Published: August 08, 2006
Op-Ed Contributor
Crossfire War - Israel Faces Reality - No Limitations on IDF Response
By Willard Payne
Crossfire War - TEHRAN WATCH - West Asia Theatre: Tehran - Beirut - Damascus/Jerusalem; Facing Reality - Israel PM Olmert - No Limits on Military Action Against Hezbollah - DM Peretz - Israel will Occupy Katyusha Launching Pads
Night Watch: HAIFA - Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert stated, as he was visiting Israel's Northern Command, "We cannot have a million residents living in shelters... On this matter there will be no limitations on the army. I will give you (IDF) every support, we are not stopping the fight." [
XINHUA]
In step with the Prime Minister's statement Israel Defense Minister Amir Peretz instructed the army to expand its offensives against Hezbollah rocket launching sites. "We are at one of the most decisive stages of this war...We will occupy Katyusha launching pads in order to quell the fire."
I suspect Israel's leadership never had any faith in the international community, whether the UN, Arab League, NATO etc. to step in and confront the very real and large military threat put in place by Dasmascus-Tehran in the form of a conventional infantry brigade, armed with rockets and missiles, masquerading as a guerilla unit called Hezbollah. When I first saw pictures of a Hezbollah unit in the field with their uniforms and helmets, preparing and sighting one of their rockets, I first thought I was looking at an Israeli unit. In no way will Tehran have their enormous investment in Hezbollah cease fire while they are still so heavily armed and supplied and have yet to fire their long-range Zelzal-2 missiles.
Hezbollah is an extension of Iran's military, one of the vanguards of Tehran's foreign policy and the war against Israel is being used by Iran as a test-evaluation. Tehran is studying the performance and results of Hezbollah's equipment and tactics, information Iran will use on other fronts when they commit their own forces against the West-Russia-India.
Though the diplomatic game and ritual is being played no one really has any faith in it. But they have to keep busy.
Peretz's statement on occupying Katyusha rocket sites could be Israel's way of hinting that they realize they may have to occupy southern Lebanon again even after Hezbollah is seriously weakened. South Lebanon may have to be used as a security buffer again as questions are answered concerning Lebanon after the war. How much of a central government will be in Beirut if any? Could other Islamic extremist units arrive in Lebanon for attacks against Israel or other Islamic-political groups as another civil war breaks out? How unlikely is it that Beirut becomes its own government, a city-state like Singapore, while the rest of the country is controlled by Syria in the north and Israel in the south?
I suspect the latter is the most likely. After Tehran uses Hezbollah to its limit Iran will abandon the country, a residue of war and set its sights elsewhere. Lebanon would have served its purpose.
Night Watch Information Service
www.crossfirewar.com
* The views of Opinion writers do not necessarily reflect the views of NewsBlaze
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