RJ
from a Sept 09 post:
Quote:
"The Katyushas, on the other hand, were mounted on the backs of flat bed pick up trucks. They employed a "shoot and scoot" strategy."
Yes, a tactic of the now popular "assymetric warfare."
They were also highly inaccurate, although effective as a terror tactic.
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From the comment concerning accuracy, I sense that their very inaccuracy implies they have no more effective value than terrorising?
I state factually: high inaccuracy does not equate with only the 'terror tactic' aspect. High inaccuracy killed, maimed, ruined, damaged and shattered. Fortunately for the Israeli side (and sorry for repeating points already made a long way back) there was perhaps less killing simply because not one single building of any kind whatsoever is allowed to be constructed throughout all parts of Israel, without highly efficient bomb shelters, and it is a sad fact per se that this is how a country needs to operate, but it is a fact not emulated by the Lebanese and others of Israel's neighbours and if it were to be applied, would go a long, long way to reducing unnecessary civilian loss of life (and one wonders, indeed, why these countries leave their civilian population in a state of possible insufficient protection...).
However, there was so much damage and ruin, but which simply did not interest the media sufficiently to warrant the kind of coverage Lebanon merited. In any event, it is not my intention to balance the kind or scope of damage each country suffered; but Israel did NOT 'take out' (a term I've seen employed elsewhere) the new Rafik alHariri International Airport, or other important/strategic/newly reconustructed sites or areas of Lebanon, because decimation of Lebanon at large was not its goal.
Nor did Israel, at any time, during or prior to this last bout of war, take captives -- an important point to keep in mind, being that same issue which triggered the whole messy and bloody and ruinous sequence of events.
Now: it is time for an admission. During this war, and with much family and many friends in northern Israel, I decided to go visit and spend a full week boosting morales, and another almost 2 weeks ferreting goods and people up and down, north south, to the best of my ability. Interestingly, we got a lot done at night, as Hezbolla rarely fired after nightfall (about 8.45 pm) so that infra red equipment couldn't pick out their positions.
I can therefore give you first hand facts: because of the high inaccuracy of Katyushas, WHEN it was possible to track their inflight, we had from 5 to 50 seconds to find shelter. (Humor always helps. You have just gone to shower, all soaped and shampooed... ooopsie, what to do as the WOOOOOO of the siren gets closer and louder?? If it's not smoke gets in your eyes, it's soap gets in your eyes...)
But more often it was zero seconds - first we heard the tremendous screech in the sky, then the massive boom, and then it was time to say 'whew, that one was close' and continue going about whatever we were up to or checking the vicinity to see who needs help. Within the first couple of days, I lost count of how often it was 'inaccurately' necessary to dash for cover ...
Another real life fact: it is hot in that area. It never rains the whole summer. Summer can be 9-10 months long. The ashpalt on the road never cools off during that whole time. What do you do if you are travelling and happen to pass an inhabited area and hear the sirens? IDF Home Front Guidelines: You stop the car, throw yourself on the ground, arms around your head as best as possible. This is because Kathyushas carry thousands of metal pellets, nuts, nails, screws and bolts, and sharpened slivers of metal, all intended not only to blow you apart but to make it as gory and painful as possible. Therefore, by rules of physics, a Katyusha landing close to you will scatter its array of gory possibilities in an arc and hopefully you will be out of the range of that arc... but yes, they are inaccurate, so you have a 50/50 chance at any given time. Therefore, before you travel, you toss a blanket or such into the car, one per person, to try and grab with you as you brake suddenly (while trying not to cause a traffic accident) , throw yourself down and slam your face down ASAP, and more-or-less position the blanket so that you don't get 3rd degree burns on the delicate skin of face and arms, as you try to stay alive. And what do you do if you are travelling country roads and don't hear the sirens? Ignorace can be bliss....
One story of the many many I could describe: At the moment, two little girls I personally know, aged 6 and 8, are undergoing psychotherapy because, when they returned to their home in the north, not far from the border, the <u>only</u> room in their family home that entirely disappeared when a Katyusha landed on it, was <u>their bedroom</u> and they clearly understood what the outcome could have been, if they had remained one more day in their house... indeed a fascinating age and way to understand one's fragile mortality.
I think I have made it clear in earlier posts that I am sorry for all losses of life that are unnecessary, but a Katyusha is as deadly a weapon as they come, in fact, with the added factor of being 'inaccurate' and thus harder to track; a weapon not to be taken lightly and dismissed as nothing more than a tool for terrorising. It kills, it maims, and it does so horribly. And it has been doing so for six whole years.... (or perhaps, Israel should just grin and bear it for Kevin's suggested six more...)
[This message has been edited by Seree Zohar (edited September 10, 2006).]