Technology has enabled unprecedented persistence and precision for Israel forces, Aviation Week reports:
Unmanned aerial vehicles are providing the Israeli forces persistent surveillance with electro-optical/infrared and synthetic aperture radar. “Electro-optical sensors are integrated on the F-15s, F-16s and UAVs and they are the best we’ve ever had. The video is great. The video from the UAVs is particularly good because they are sitting 10,000–15,000 ft. directly over the target looking straight down with the minimum of atmospheric haze,” says the former senior officer.
But is it enough?
Hezbollah rocket launchers have been a primary target for the Israeli air force’s F-15s, F-16s and bevy of unmanned aircraft, which have all been fitted with electro-optical/infrared sensors to spot and engage those targets. And, while launchers are taken down daily, the rate of Hezbollah operations appears unaffected, and there are signs of potential escalation in the projectiles’ lethality and range.
And even if Israeli airpower is achieving its operational objectives … does it matter? William Arkin says no:
Israel has lost its current war against Hezbollah. Not because it hasn’t achieved many of its military goals and isn’t on the way to achieving more. Not because airpower and technology intrinsically are useless in fighting the “new” war.
Israel has lost in the court of public opinion, particularly in Europe. As I said yesterday, a certain ruthlessness in going after Hezbollah has challenged the aesthetic about conventional warfare and the level of damage deemed acceptable when a country is pursuing an unconventional foe.
Did you see the other story in this week’s issue about JSTARS being used to track individual people walking through fields in Iraq? How cool is that!?
Regarding Europe’s public opinion: Are they morally bankrupt or do they just hate Israel? No can say in any seriousness that Hezbollah can afford 13,000 rockets but not uniforms? When those who hide behind women and children are the ones receiving the sympathy, something is out of whack.
“Regarding Europe’s public opinion: Are they morally bankrupt or do they just hate Israel?“
The US holds a clear lead in moral bankruptcy.
“When those who hide behind women and children are the ones receiving the sympathy, something is out of whack.“
Guerrilla warfare is a tested and proven way to defeaet superior forces. I have both sympathy and disgust for both sides, but reserve my deepest revulsion for US policy makers, who have spent the majority of the last 50 years exacerbating problems in the region.
Who cares what Europe thinks?
Europe does not have the power to interfere with, let alone put an end to, Israel’s self-defense.
Only the United States can stop Israel, because only the United States has the leverage to do so, both militarily and economically.
So what if Israel loses the propaganda war in Europe? It only matters if Israel loses the propaganda war IN ISRAEL. I don’t see that happening.
Exactly. Screw Europe. Who cares what they think? Do the Israelis? Nope. Does the US? Nope.
“You’re a vegetarian. No one cares what you think.“
–Futurama
Really, what impact will spineless Europe have on Israel? Ooh, maybe they won’t give Israel any foreign aid. Oh wait, they don’t give Israel any foreign aid. Ooh, maybe they won’t support Israel in foreign policy actions. Oh yeah, they don’t anyway.
Until Europe grows the balls to DO something about anything, no one will care what they think.
after reading the few full of hatred comments, i would like to add that all these people are ignorant. You people need to wake up seriously. You can bad mouth all you want but it is well known that israel is loosing the war in all front. You just can’t see it because your governement censor the images on TV and spin the truth. As far as iam concerned when a soldier engaged in war shit in his pants(literaly) and the “strong” special forces run away screaming like women then i think we cannot talk about army or strengh but about a bunch of murdering coward hidding behing tanks and only able to impose themselves again poor, starved and stone throwing palestinians. OH yeah really though shit. LOL let me laugh LOSERS.