[Haaretz] IDF general: Troops lacking food can steal from Lebanese stores

Actually doesn't all troops do that during wars from the beginning of the time?

 

If I am hungry and I'm in a war zone - I don't care who's side I'm on, I'm going to get food if my life depends on it. What are you suppose to do? Starve?

Now, on the other hand...it's one thing for us to acknowledge the reality, it's another thing for a general to espouse that as a policy. It's just a stupid thing to say.

 

I agree totally. There is no military authority which would tell its troops not to eat out of deference to civilians. At the same time it is a horrible PR move to say it.

I think the idea of an army foraging as it goes was generally accepted much more in the pre-WWI world. I think Napoleon said “An army travels on it’s stomach” and in a world without ways to preserve food it was almost impossible to ‘bring enough with you’.

 

No question about it. It may not have been that outrageous a thing to expect your troops to do, given no alternative, but you sure as hell don't say it.



Keep D&D Civil.

 

It is shameful that Israel can't provision their army. They have the US' finest gear, but neglected to buy enough MREs to go around? The problem isn't that their telling soldiers to loot rather than starve; the problem is that they didn't provide food in the first place. They're only a couple of miles from Israel anyway.

 

no one is going to steal the pork rines.

 

I would understand if it was a single unit on some mission that was away from supply lines, but Israel's supply lines haven't been broken. Why can't Israel supply them with enough food?

 

cause the administration in charge didn't know **** about running a war and everyone knew it so they became chicken hawks intent on showing the public wrong.

sharon wouldn't have done this.

amir peretz was attempting to prove he had big balls. he failed. olmert failed. they didn't accomplish any of their stated tasks for this offensive. and they'll do a prisoner exchange. of course in the course of this they cost a hundred israeli and well over a thousand lebanese lives and caused billions of dollars of damage to lebanon. and condi and our administration gave them a green light.

 

If Mexico and the US waged war, I wouldn't expect HEB to be spared. You guys make it sound like the General told his troops to rape civilians if they get horny.

 

Lebanon and Israel weren't at war. But if the U.S. was taking military action against a particular group in Mexico, and the supply lines were open I wouldn't expect U.S. troops to loot Mexican stores since we aren't at war with Mexico.

 

^Is the term military engagement better? If this hypothetical group in Mexico committed terrorist acts against the US, had representatives in the Mexican government and enjoys healthy public support, then Soriana is fair game.

 

It wasn't the term war or military engagement. IT was that you mentioned two countries being at war. Israel isn't at war with Lebanon, nor are they supposedly in a military engagement with Lebanon.

They are in a conflict with Hezbollah, as opposed to being in one with Lebanon. So they are technically looting from the stores of a nation they are not at war with.

Sorry for the confusion.

All in all it is a minor offense by Israel in the scope of things, but I just thought I would comment on it, since the topic came up.

 

I'd rather they loot the local food store than destroying the infrastructure, the roads, civilian airport.