On Monday, Brig.-Gen. Yossi Baidatz, head of Military Intelligence’s Research Division, told the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that Hizbullah has ‘returned to its pre-war capabilities and has even become stronger.’
‘Hizbullah is building up more firepower than it had before the war,’ Baidatz said. ‘Some of this ordnance has arrived, and some is still en route from Syria.’
Baidatz was asked more than once by committee members if he meant that Hizbullah now had more firepower than before the war, and he responded in the affirmative until Defense Minister Amir Peretz interrupted.
‘Hizbullah has not increased its strength but merely its potential,’ said Peretz.
Baidatz then retracted his previous statement and told MKs that he agreed with Peretz.
Meanwhile, Baidatz told committee members that Syria was preparing its military for a confrontation with Israel. — Jerusalem Post [my emphasis — ed.]
Leaving aside the complete absurdity of Peretz’ statement (how do you increase “potential strength”? — if you increase military capabilities, isn’t that the same as increasing strength?), one has to be impressed with his ability to bend minds.
Stormtrooper: Let me see your identification.
Obi-Wan: [with a small wave of his hand] You don’t need to see his identification.
Stormtrooper: We don’t need to see his identification.
Obi-Wan: These aren’t the droids you’re looking for.
Stormtrooper: These aren’t the droids we’re looking for.
Obi-Wan: He can go about his business.
Stormtrooper: You can go about your business.
Obi-Wan: Move along.
Stormtrooper: Move along… move along. — Star Wars (1977)