Officer of Engineers

Sir,

None of this is new, not even last year. The veterans of old wars have lamented on just how far the IsDF had fallen since the Intifada. Israeli soldiers have become experts in cutting off neighbourhoods and clearing militants from civilian populations but in doing so, ignored battle fundamentals since most of the money went into jobs that actually saved their lives.

I'm particularily dismayed that their engineers have fallen so far in capabilities. Several months ago, I suggested that they should build a road in support of their advance much like the Soviets did. Since then, I found out that the Israelis no longer have this capability and would have to contract civilian construction crews to do this job.

But then again, it was pointed out to me that their engineers were busy finding and disarming IEDs, not learning how to drive a bulldozer.

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Chimo

lazybastard

They got plenty of opportunities to drive bulldozers during the Intifada. Except it's all demolishing stuff, not building.

Stan187

I believe that raid was in Tyre, not Qana. I didn't know that the accent was the reason shooting started. Its too bad I don't have Hebrew mastered, otherwise I'd start learning Arabic already.

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In Iran people belive pepsi stands for pay each penny save israel. -urmomma158
The Russian Navy is still a threat, but only to those unlucky enough to be Russian sailors.-highsea

Stan187

Yeah, the lack of funding has definitely degraded the IDF's ability to conduct "normal" warfare.

A similar thing as far as COIN focus is happening in the US military as well. You'll recall the 11th ACR being taken off of OPFOR duties and actually deployed.

As far as Israeli engineers, I don't think they ever did the type of thing that Soviet engineers did, not building roads on such a huge scale. I don't think the IDF ever had a capability to do the same thing in Lebanon as say the Soviets did Afghanistan. Compare the bridges used in 73 by the Egyptians to cross the Suez, and what the Israelis used. Combat engineering doesn't seem to have ever been the IDF's forte, at least not in the same application as Soviet combat engineers.

Ray

That is what worries me.

The InA is going the same way!

That is why I am very keen to understand the IDF ops.

And Israel is India's friend and vice versa.

So, I am concerned.

Soviet river crossing/ canal crossing equipment is one of easiest and fastest of bridging eqpt. It is a delight to see the same being constructed and employed.

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"Some have learnt many Tricks of sly Evasion, Instead of Truth they use Equivocation, And eke it out with mental Reservation, Which is to good Men an Abomination."

I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to.

HAKUNA MATATA

Officer of Engineers

Sir,

I'm sure you know more than me but I don't see a similarity. The InA are still conducting corps level exercises while even the Americans have stopped division level exercises except with maps/computer games.

Sir, as bad as things were for the Israelis, they are fixable. They still have the books if not the expertise. Just a matter of time and money.

Sir, there were times I was envious of those engineers with such toys when we still had to build our bridges by hand.

Stan187

I bet!