I thought Israel screwed the pooch in 2006 by failing to go in for the kill with ground troops and instead trying to rely on air power.
Although I will grant that Israel did pound Hezbollah enough to keep them quiet, Hezbollah endured to deny Lebanon a chance at a normal future and is currently an important component of Assad's military effort to fight the rebellion. And Hezbollah's arsenal of rockets is far larger when they decide to no longer be quiet.
The 2008-2009 Gaza Winter War seemed to validate my hopes that Israel had learned a lesson.
So a drive on Baalbek is the way to go, right? I've long thought that a multi-division push is in order.
Whether Israel's firepower focus is to support troops or try 2006 again is in question.
The latest news seems to indicate the latter:
“We can destroy [Hezbollah’s] military capabilities and the infrastructure that supports its activities on a scale that would take decades to rebuild,” [Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel] told a conference on national security, “an unimaginable scale”. ...
By the end of this year, the air force will be able accomplish in 24 hours what it took three days to accomplish in the war with Hezbollah eight years ago, Eshel said.
Wonderful. The Israelis think they need more cowbell.
Air power hope springs eternal. And in the meantime, the pooch is looking rather worried.
I'll admit that this could all be misdirection to lull Hezbollah into thinking all they need to do is hunker down and endure another bombardment.
But usually when I hope that apparent idiocy is cover for deep cleverness, I'm disappointed. Remember, don't
