23/08/2010 Israeli Major-General Yoav Galant’s most prominent characteristic as a military man is his tendency to choose offense over other combat approaches, Israeli electronic site Ynet reported on Monday.
Galant also attempted to convince Israeli Defense Minister Barak, Chief of Staff Ashkenazi, and his colleagues at General Staff Headquarters to implement an operational plan that was much broader and more ambitious than the one carried out in Operation Cast Lead. His plan was supposed to not only put an end to the rocket barrages directed at southern occupied territories, but also to terminate Hamas’ rule in Gaza.
Yet Galant’s proposals were rejected, by the Israeli defense minister among others, and the plan that was used in the operation was relatively “thin” and limited in scope.
Barak took notice of Galant precisely because of the latter’s offensive approach. The Israeli defense minister’s decision to recommend that the government appoint the quiet, introverted general as the 20th chief of staff in Israeli army history conveys a clear, sharp message: “The State of Israel does not intend to remain idle and wait to be attacked by rockets, missiles, and possibly unconventional weapons.”
Should one of these strategic threats be realized, or be close to realization, the Israeli army will be utilized in an offensive, decisive manner and in full force in order to thwart or minimize the threat. This message is aimed not only for the Israeli army and for Israel’s citizens, but also for states such as Syria and Iran, for Hezbollah, and for the US Administration and European states as well.
23/08/2010 The Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday set aside the possibility of an Israeli or American strike on the Islamic Republic's nuclear facilities.
"Israel does not have the courage to do it… I do not think the threat is serious."
In an interview with Arabic Satellite television Al Jazeera Channel, Ahmadinejad said:
"There are no logical reasons for the United States to carry out such an act," President Ahmadinejad told Al Jazeera.
"Do you believe an army that has been defeated by a small army in Iraq can enter into a war with a large and well trained army like the Iranian army?" he asked.
He said Washington lacks real motives for attacking Iran and will not benefit from hostility.
"The friendship of Iran is much better than its hostility," he added.
Ahmadinejad added that the Persian Gulf states would not permit the use of US bases in their territory to launch an attack against Iran. "They are smarter than that," he added.
He continued to say that Iran was working to produce nuclear fuel independently, "because receiving it from an outside source is conditioned on diplomatic criteria."
"There is a difference between those who produce and those who buy. We must make sure our nuclear power plant continues to operate. We do not trust the West, despite our good relations with Russia," Ahmadinejad said.
River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian
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