AC writes:
Some context for the "video posted below" The tank that the cute child is perched upon at 0:09 is evidently the Israeli-designed-and-built Merkava. It's based on the the Hebrew word for chariot, Merkabah, a reference to the chariot of the Divine. It's a real beauty. Yes, it is a heavy beast, but the turret is elegantly angled atop the hull, as if it were gently hovering, and cut to give the appearance that it's slicing nimbly through the air. As its name connotes, the Merkava was designed to instill the fear of the supernatural in its enemies and project an air of impenetrability. It was meant to be a fortress on wheels, essentially, and was imbued with abundant national pride -- Israel's righteous fighting machine. The invulnerability myth proved sustainable until the Merkava was deployed in the narrow streets and alleys of the occupied territories. According to Israeli, Lebanese, and other observers, the myth was finally punctured during the 2006 war; Hezbollah emasculated the Merkava, usurped its divine throne. Al Jazeera produced a detailed and historical documentary on the Merkava, with much Israeli and Lebanese input, called "God's Chariot," which can be watched here.
On another topic, presented here is an article written by Sally Mallison and the late W. Thomas Mallison in 1982, soon after Israel's invasion of Lebanon. It's well researched if one can get a hold of it. The last paragraph is of special interest:
That was in 1982, 34 years after the first prominent instance
of an "attempt to obliterate groups of people" by Israel. We are in
2009, 61 fateful years after the first such instance, 61 years replete
with multitudes of successful "attempts". Yet, we are laggard. We are
loath to call this, that or that, this, wayward in our duty to stare
with fixed gaze at the injustice which is menacingly calling for our
attention, perhaps mocking us knowing that we are paralyzed because we
are fickle.
The tank is a good metaphor for how the Israeli's choose to see themselves, chosen by god to live in air-conditioned comfort & shielded in armor against
the outside world. Another image comes to mind: The royalty behind their castle wall, protected from the sweaty laboring peasants out beyond the parapets. Mmmm, actually Israel has built their wall. And the old noblity had their armored knights, which would ride off from time to time at the nobility's command after the drawbridge was let down, their tanks.
Let's see, who's Robyn Hood here in 2009?
Difficult to top this one for total inanity. The merkava is rated one of the top ten best tanks that have ever been built. Designed and built by Israel. The Arabs, design and build what exactly? Suicide bombers and what else.?
The Merkava's low silhouette and medical evacuation capacity are design elements typical of the forces of a small state that fears massive conventional attack by foes far superior in number. But you choose not to note that because you know nothing of tank forces, choosing to parrot Arab propaganda instead.
Looks like a cool tank, but it does seem very ill-suited to the kinds of conflicts the IDF has been facing.
I would hate to be driving one of those things down a narrow street in a hostile Arab town.
If the Lebanese and Syrians have tanks, though, I guess the Israelis ought to keep the Merkava around in the event they have to fight a "normal" war.
some fun Merkava pictures, from Palestine and Lebanon, respectively:
How many merkavot have the brave Arabs "dethroned"? How about some facts? People in the US Army cavalry LUST after that tank.
Sword of G. writes: “The merkava is rated one of the top ten best tanks that have ever been built. Designed and built by Israel. The Arabs, design and build what exactly? Suicide bombers and what else.?”
Seemingly, if the facts of this article are correct, Arabs have “designed” military tactics and trained soldiers who can destroy the Merkava. Isn’t that the point?
If one can get beyond national/racial ideology and see this article in the context of the history of military technology, and the historic political/economic correlates of those technologies (e.g. rise of nation-state correlates with evolution of canons which could destroy castile and city state walls), then we may be on the cusp of a dramatic change Middle East social history.
For centuries Europeans have dominated the rest of the world (including the Middle East) through their superior military technology. If that technology is compromised; what are the social/economic implications? For objective social historians, this is a fascinating question.
TV
You don't even know what a Merkava looks like!
The picture is of a Magach.
Al jazzira producing documentaries? Yea, like the Nazis producing objective factual documentaries
While I appreciate your blog's apparent purpose, I must take issue with this post's overall premise (e.g., the metaphor concerning the Israeli Merkava MBT).
"The invulnerability myth proved sustainable until the Merkava was deployed in the narrow streets and alleys of the occupied territories."
There has never been a tank or any other armored fighting vehicle (AFV) designed by any nation on this Earth that is capable of entering built up areas that is fully capable of holding its own without the aid of supporting infantry and close air support.
Your argument is immediately invalidated by this historical fact. Numerous examples abound in the history of warfare: Stalingrad, Berlin, Paris, Mogadishu, Chechnya, Hue City, Nasiriya, Fallujah, etc.
When a tank or other AFV enters a city it NEEDS infantry to support its deployment, to defend it against enemies employing anti-armor weapons, improvised explosives, ambushes, etc. It's simply the nature of warfare in built up areas. Said infantry walks is deployed on foot, thus giving numerous sets of eyes to vehicle crews. The infantry is better able to spot threats and destroy them. This allows AFVs to take and hold key sectors, destroy heavily protected and defended positions, as well as engage enemy AFVs.
That these Merkavas were defeated speaks more to the ineptitude of Israeli commanders rather than any divine guidance or punishment or superior tactical skill on the parts of those seeking to defeat Israeli imperialism.