Is Israel Really Making Itself Any Safer?

Ivan Eland

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Israel’s direct attacks on Iran shows again that it is willing to conduct multiple wars at once on its perceived adversaries. Recently, it has also been at war with Hezbollah in Lebanon, and it is still currently at war with Hamas in Gaza and the Houthis in Yemen.

This is not to mention repeated strikes on the old military stockpiles of the deposed Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad. Yet, before a country goes to war, no matter what the original provocation, it should have a clear idea of the objectives that the war is intended to fulfill. This strategic thinking appears to be lacking in Israel’s conduct.

In general, throughout Israel’s history, it has achieved considerable tactical military success—at times even brilliance—but without strategic competence. This conclusion should probably be unsurprising, given that since the early 1970s, it has been a client state of the United States, whose national security policy exhibits the same qualities and deficiencies.

Also, both countries have overinvested in technologically and operationally superior militaries at the expense of other tools of statecraft—diplomacy, economic engagement, cultural expansion, and, above all else, strategic vision. And as the old cliché goes, if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

It is also no shock that after a dramatically successful attack by an adversary, both countries responded with flailing incoherence. President George W Bush responded to Al Qaeda’s 9/11 attacks by declaring a “global war on terrorism” (GWOT). This helped build the case (along with suspect intelligence) to invade a country that had nothing to do with the 9/11 strikes—Iraq. Such an inchoate policy fueled more terrorism, worldwide condemnation of America, and two failed military interventions.

Similarly, even after President Joe Biden warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to repeat the disastrous escalatory mistakes of the American GWOT, his government has proceeded to conduct a multiple-front war on Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iran.