Israel has taken steps to correct some of the failures of organization, training, and logistics that occurred during last summer’s war in Lebanon. Our security correspondent says that reserve training for combat units has been greatly increased, and equipment and supplies in the units’ warehouses has been replenished. “There’s no more budget problem for the army”, he reports.
It’s likely that countermeasures for the anti-tank missles employed by Hezbollah, as well as methods for overcoming the hardened bunker structures that were encountered are also being implemented, as well as improved provision of intelligence to ground units. It also was reported during the war that Hezbollah’s command and control system could not be penetrated; although we don’t have details, it’s reasonable to assume that this will not happen again.
One of the major issues is defense against the short-range rockets that were so damaging. We can be sure that this is top priority for Israel’s planners, and there will be a solution at some point. Time, however, may be the commodity in shortest supply:
The Lebanese daily Al-Nahar reported that information obtained by Lebanese security and political sources, which matches up with reports from the West, shows that there could be a renewal of Israel-Hizbullah military tension in late May 2007.
According to the information, the conflict this time will not be in southern Lebanon but in the Lebanon’s western Beq’a region.
Al-Nahar said that Hizbullah had drawn up a new strategy after the July 2006 war and U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, and was building a new line of fortifications north of the Litani River. The line begins in Sidon on the coast, and passes through the Al-Tefah region to the western Beq’a. — MEMRI
Another major worry is the Syrian buildup, which includes both short and medium-range missiles as well as ground forces. And although a much smaller threat, it’s impossible to ignore Hamas, busily tunneling under Israeli installations in the south and also constructing bunkers.
One cannot say that the military establishment is complacent today. On the other hand, because of Israel’s position in the world (in other words, her relationship to the US) the political leadership is as important or more important than the generals. And if anything the PM and Defense Minister are much weaker politically than before, and no more competent.
Change in this area is absolutely essential, and it should take place as soon as possible.