IDF admits to overestimating Gaza rocket severity, but warns worst may be yet to come

[ProgressiveMuslim]

By Amos Harel and Ruth Sinai, Haaretz Correspondent

Tags: Gaza, Israel News, Israel

The threat that Hamas' ballistic capabilities pose to the people of the Negev is less serious than initially presumed and the residents of the targeted areas are not demonstrating signs of panic, according to an interim analysis by the Israel Defense Forces of the situation nearly a week after the launching of Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip.

The analysis, which the IDF compiled with the Defense Ministry, also said the authorities' ability to tend to the needs of the population has much improved compared to their performance in the 2006 Second Lebanon War.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who toured the Negev yesterday with Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilani, said that Hamas' capabilities "cannot be compared" with those of Hezbollah.

In six days of fighting, Hamas has fired some 350 rockets into Israel. In 2006, Kiryat Shmona and its immediate surroundings alone took 1,000 rockets.

These figures show that IDF officers and defense experts overestimated Hamas' ballistic capabilities so far, which were said to allow the organization to launch up to 200 rockets every day while under fire from launcher-hunting Israel Air Force crafts.

read on...
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1052046.html

[The Magistrate]

1. It Makes No Difference, Ma'am

The problem remains that Hamas has felt its best interests were served by firing rockets into Israel, and deliberately courting what is happening now.

[lostnotforgotten]

2. Imagine That - The Israeli Government Was Lying To The Rest Of The World

eom

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[madrchsod]

4. "operation cast lead"

how medieval of the idf...pouring hot lead on the barbarians at the walls of the castle

[Igel]

6. Or 19th century.

http://www.jewishindy.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=8944 -- "cast lead" (solid lead) dreidels were actually used.

A writer in the Levant used the reference in a children's poem about Hannukah.

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.religion/browse_thread/thread/a9c0699c1fd3a616

Rather than do the outrage thing, I merely note it's like having a US operation at Easter called Operation Egg Hunt.

[madrchsod]

7. thanks...interesting read from those links

i`m especially interested in the google group...

[AnOhioan]

5. "Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.....

who toured the Negev yesterday with Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilani, said that Hamas' capabilities "cannot be compared" with those of Hezbollah."


Gee, ya think?? It really does not matter, Israel has decided that bombing is the answer. Unfortunately for them, it is not. All they are doing is further radicalizing the population in Gaza.