Following last year's destruction of Gush Katif and northern Samaria, many felt betrayed by the State of Israel and by the army that carried out that horrible deed. Families that had traditionally sent their beloved sons to the IDF's elite units, to take an active role in defending our people and our land, could not deal with the fact that "our" army was now being used against Jews most dedicated to the land and the nation. Feelings for the IDF will never be the same.
Many reserve soldiers and youth about to be drafted swore to themselves that they would never don an IDF uniform again. Certainly, this caused mixed feelings, because up to that time, these same people viewed the IDF with the greatest of respect, even deeming it holy. It is not hard to identify with these feelings of frustration and anger towards the mechanism that betrayed them.
Today, the dilemma becomes even greater, as the people of Israel are under attack from north and south, bombarded by Islamic armies that wish to wipe us all out. Frustration reaches a new climax when the Israeli prime minister makes no effort to hide his intention to continue with his expulsion plan, using the IDF as his tool, as soon as the Hizbullah enemy is neutralized. It certainly is a predicament. How can one wear the uniform to fight the enemy, when one knows that the same army's soldiers will eventually be used to destroy one's home and displace one's wife and children?
In spite all of this, at times such as these we must put all issues aside and go out to battle. For how can one sit quietly when Jewish blood is being spilled like water? Is it not written, "Thou shalt not stand idly by your brother's blood"?
Still, there is an issue of treachery toward our soldiers in the field of battle that must be addressed - the government and army policy that endangers IDF soldiers in order not to hurt "innocent" civilians. It is this twisted "morality" that has caused Jewish heroes to fall in this present war. No country or army in the world behaves in such a way. It is not ethical to put our soldiers in harm's way, to consider their lives of less value than those of the enemy population.
General George S. Patton is quoted saying, "The object of war is not to die for your country, but to make the other bastard die for his." It was good for him and it is good for us. The lives and well-being of our soldiers come first.
If the leaders of the state feel that we must be more merciful to the enemy population than any other army, then they can drop fliers to inform the enemy civilian population to vacate all of the terror-infested areas, and then, after a 24-hour period, have the air force bomb and wipe out every building that might harbor the enemy. Do not expose Jewish soldiers by sending them into hostile enemy villages to carry out pinpoint actions against one individual terrorist or another.
If there is a dilemma before one going out to war today, it is the question: Are my commanders looking out for my welfare first and foremost? Or are they pitying the enemy population, and turning me into cannon fodder?
We must demand that all means are employed to protect the lives of our troops, even at the cost of the lives of the enemy civilian population. For this is a milchemet mitzvah (obligatory war) as Rambam defines it: "To rescue Jews from an oppressor who comes upon them." We are obligated to go out to protect our brothers.
God willing, as we succeed in smashing the Islamic tyrants in the north and in the south, we will overcome the enemy from within and succeed in the struggle for maintaining the integrity of the Land of Israel.
Many reserve soldiers and youth about to be drafted swore to themselves that they would never don an IDF uniform again. Certainly, this caused mixed feelings, because up to that time, these same people viewed the IDF with the greatest of respect, even deeming it holy. It is not hard to identify with these feelings of frustration and anger towards the mechanism that betrayed them.
Today, the dilemma becomes even greater, as the people of Israel are under attack from north and south, bombarded by Islamic armies that wish to wipe us all out. Frustration reaches a new climax when the Israeli prime minister makes no effort to hide his intention to continue with his expulsion plan, using the IDF as his tool, as soon as the Hizbullah enemy is neutralized. It certainly is a predicament. How can one wear the uniform to fight the enemy, when one knows that the same army's soldiers will eventually be used to destroy one's home and displace one's wife and children?
In spite all of this, at times such as these we must put all issues aside and go out to battle. For how can one sit quietly when Jewish blood is being spilled like water? Is it not written, "Thou shalt not stand idly by your brother's blood"?
Still, there is an issue of treachery toward our soldiers in the field of battle that must be addressed - the government and army policy that endangers IDF soldiers in order not to hurt "innocent" civilians. It is this twisted "morality" that has caused Jewish heroes to fall in this present war. No country or army in the world behaves in such a way. It is not ethical to put our soldiers in harm's way, to consider their lives of less value than those of the enemy population.
General George S. Patton is quoted saying, "The object of war is not to die for your country, but to make the other bastard die for his." It was good for him and it is good for us. The lives and well-being of our soldiers come first.
If the leaders of the state feel that we must be more merciful to the enemy population than any other army, then they can drop fliers to inform the enemy civilian population to vacate all of the terror-infested areas, and then, after a 24-hour period, have the air force bomb and wipe out every building that might harbor the enemy. Do not expose Jewish soldiers by sending them into hostile enemy villages to carry out pinpoint actions against one individual terrorist or another.
If there is a dilemma before one going out to war today, it is the question: Are my commanders looking out for my welfare first and foremost? Or are they pitying the enemy population, and turning me into cannon fodder?
We must demand that all means are employed to protect the lives of our troops, even at the cost of the lives of the enemy civilian population. For this is a milchemet mitzvah (obligatory war) as Rambam defines it: "To rescue Jews from an oppressor who comes upon them." We are obligated to go out to protect our brothers.
God willing, as we succeed in smashing the Islamic tyrants in the north and in the south, we will overcome the enemy from within and succeed in the struggle for maintaining the integrity of the Land of Israel.