“Given the current climate around the world, America cannot be afraid of using preemptive war to fight at the time and place of their choosing…”
Monday, June 5 marked the 50th anniversary of the start of the Six-Day War. This was a brief war waged by the Israelis against the combined Arab forces from much of the Middle East. In early 1967, already high tensions increased after Syria began bombarding Jewish settlements. Egypt mobilized its forces and forced the removal of UN peace keepers. Finally, Jordan joined a mutual defense coalition with much of the Middle East, including Iraq, Kuwait, and Algeria, sending additional soldiers.
Faced with overwhelming odds and possessing few natural defenses and little depth, the Israeli forces struck first. On the first day of the conflict, they attacked the larger Egyptian air force and destroyed most of the Arab air force by the end of the day. They followed this with swift ground campaigns with air superiority that seized the Sinai Peninsula, East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Golan Heights. The war left the lasting myth of Israeli “occupation” and shows how strong intelligence and swift preemptive action are great tools for defending a nation.
Over the last 50 years, Israel has been attacked with words and weapons for their illegal occupation. Yet Israel has continually offered the territory in exchange for lasting peace and recognition from Arab foes that they have a right to exist. Egypt and Israel reached peace in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s (after another war), and Egypt now holds the Sinai Peninsula.
Since then, Israel has continually used the remaining land as leverage in peace talks and even allowed Palestinian self-rule in Gaza. For their efforts, the Israelis continue to face attacks, including rocket attacks from Gaza and knife attacks within Israel. Given the lasting hatred of nations and designated terrorist groups in the area, Israeli leaders are correct in holding strategic territory for their own defense and as leverage toward peace.
On top of that, this war should show the continuing relevance and even need for preemptive war. The Iraq War revealed what analyst Colin Grey referred to as a “demonic hatred” of the practice. The difficult insurgency that America faced and the need to return and fight ISIS has soured Americans on the practice even further. But the Israeli example shows how preemptive war can be both effective and appropriate.
Some parts of their country are simply miles wide. Back then, they had an even worse position, with their preferred capital of Jerusalem split between different powers and much of the West Bank in enemy hands. They could be attacked from three sides and face a blockade on the fourth side. They were outnumbered over five to one in soldiers and three to one in tanks and aircraft, with little space in which to maneuver. The point of preemptive war is to use surprise to fight the opponent at the time and place of your choosing instead of fighting a defensive war at the time and place of your enemy’s.
They continue to have difficulty with their Arab neighbors, but through forceful preemptive action, they enhanced their geographic and negotiating position as well as prevented another holocaust from a vast Arab coalition. Given the current climate around the world, America cannot be afraid of using preemptive war to fight at the time and place of their choosing instead of waiting for gathering threats to strike.
