Archive for category Israel
This is interesting, just for the sake of seeing how Israel would set up a model for government contracting. They now have the luxury of learning from the mistakes that the US has made, and if they do go down this path, it will be interesting to see what they come up with. It is my belief that if they do this right, and for that matter if we can get it right, the lethality and efficiency of our combat forces will only be enhanced by such efforts. -Matt
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Majority of Israelis want to outsource military’s dirty laundry
Jul. 6, 2008
Nathan Cohen , THE JERUSALEM POST
New data released last week show the majority of Israelis believe the military should export some non-combat services to private companies in ways similar to the US system.
A poll by the Dahaf polling firm showed that 60 percent of Israelis are supportive of military privatization for services like laundry, food, car repairs and maintenance, however, 87% are against outsourcing security-related services.
The Jerusalem Institute for Market Studies, which commissioned the study, said it would like to see more outsourcing than the current levels, for everything from laundry services to non-combat reservist duty. JIMS operates on the belief that private enterprises are far more efficient than the same services managed by the government.
Corinne Sauer, an Economist and co-founder of JIMS, believes such handovers would allow the Israeli economy to grow.
“[The military] outsourced some health funds in the past, and the soldiers were happy…and it cost the IDF a lot less money,” she said.
An excellent collection of ideas, on how to shut down these tunnel systems on the borders of Gaza. I think a combination of several of these ideas are the way to go. Who knows, there might be some contracting opportunities with this one for some construction company. It would either be an Egyptian or Israeli company to work on this stuff, but you never know who they might contract for this stuff. I posted some stuff regarding the SBInet Boeing project along the US border, and they experiment and use a lot of the same stuff to detect tunnels.
My favorites are the combination of UAV/with sensors, and ground sensors, all tied into one center. It sounds expensive, but anything that could reduce the smuggling operations would equate to less rockets being manufactured and launched. The tunnel issue will be a big deal during the ceasefire–when it comes. -Matt
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Holey War
How to close the Gaza tunnels.
By William Saletan
Posted Friday, Jan. 16, 2009, at 7:58 AM ET
In the skies over Gaza, Israel rules. Its planes, helicopters, and drones patrol and fire at will. On the ground, Israeli troops advance while Hamas lies in wait. But the ultimate battleground isn’t visible from the sky or on your television news. It’s underground.
Gaza is riddled with tunnels. Some are for smuggling; others are for transporting weapons; others are for hiding or ambushing Israeli troops. The crucial passageways—400 to 600, by recent estimates—run from Gaza to Egypt, circumventing the closed border. That’s how Hamas gets parts and material for the missiles it fires into Israel. Any deal to end the current fighting has to include “an effective blockading” of that border, “with supervision and follow-ups,” according to Israel’s prime minister. To stop the war—and to keep it stopped—you have to figure out how to stop the tunnels.
But how? Here are some of the options.
1. Buffer zone. Israel used to control a 300-meter strip between Gaza and Egypt. That wasn’t enough to stop Gazans from tunneling under it to Egypt. But what if the strip were thicker? Would that raise the cost of tunneling, or the probability of a collapse somewhere along the passage, enough to deter diggers? Israeli hawks want a buffer zone three kilometers thick, which would make tunnel excavation much more difficult, expensive, and time-consuming. Lately, the Israeli Defense Forces have dropped leaflets urging Gazans along the border to leave their homes—an attempt, some experts believe, to use the war to widen the buffer zone. But good luck getting Hamas, the Palestinian Authority, or European intermediaries to hand over three kilometers of south Gaza, much less remove the inconvenient residents from their homes.
2. Wall. Instead of thickening the old buffer zone, how about deepening it? Years ago, Israel tried a concrete-iron wall that extended 10 feet underground. A nice try, but fairly useless, since the tunnels went at least 20 feet underground. Then, just more than a year ago, two high-ranking officials from the U.S. Defense and State Departments went to Egypt with a proposal to build a new barrier, including “piles driven deep into the earth.” But even if you extend a wall far enough underground, tunnelers can dig through it.
3. Moat. Maybe, instead of burying a solid barrier that could be dug through, we should make the barrier hollow and fill it with water. That way, anyone trying to dig through would—well, let’s just say you wouldn’t want to be there when it happened. This was such an intriguing idea that Israel tried it several years ago, soliciting bids for a moat four kilometers long, 100 meters wide, and 80 feet deep. Estimated cost: $250 million. Israel scrapped the plan because the water would come from the sea and might contaminate Gaza’s groundwater. But the idea keeps coming back. Two years ago, Israel broached it again, and Egypt considered it. The U.S. officials who went to Egypt a year ago raised it again. Even the president of the Palestinian Authority has lobbied Egypt to do it.
All of this is developing, but we are definitely getting a picture of what modern day urban warfare really means. This is a fascinating study, and these articles(4 total) give us a glimpse as to what is going with this.
The couple stories that jumped out at me, was the use of tunnels:
In another case, soldiers discovered a mannequin dressed like a soldier at the entrance to a home, Halamish said.Had soldiers entered the home, the mannequin would have exploded, collapsing the floor and causing the troops to fall into a tunnel, where Hamas men would have tried to abduct them.
And this one:
Unwilling to take Israel’s bait and come into the open, Hamas militants are fighting in civilian clothes; even the police have been ordered to take off their uniforms. The militants emerge from tunnels to shoot automatic weapons or antitank missiles, then disappear back inside, hoping to lure the Israeli soldiers with their fire.
Tunnel warfare is definitely a factor in this war, like I was talking about earlier. The entrapment technique is different, and certainly one to watch out for. Hamas wants to capture an IDF soldier bad. Although the IDF saw this coming a long time ago.
The Public Relations war is fascinating as well, and I posted earlier about some of the things they are doing to combat negative public opinion. And what is really interesting, and I do not have any figures to back this up, is if the IDF or the Israeli government has monetized their PR effort?
You might laugh, but I am always watching commercials on all of the news channels, with some Israeli group asking for donations. Where as the IDF or the government might not ask directly for money from private donors, support groups within Israel are asking. But for the government to take advantage of monetizing their online efforts with stuff like Google Adsense, would be very easy to do and would make them some money. Or for them to put donation buttons on everything government related would work too. We already know that Israel receives money from the US government, but this new angle on financing wars would be an interesting study. Like I said with Obama and his online campaign, the power of the internet can certainly be used by an individual or even a country, to rally support and bring in donations for the cause. The internet makes that process very easy to do.
But all speculation aside, the biggest benefit of a major PR campaign online, is to defeat the other side’s PR campaign. It is a war online, as well as on the ground, and there are no limits as to where this war is being fought. -Matt
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January 11, 2009
A Gaza War Full of Traps and Trickery
By STEVEN ERLANGER
JERUSALEM — The grinding urban battle unfolding in the densely populated Gaza Strip is a war of new tactics, quick adaptation and lethal tricks.
Hamas, with training from Iran and Hezbollah, has used the last two years to turn Gaza into a deadly maze of tunnels, booby traps and sophisticated roadside bombs. Weapons are hidden in mosques, schoolyards and civilian houses, and the leadership’s war room is a bunker beneath Gaza’s largest hospital, Israeli intelligence officials say.
Unwilling to take Israel’s bait and come into the open, Hamas militants are fighting in civilian clothes; even the police have been ordered to take off their uniforms. The militants emerge from tunnels to shoot automatic weapons or antitank missiles, then disappear back inside, hoping to lure the Israeli soldiers with their fire.
Another new technology that is being used in this current war is Ushahidi Mapping Software. All this does is map what is going on in a conflict, based on various reports from the field from anyone with a SMS enabled phone or computer or using news aggregates. The problem I have with this system is verification. Hamas or the IDF could easily tap into this and contribute false reports, to paint a picture of what they want the public to see. If there was an accurate way to verify, like only accepting reports that have multiple photo or video showing the same thing from different angles, along with a time/date/description stamp system, then maybe this might be somewhat useful. Until then, I only see this being used more as a propaganda tool. As you can see below, Al Jazeera is playing around with it, and it is kind of cool to flip through the various info and reports. But who are these folks making the reports, and how do I know they are telling the truth? The truth after all is the first casualty of a war.
Now what I see as a good use for this tool, is for disaster relief. Mobile phones and text messaging are often the only survivors amongst the rubble of disasters, and you always see these being used to a great extent during and after a disaster. Sometimes only text messages can make it through, and something like this might be a great way for aid agencies to tap into the needs and emergencies of the victims.
Although, the key component of this technology is a population that have mobile phones, and having plenty of working towers to reach these folks. I do think a mobile cell tower system is a vital component of today’s disaster relief, and should be one of the top priorities of a disaster. Then once that tower is up, to implement a SMS plan, of reaching out to everyone via their phones, and giving them the preferred method of reporting–using text messages.
Video: Escape From Hamas
Jan 4
I just finished watching this and it was very interesting. The parts that I really clued in on were the activities in the prisons and on the streets of Gaza, and how Hamas has been treating the people. The use of torture and murder by Hamas, to find and eliminate informants, has really disgusted many in Gaza–to include this son of a Hamas leader. Some call the fighting between Fatah and Hamas and others–the Intrafada, or Palestinian killing Palestinian. It is a problem in Gaza, and because of these power grabs, the Israelis are able to get informants that want to eliminate their competitors.
So to follow up on how significant informants have been in this war, and over the years, this is proof positive of their impact. Check it out, and with the link I provided below, just keep following each part at the end of the video. It is like six parts, with up to 8 minutes per part.
Also, Mosab has certainly created a stir within Hamas and throughout the muslim world. He has numerous death threats against him, and I really feel for the guy. It took a lot of courage to choose a path that millions of people completely disagree with. So what made him convert? The paranoia mixed with torture and murder that Hamas used against the people, and one little idea out of the bible that really struck him. Love thy enemy… It’s hard to imagine that an idea like this could have such an impact, but if this guy came from a highly religious and spiritual family anyways, then that makes sense. -Matt
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Escape from Hamas
Escape from Hamas airs Saturday January 3 at 9 p.m., with repeats at 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. EST, and Sunday January 4 at 9 p.m., with repeats at 12 midnight, 2 a.m., EST.
“As Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and other world leaders try to broker a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas, one former member of the militant Islamic organization said there will never be lasting peace between the two groups.
Well, here we go. Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of Techno War. This is the reality of today’s wars, and I think it is smart to take a serious look at what is being used. Just like with politics, and how instrumental social networking was for Obama in his fundraising and campaign endeavors, the internet and social networking will be used for information war.
Below I have posted all of the stories I could find about how Israel is using these technologies. Wired’s Danger Room has done a great job in reporting on these technologies, and I will try to expand on that a little. So let me touch on a few of the interesting ones for the sake of conversation.
First and foremost, the one tactic that has helped Israel the most in this war, is informants. And specifically, informants that hate Hamas, which would mean Fatah party members. Or they get informants through money or leverage, but either way, informants are the ones that help the most in this war. Informants identify leaders and munitions, and report on any actions of the enemy–all extremely useful for the war. Hamas knows this too, and they are extremely paranoid about informants. They are so paranoid, that they use torture and murder to find out who the informants are, and this is a little reported fact of life in Gaza. Fox News did a great story about how Hamas dealt with informants using torture and murder, and how that only helped to drive Palestinians away. (please see the Escape from Hamas story)
Israel has now started the ground campaign. So what is the goal according to Israeli officials?
‘Change the reality on the ground.’ according to officials.
So that means stop the rockets (Grads) and ‘Smash Hamas’, to stop them from gathering those types of munitions.
The goal is not to topple the Hamas regime, according to these officials, but I think they are just being safe with the objectives.
During the 2006 war in Lebanon, Israel got into trouble by creating way to lofty goals. So in this war, the public statements and objectives will be very basic and seemingly attainable. So far, they have destroyed tunnels, Hamas buildings, and Hamas munitions, and have destroyed senior leadership with the air campaign. To me, those are reasonable expectations and they have accomplished that.
For the ground campaign, expect the same type of mentality. They might have very extreme goals, but never lead on to those extreme goals and publicly set the bar as low as they can.
The big one here is the public relations aspect of this war. For a guerilla force, or smaller force to win, all they have to do is survive or better yet, keep the larger force from achieving their stated goal.
Also, Gaza is packed with people, and this battlefield has been prepared by Hamas. Civilians will be used as human shields by Hamas, and it will be very difficult for Israel to work around that. Also, Hamas has stated that they wanted to take Israeli soldiers as prisoners if they can. Their only hope for that is concentrated ambushes on smaller IDF forces. The use of tunnels and the use of IED’s will be a big factor, and Hamas will do all they can to harass and just survive. I also expect the population to act as observers and scouts for Hamas, which will really be hard to work with in such concentrated areas. -Matt
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Second stage of Operation Cast Lead begins
3 Jan 2009
(Communicated by the IDF Spokesperson)
A short while ago IDF forces began to implement the second stage of Operation Cast Lead. Land forces have begun to maneuver within the Gaza Strip.
The objective of this stage is to destroy the terrorist infrastructure of the Hamas in the area of operation, while taking control of some of rocket launching area used by the Hamas, in order to greatly reduce the quantity of rockets fired at Israel and Israeli civilians.
The IDF Spokesperson emphasizes that this stage of the operation will further the goals of Operation Cast Lead as communicated till now: To strike a direct and hard blow against the Hamas while increasing the deterrent strength of the IDF, in order to bring about an improved and more stable security situation for residents of Southern Israel over the long term.
Large numbers of forces are taking part in this stage of the operation including infantry, tanks, engineering forces, artillery and intelligence with the support of the Israel Air Force, Israel navy, Israel Security Agency and other security agencies.
The operation is in accord with the decisions of the Security Cabinet. This stage of the operation is a part of the IDF’s overall operational plan, and will continue on the basis of ongoing situational assessments by the IDF General Staff.
The forces participating in the operation have been highly trained and were prepared for the mission over the long period that the operation was planned. The Commander of the operation is Maj. Gen. Yoav Galant, GOC Southern Command.
The IDF and the Homefront Command have taken the necessary steps to protect the civilian population. All residents of Southern Israel are requested to follow the directives of the Homefront command as communicated via the media.
The IDF Spokesperson wishes to reiterate that the residents of Gaza are not the target of the operation. Those who use civilians, the elderly, women and children as “human shields” are responsible for any and all injury to the civilian population. Anyone who hides a terrorist or weapons in his house is considered a terrorist.
On the basis of a situation analysis, The IDF is taking steps to raise the level of alert for its forces in other areas of the country.
Link Here
I Just finished watching part 2 and ordered it through Netflix. These two documentaries are awesome, and Mr. Baer did a great job in peeling back the layers of this horrific tactic. If you want to see into the mind of these folks, and get a feel for the why and how, then check this out. -Matt
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The Cult of the Suicide Bomber 1
The Cult of the Suicide Bomber 2 (2008)
Editorial Reviews
About the Actor
Robert Baer spent twenty years running agents from inside the CIA s Directorate of Operations, operating against Hizballah, Al-Qaeda, and other terrorist organizations, and was considered perhaps the best on-the-ground field officer in the Middle East (Seymour M. Hersh, The New Yorker). His memoir See No Evil was a New York Times bestseller and inspired the movie Syriana, starring George Clooney.
When Baer left the agency in 1997 he received the Career Intelligence Medal, with a citation that says, He repeatedly put himself in personal danger, working the hardest targets, in service to his country.
–Robert Baer [was] one of the most talented Middle East case officers of the past twenty years. (Reuel Marc Gerecht, The Atlantic Monthly)
Product Description
On 18 April 1983 a truck drove into the entrance of the US embassy in downtown Beirut killing 63 people, including six CIA officers. Never before had the CIA lost so many officers in a single attack. In the weeks and months after the bombing top investigators from the CIA and FBI failed to solve the mystery of who was responsible. For Robert Baer, the CIA s top operative in the Middle East, it became a lifelong obsession.
His investigation and the answers he found became the Emmy Award-nominated motion picture, The Cult of the Suicide Bomber. In the first film Bob uncovered the history and evolution of suicide bombing as a weapon of radical Islam. Now in this vital new film he discovers how the phenomenon has spread to the West and changed the role of women in the Middle East, and crucially tells us how this threat can be defeated.
With shocking footage of actual suicide bombings and interviews with failed suicide bombers, The Cult of the Suicide Bomber is the most definitive documentary on suicide bombers ever produced.
Baer himself says: I almost look at the Cult of the Suicide Bomber films as a CIA briefing. In the CIA, we were taught to go to policy makers and tell them what we believe is the absolute truth. For me, the Cult films are the absolute truth.
This latest conflict in Israel has highlighted an interesting weapon. Enter the 122 mm Grad Missile, or the 9K132 Grad-P rocket. Why is this different from the Kassam rockets and other homemade stuff? The range and lethality. It can go 20 plus kilometers and it is a factory made rocket. That means more Israeli deaths, and someone outside of the country is getting these things in. It could be Hezbollah, Syria, Iran (their Arash rocket-see article below), Egypt, Russia… Who knows? But they have them, and they are using them. The most recent attacks were Grad rockets, and these longer range rockets were probably the tipping point(as well as just launching a massive amount of homemade missiles) for the recent activity. Just check out how many attacks have increased over the years.-Matt
Edit: According to news sources, these are Chinese made Grad rockets.
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9K132 “Grad-P”(Wikipedia)
Single-round man-portable launcher, which can be reloaded and used again. The rocket itself is a 122mm fin-stabilized rocket, armed with any of the warheads used on BM-21 rockets. The weapon is not often used by the Russian military, but is popular with paramilitary and guerrilla force.
Egypt(Wikipedia)
The Egyptians domestically manufacture the rockets “Sakr-36″ and “Sakr-18″ with a respective range of 36 and 18 km. Rather than a standard HE-Frag round, the Egyptian military prefers a 23 kilogram cluster munition, which can be extremely effective against lightly armored equipment and troop concentrations. Both rockets, as well as the original Soviet models of course, are fired by locally manufactured rocket launchers like the RL-21 (copy of BM-11) and RC-21 (copy of BM-21, similar to the Hadid HM20). The Helwan Machine Tools Company also produces portable systems with one, three, four and eight launch tubes.
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The discovery of BM-21 components indicates that the Palestinians can now buy, or build, more accurate, and longer ranged, rockets. The 150 pound, 122mm Russian designed BM-21 rocket is nine feet long and has a range of 20 kilometers and a 45 pound warhead. Developed in the late 1930s, the 122mm rocket is normally fired in large numbers from many launchers at spread-out targets.That’s because the rockets are unguided. Aim lots of them at a target and you’ll hit something. Aim a few of them at something, and you usually won’t, But the rockets are made by many countries, are relatively easy to get, and favored by terrorists for attacks that terrorize, rather than actually do any damage.
