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Originally Posted by sparten
If they are still alive. Would'nt be surprised.
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We have to assume that in the absence of evidence to the contrary...they ARE alive.
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Originally Posted by sparten
Wonder what Olmert's endgame is?
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He stated very clearly what it is: to 'break' Hamas and Hezbollah, and I think he means it.
Good.
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Originally Posted by sparten
If the two soldiers are dead, then well he got pretty big egg on his face, instead of sending in a proper (read special forces) rescue team, he sends in a division, which probabaly sealed their fates anyhow.
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How do you figure THAT? A 'special forces rescue team' deep in hostile territory is NOT the same thing as killing an incompetent bank robber with hostages. Sometimes, EVEN IF YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THEY ARE, rescue is simply not possible, and please note: the Israelis have NO IDEA where they are, or whether the soldiers are even being held in the same place. I assume they are not.
Now, let's address whether sending in a division was a mistake, and would be a cause for embarrassment to Olmert. NO, IT WOULD NOT BE. Not if the objective were to punish the terrorists for their crimes, to make this policy choice so expensive that it will not be resorted to again. THAT is the point, not to recover soldiers that may or may not be alive. We all hope that they ARE alive, but do you really think Olmert sent in an armored divison as a rescue force?
He and his General Staff ain't that dumb.
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Originally Posted by sparten
100,000 Israelis had to be evacated for nothing.
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HUNDREDS of Qassams and dozens of Katyushas fired...less than a dozen Israelis killed. Would that be the reality if there had been no evacuation?
I don't know why you say they were evac'ed for nothing. I can see the point quite clearly.
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Originally Posted by sparten
The can penetrate all the way up to beruit, but then its a repeat of 1982. And possibly Syria getting involved. All of whih israel does not want.
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You sure 'bout dat?
It may be EXACTLY what Israel wants. This could be show-down time, and Israel may have made the calculation that Assad will not survive any Syrian intervention politically, possibly even physically. Assad either makes the decision to go down fighting, or to back down as his proxies are slaughtered. Personally, I call that li'l dilemma 'being cornered'.
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Originally Posted by sparten
Someone in the IDF or Cabinnat has miscalculated, badly.
Or we are all missing something.
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Well, we'll see how it plays out, but I don't think the Israeli leadership is as strategically retarded as you do. I believe YOU may be missing it; I can see the rationale clearly.