Former Air Force Commander Maj.-Gen. (res.) Eitan Ben-Eliyahu, speaking with Arutz-7 today, was asked when he thought the American war with Iraq would start. "In a way," he responded, "it began two months ago. Flights over Iraq, attacks 2-3 times a week, the amassing of forces - this all means that a war of attrition has already begun... The real war will begin with an extended air campaign against [strategic targets], the Presidential Guard, etc. But since the main American objectives are to clean out all weapons of mass destruction and to topple Saddam, there will also have to be an entry of ground forces into Baghdad... This is of course far more complex, and could last longer... "
Asked if a US victory is guaranteed, Ben-Eliyahu said, "Militarily, there is no doubt that yes. But the objective is not merely to 'win,' but to get rid of the weapons, and clear out supporters of the current regime. These are not purely military goals. The Americans will accomplish these as well, but it's hard to know how long it will take or what complications will arise, etc." He said that the U.S. had greatly improved its military capabilities in the past decade, "and Israel has as well, both in home-front protection and in other areas, in the event that we will have to enter the fighting."
Asked whether he feels Israel should attack Iraq, he said, "In general, it would be better to let the U.S. do the work; they can do it better, and they have much more far-reaching goals than we can even dream of. But each case must be judged on its own. If we are not attacked, or if Iraq tries to attack but is foiled, there is no need for us to intervene... If Iraq sends over one symbolic missile, and let's say it misses us altogether, I think that would present a dilemma - but my opinion is that we should respond, even more than symbolically. Of course, if we are attacked in a significant way, then there is no doubt that we must offer a military response... It could be that we will have to make these calculations two or three times a day… What is certain is that we have to make all the preparations, both on the home front and in the army, for the possibility that we will take part in this war. This is our national and military responsibility, and I would say that each and every citizen has the responsibility to plan as if we will get to that situation..."
Asked if a US victory is guaranteed, Ben-Eliyahu said, "Militarily, there is no doubt that yes. But the objective is not merely to 'win,' but to get rid of the weapons, and clear out supporters of the current regime. These are not purely military goals. The Americans will accomplish these as well, but it's hard to know how long it will take or what complications will arise, etc." He said that the U.S. had greatly improved its military capabilities in the past decade, "and Israel has as well, both in home-front protection and in other areas, in the event that we will have to enter the fighting."
Asked whether he feels Israel should attack Iraq, he said, "In general, it would be better to let the U.S. do the work; they can do it better, and they have much more far-reaching goals than we can even dream of. But each case must be judged on its own. If we are not attacked, or if Iraq tries to attack but is foiled, there is no need for us to intervene... If Iraq sends over one symbolic missile, and let's say it misses us altogether, I think that would present a dilemma - but my opinion is that we should respond, even more than symbolically. Of course, if we are attacked in a significant way, then there is no doubt that we must offer a military response... It could be that we will have to make these calculations two or three times a day… What is certain is that we have to make all the preparations, both on the home front and in the army, for the possibility that we will take part in this war. This is our national and military responsibility, and I would say that each and every citizen has the responsibility to plan as if we will get to that situation..."