JINSA Flag and General Officers Statement on Israeli-Hezbollah Fighting
We, the undersigned, believe that Israel’s military operation to remove Hezbollah from southern Lebanon is a correct and legitimate response to the creation of an armed force accountable to Syria and Iran residing within the boundaries of Lebanon and using Lebanese territory to engage in cross-border warfare. Israel voluntarily withdrew completely from Lebanese territory in 2000 under the terms of UN Resolution 1559, but the Government of Lebanon was unable or unwilling to assert its sovereignty in the area Israel vacated.
We believe further that the IDF has taken care to focus its response so as to minimize civilian casualties among the Lebanese, even as Hezbollah indiscriminately rockets Israeli towns and cities. It has become increasingly clear that Hezbollah took advantage of Lebanon’s weakness to hide its forces and its weapons in the south of Lebanon and its command and control capabilities in Beirut, within the civilian population. This ensured that any Israeli response would create civilian casualties that would dominate the international media.
The relatively few Israeli casualties in the face of widespread rocket and missiles attacks appear to be the result of an active civil defense system in Israel, not humanitarian concern by Hezbollah.
We have traveled to Israel over the years with The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA). We brought with us our decades of military experience and came away with the unswerving belief that the security of the State of Israel is a matter of great importance to U.S. policy in the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean. A strong Israel is an asset upon which American military planners and political leaders can rely. Israel shares our commitment to democracy, freedom, personal liberty and rule of law.
As American defense professionals, we view events in the Middle East through the prism of American security interests, in which regard we make two points:
First, the problem of militias and non-state actors operating in sovereign country is precisely the same as that faced by American and coalition forces in Iraq. The militias and foreign fighters facing our troops are also supported by Iran and Syria.
Second, we have a particular interest in the demise of Hezbollah. Until September 11, 2001, Hezbollah was the terrorist organization responsible for more American deaths than any other, including 241 American servicemen in the Beirut barracks bombing and 17 Americans in the bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut. We have not forgotten William Buckley, Navy diver Robert Dean Stethem and Lt. Col. William (Rich) Higgins, USMC.
We believe strongly that any cease-fire must be accompanied by a determined international military effort to assist Lebanon in rooting out the armed remnants of Hezbollah and ensuring that the Lebanese Army is the controlling armed force in the south. Anything less would be a prescription for renewed fighting at the time of Hezbollah’s choosing.
Throughout our travels and our talks, the determination of Israelis to protect their country and to pursue a fair and workable peace with their neighbors was clear. Thus, we view the current conflict in and around Israel with great dismay. America’s responsibility as a friend to Israel - and to Lebanon - should strengthen our country’s resolve to assist and support Israel in its efforts to dislodge Hezbollah’s military capabilities from southern Lebanon and work with the international community to ensure that the Lebanese Army is deployed to the international border in a manner that protects both countries.
(Signed as of 07 August 2006) *
RADM Fred Ames, USCG (ret.) - Assistant Commandant for Human Resources
Lt. Gen. Marcus A. Anderson, USAF (ret.) - Inspector General, HQ USAF
Maj. Gen. Max Baratz, USAR (ret.) - Chief of the Army Reserve
Lt. Gen. Julius W. Becton, Jr. USA (ret.) - Commander VII Corps
RADM Charles Beers, USN (ret.) - Commander, Submarine Group Ten
Gen. William Begert, USAF (ret.) - Commander, Pacific Air Forces, and Air Component Commander for the Commander, U.S. Pacific Command
Lt. Gen. Walter E. (Buck) Buchanan III, USAF (ret.) - Commander, 9th Air Force and U.S. Central Command Air Forces
Lt. Gen. Anthony Burshnick, USAF (ret.) - Vice Commander-in-Chief, Military Airlift Command
Lt. Gen. Paul Cerjan, USA (ret.) - Deputy Allied Commander, Europe
Gen. J.B. Davis, USAF (ret.) - Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers Europe (NATO)
Lt. Gen. Joseph DeFrancisco, USA (ret.) - Deputy Commander in Chief and Chief of Staff, U.S. Pacific Command
ADM Leon Edney, USN (ret.) - Commander in Chief, Allied Forces NATO
Maj. Gen. Bobby O. Floyd, USAF (ret.) - Director of Logistics, Air Mobility Command
Gen. John Foss, USA (ret.) - Commanding General, Training and Doctrine Command
Maj. Gen. Paul Fratarangelo, USMC (ret.)
Maj. Gen. David Grange, USA (ret.) - Commander, Task Force Eagle (Bosnia) and Task Force, Kosovo.
Lt. Gen. Tom Griffin, USA (ret.) - Chief of Staff, Allied Forces Southern Europe
Lt. Gen. Earl Hailston, USMC (ret.) - Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific/Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command/ Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific/Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Bases, Pacific
Lt. Gen. John Hall, USAF (ret.) - Commander of U.S. Forces, Japan and Commander, 5th Air Force
Printer friendly version
E-Mail this article
Subscribe to the Article Digest