Antony Blinken’s Ahistorical Advice for Israel

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Reevaluating Military Strategies: Lessons from the Conflict Between Israel and Hamas

 

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip has once again brought to light the complexities of modern warfare and the effectiveness of various military strategies. Amidst calls from the Biden administration for Israel to refrain from launching a ground invasion of Hamas's final stronghold in Rafah, Secretary of State Antony Blinken's stance underscores a larger debate surrounding the efficacy of different approaches to achieving strategic objectives in war.

 

Blinken's assertion that a ground assault on Hamas would be "a mistake" and "not necessary" reflects a broader reluctance to rely solely on traditional military tactics such as raids and airstrikes. Instead, there is growing recognition that a comprehensive strategy encompassing both targeted operations and broader conventional forces may be necessary to achieve lasting success.

 

The concept of the "Zero Dark Thirty" fallacy, coined by former White House national security adviser Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, challenges the notion that raids and airstrikes alone can constitute a viable military strategy. McMaster argues that while such tactical missions may yield short-term gains, they are insufficient for achieving long-term strategic objectives. This sentiment is echoed by Gen. David Petraeus and historian Andrew Roberts, who contend that successful counterinsurgency campaigns require a combination of intelligence-driven raids and population-centric strategies.

 

In the context of the Israel-Hamas conflict, the limitations of relying solely on targeted operations become apparent. Hamas, unlike typical terrorist groups, governs Gaza with significant military capabilities and widespread support among the civilian population. Its extensive network of defensive tunnels and rocket arsenals presents formidable challenges to conventional military tactics. Moreover, the concealment of Hamas fighters among civilians complicates the effectiveness of precision airstrikes and targeted raids.

 

History provides further evidence of the inadequacy of raid-and-strike approaches in urban warfare scenarios. The U.S. experience in cities like Fallujah and Mosul demonstrates the limitations of relying solely on commando raids and precision strikes to dislodge entrenched adversaries. In many cases, such tactics only serve to embolden the enemy and exacerbate civilian casualties.

 

In light of these challenges, the Biden administration's emphasis on caution and restraint in Israel's military operations reflects a broader recognition of the need for comprehensive strategies in modern warfare. While raids and airstrikes may play a role in achieving tactical objectives, they must be complemented by larger conventional forces and population-centric approaches to address the root causes of conflict.

 

As Israel weighs its options in confronting Hamas, it must carefully consider the lessons of history and the limitations of relying solely on targeted operations. By adopting a holistic approach that integrates intelligence-driven raids with broader population-centric strategies, Israel can maximize its chances of achieving lasting peace and security in the region.

 

11.04.24

Source

 

[thaibeachlovers]

55 minutes ago, Social Media said:

The concept of the "Zero Dark Thirty" fallacy, coined by former White House national security adviser Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, challenges the notion that raids and airstrikes alone can constitute a viable military strategy. McMaster argues that while such tactical missions may yield short-term gains, they are insufficient for achieving long-term strategic objectives. This sentiment is echoed by Gen. David Petraeus and historian Andrew Roberts, who contend that successful counterinsurgency campaigns require a combination of intelligence-driven raids and population-centric strategies.

Note the concept of population-centric strategies which refers to winning the hearts and minds of the civilian population. In this conflict there is a complete absence of any attempt to provide a better alternative to Hamas. In fact, everything the israelis are doing is driving Gazans more firmly into the Hamas camp, and it is for that reason that the military campaign will ultimately fail, as only by winning hearts and minds can a war succeed.

In this situation, it is all big stick and no carrot. Israel obviously thinks it can defeat Hamas and suppress the population for ever after, which is nonsense. Millions of Palestinians live outside israeli control, and they will make israel suffer in revenge.

 

[Bkk Brian]

42 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Note the concept of population-centric strategies which refers to winning the hearts and minds of the civilian population. In this conflict. In fact, everything the israelis are doing is driving Gazans more firmly into the Hamas camp, and it is for that reason that the military campaign will ultimately fail, as only by winning hearts and minds can a war succeed.

In this situation, it is all big stick and no carrot. Israel obviously thinks it can defeat Hamas and suppress the population for ever after, which is nonsense. Millions of Palestinians live outside israeli control, and they will make israel suffer in revenge.

 

What makes you think Gazans want Hamas to rule when this war is over? Your complete lack of the real situation is farcical. They've had enough of Hamas, they may have well backed the 7th Oct attacks and the current war but they have now seen what this has brought them because of Hamas.

 

"Support for Hamas as a political party has fallen to 34% among Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, a 12-point drop from December 2023, according to a poll released Wednesday by a leading Palestinian research institute."

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/gazans-back-two-state-solution-rcna144183

 

47 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

there is a complete absence of any attempt to provide a better alternative to Hamas.

 

Wrong, do some research, check what plans there are, plenty but you need to prize yourself away from Al Jazeera.