SCG International On Israeli Ground Offensive Against Hamas 
SCG INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY BULLETIN
ON ISRAEL’S GROUND OFFENSIVE AGAINST HAMAS
NEW YORK, Jan. 4, 2009 – SCG International, a U.S.-based global provider of fully integrated, domestic and international security services, today released an advisory bulletin providing further insight into Israel’s ground offensive against Hamas.
The following quotes are from Jamie Smith, CEO of SCG International and a former decorated CIA officer. Smith is widely recognized as one of the foremost authorities on international security.
Situation
- “The aim of Israel’s current air/ground operation is to deny Hamas the ability to fire rockets into Israeli territory. The IDF’s aim is also to hurt Hamas sufficiently in order to make it not worth firing at Israel and render Hamas ineffective as a military threat.”
- “Hamas is a Takfiri Sunni Muslim organization located in Gaza on the southern border of Israel. Their stated goal is to destroy Israel and promote Palestinian causes. They have been rocketing Israeli cities and settlements. Rockets were being fired from, among others areas, Beit Lahiya, where they were stored and from the home of Ismail Renam, who had a central role in the launching of Grad-type rockets against Israel. The Grad-type rockets have a longer range than the rudimentary Qassam rockets Hamas more commonly uses. SCG Analysts assess Hamas general rocket range currently at approximately 40 kilometers.”
- “The IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) has been striking high-value/high-quality targets like these with air assets both manned and unmanned, carrying out more than 800 strikes on the Gaza Strip since launching the offensive nine days ago, including 40 on Saturday. However, weather conditions have deteriorated making targeting difficult and providing time for Hamas to regroup.”
- “This change in meteorological conditions precipitated Israeli ground troops entering the Gaza Strip. Sending ground forces into Gaza under the current weather conditions is not ideal. The heavy tanks and troop carriers will find it hard to maneuver in mud, and make slow moving targets for small, nimble Hamas anti-tank crews on off-road motorbikes, as they did for Iranian-backed Hezbollah in the Second Lebanon War in which Israel fought in 2006.”
- “The other options are to halt IDF air operations and wait for better conditions, or to agree to a brokered cease-fire. Neither of these two options are realistic, as it would only give Hamas more time to build its military capabilities. Time is opportunity – notably the opportunity to acquire rockets with longer range, which would eventually putting Holon and Tel Aviv under fire. Currently, there are 800,000 Israelis under rocket threat from Hamas in Gaza. If the range is expanded that number would also quickly expand.”
Assessment/Analysis
- “It is crucial to Israel’s survival to successfully prosecute this engagement and leave no doubt as to which side was the victor.”
- “In 2006 Israel did not do this and withdrew from a war with Hezbollah on their northern border (Iranian backed terror group based in Lebanon). This was the first war that Israel was viewed as having lost since its creation in 1947. This gave Islamic groups from both Persian and Arab descent the impression that Israel was not the invincible Goliath that they were feared to be. This emboldened terror groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas who stepped up attacks as well as gave Iran newfound courage to openly call for the destruction of the Jewish state.”
- “The difference this time is the enemy. In 2006 Israel fought Hezbollah, a Shia organization who use martyrs (suicide attacks) primarily against military targets and who have stated goals that are somewhat negotiable. Israel lost and Hezbollah is stronger now militarily and politically.”
- “Hamas is a Takfiri Sunni organization with goals that are essentially non-negotiable – the destruction of Israel – period. Takfiri Sunnis are the same as those in Al-Qaeda – simply put, they are intolerant of non-Muslims to the point of wanting them dead. They use the Koran to justify using martyrs and rockets against any target – military or civilian. Negotiations cannot be held in good faith for the most part and the only real option Israel has is to defeat Hamas thoroughly and publicly.”
- “Losing another conflict on the southern border would result in Israel having two terrorist armies on its northern and southern borders that it cannot defeat, but only hope to deter. It’s just like fighting a terrorist onboard an airplane – if you start it, you’d better win it because there’s nowhere to run if you change your mind.”
SCG International is a global provider of fully integrated domestic and international peace and stability operations services to both the government and private sectors, and is recognized as a world leader in risk mitigation, intelligence support and training. Established in 1996, the organization offers clients practical solutions to promote stability and resolve conflict no matter how large or small. SCG International clients include Fortune 500 companies, entertainment and media conglomerates, financial institutions, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Intelligence agencies, the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Army, U.S. Naval Special Warfare, the U.S. Marine Corps and high-profile individuals including dignitaries, politicians, celebrities, athletes, corporate executives, media personalities and other public figures.
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