Quote:
Originally posted by Thoran:
To add to what John Harris corrected of Mr. Rabbits statement... and as I stated earlier in this very thread... the Arabs were not the origonal "owners" of that particular chunk of the earth. If you were to look at ancestral claim to the region the Jewish people would EASILY and indesputably have the most valid claim .
I guess what bothers me about the analyses I'm reading is the reliance on 'will'. Superior training I understand, superior numbers I understand... and superior technology- that I definitely understand. But 'Will'... it's a pretty etherial concept. I understand the "back against the wall" desperate defense... but in the end military doctrine is very formulaic, and it hasn't changed much since Sun Tsu set out the basic guidelines. For just about every confrontation the Israeli's have faced, they've had many advantages... stragegic, tactical, and technological. I can't help but think that many of those advantages no longer exist... and 'will' can't yet stop a bullet, bomb or missile.
I personally hope they can reach a peaceful resolution, I certainly don't want to be proven right on this. I believe that the idea that Arabs don't have the will to fight is a dangerous assumption... they've proven able to fight for extended periods with each other (Iran/Iraq), and Saddam was more than willing to fight against a US coalition that was 750 thousand strong. IMO the only thing that's saved the Israeli's until now is the inability of the Arab countries to agree on ANYTHING... yet today we hear Iraq and Iran both recommending a one month oil embargo (a pointless gesture, but it's the cooperation that concerns me).
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Ok Thoran,
Now I see where you are coming from, I guess it a matter of symantics. BY "will" I mean desire, fortitude, comittment, not an emomtional comittment of "thats mine". But rather an intellectual comittment of no matter what comes I will prevail, I will not lose. It is indeed etheral, or intangible.
As for the Arabs fighting each other, Iran/Iraq war when both side are fighting half way it looks like they are both fighting for real.
Having an army in the field, and using it are two seperate things. If you have an army and are not willing to do what is necessary to make it the best you lack the "will". The Israelis understand the only porpose for an army is to kill their enemy. Its not to look good in iniform, or on paper but to win wars. Tactic haven't changed, I agree, but tactics are for generals. On the ground and in the mud it's the "will" of the indivdual to pervail that overcomes.
You're right "will" can't stop a bullet, but it is what delivers it! Anyway that my 2 cents.
John D.