here... the same happened to the French in Algeria... the same happened to the Americans in Vietnam... the same happened to the Soviets in Afghanistan... the same happened to so many people that I can’t even count them.

False analogy. All these people got tired of fighting and went home because it was less trouble. The Israelis are home and have nowhere to retreat to.

They are beset by a foe using a new wrinkle in the classic guerrilla strategy that the IRA pioneered over 80 years ago of striking the vulnerable with the guerilla having no strategic center of gravity to be struck in return.

In case you hadn't heard, the IRA lost the Irish Civil War. The British were unwilling to be totally brutal. The new Irish Army had no such inhibitions. This type of guerrilla warfare is only effective as long as the militarily dominant side pulls its punches. The author's unexamined preconception is the idea that the Israelis will continue to pull their punches. This may be true, but it is a political decision, not a military one.

14 posted on 06/21/2002 9:39:33 AM PDT by Restorer
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To: Restorer
For the British to defeat the IRA would have required a larger commitment over a longer haul with some really unplesant coordinated (not the spastic retaliations of the Balck and Tans) measures targeting populations that supported the guerillas. The Free Staters had, as you note no inhibitions, when it came to dealing with the Republican hold outs. The solution, if it could ever be arranged, based on the Irish scenario, is for Israel is to make some sort of a deal with a faction of Islamothugs and support them with hardware, cash, electronic intel and when the real crunch came IDF heavy forces as they wage an intra-Arab civil war on the anti-treaty faction. The trick is to find the set of thugs who are approachable and will deliver the goods.
17 posted on 06/21/2002 9:52:58 AM PDT by robowombat
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