IDF Officials Breaking Silence on Ineffectiveness of Fence

[number6]

snip

IDF officials, including Head of Central Command, Maj.-Gen. Moshe Kaplinsky have begun to plan for the possibility that Arab terrorists will dig tunnels under the so-called security fence, rendering it ineffective.

snip-snip

“Every night we heard definite tunneling noises – the sound of jack-hammers,” Sergeant First-Class J. said. “They brought people from the Technion, from America – nobody could locate them. We finally built a moat around the base to try to intercept the tunnel, but they just dug underneath. We discover tunnels 25 meters deep these days – you can’t dig a moat 25 meters deep, it is impossible.”


http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=74037

[The Magistrate]

1. This, Sir, Is Mere Fear-Mongering

And only to be expected from the National News, which is of a view that ever-sterner measures must be taken against Arabs.

Tunneling is readily detectable, and the odds that any signifigant number of breaches by that means can be made is nonsense. There is no doubt whatever that the barrier makes infiltration a much more difficult project, and that the number of successes at it can be cut, if not quite to zero, damned near it.

[number6]

2. to be expected from the National News

does the National News do this alot ? Fear-Mongering

all I heard about the "Peace Fence" was, it was the be all
end all, to security. now every body is going to dig tunnels
under it... labor intensive to be sure.

[The Magistrate]

3. They Have, Sir, A Tendency To Exaggerate Threats

Most extreme right organs do, as the people must be kept whipped into a state of fear and frenzy if the rightests are to be empowered themselves as "protectors and saviors" of the frightened herd....

[Paleocon]

4. I think you are missing the point....

Originally we were arguing wether or not the fence was legal or moral. We've now come to the point where we are not arguing it's legality or morality, but wether or not it is defensible.

I'd say that the Israelis have won again with their "facts on the ground" tactic.

[number6]

5. still an issue to me

whether or not the fence was legal or moral ...
and whether or not the fence prevents terrorist attacks.

to me, ....not moral, not legal, in the long run not effective.

[Paleocon]

6. Agreed, but look how someone as reasonable as Mr Magistrate has responded

He's forgotten all about the original immorality, impracticality, and illegality of the fence...

Now's he's been reduced to arguing whether or not the Isrealis can detect tunnels being built...

Like I said... If someone as reasonable as Mr. Magistrate has forgotten the original outrage over the "peace fence" then I'm sure it's been lost on the America public as well.

[number6]

7. most didn't care anyway

"then I'm sure it's been lost on the America public as well"

as the deaths of all the Iraqi civilians, doesn't register ...
and our media won't get into it.

[The Magistrate]

8. Honestly, Sir

It is my practice generally to engage matters at hand in the moment here; one of the peculiar, and sometimes distressing features of this forum, is that no matter where a discussion commences, it tends to devolve into a slanging match over the most basic elements of the situation as a whole, and in doing so to replow ground that has been turned over thoroughly yet one more wearing time.

The security barrier, like any good strategy, serves more than one purpose: it has been well said that a plan without branches is apt to prove not fruitful but a barren pole, and Sharon is certainly a good strategist, having over-come a youthful tendency towards impetuousity in command.

One element of the barrier is indeed security, and in this it is quite proper, and likely to work well. Another element of it is the defacto annexation of a good deal of land, and here, though quite improper, it is likely to work as well. The first item is a good thing, because an increased feeling of security and safety among the people of Israel is not only a good thing in itself, as it would be for the people of Arab Palestine, or any other people, but also because such an increased feeling of safety may have a salutory effect on Israeli politics, a matter we have touched on elsewhere. The second item is not a good thing, because it must be perceived as a further diminishment by the people of Arab Palestine, and tend to increase the despairing rage endemic to that people, and because it is not a legal act. Perhaps worse, the greatest part of the good effect could have been got by a legal act, namely the erection of the barrier on, or at least much more roughly on, the actual boundary of Israel.

[Paleocon]

9. See, I told ya he's reasonable...

Merry Christmas! :)