An American’s Perspective: The Art of War and the Golan Heights

From “The Art of War”, written by Sun Tzu, Chinese General, born 545 BC, died 496 BC

“Camp in high places, facing the sun. Do not climb heights in order to fight.”

Twenty-five hundred years ago, Sun Tzu had it all figured out. If asked today, he most certainly would reaffirm that Israel must keep the high ground. And just the other day, from President Donald Trump, “After fifty-two years it is time for the United States to fully recognize Israel’s Sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which is of critical strategic and security importance to the State of Israel and Regional Stability!”

The Islamic Republic of Iran has men-in-uniform in excess of five-hundred-thousand. Instead of directly confronting a mortal enemy they view as seizing disputed lands, Iran peddles influence while always keeping at arms-length. Iran supplies rockets to Hezbollah, funnels funds to al Qaeda, and manipulates Syria, all in the name of glorious Jihad. And yet, in spite of ongoing activities all designed to damage and ultimately destroy Israel, Iran has yet to do the obvious. With men-in-uniform numbering more than half-a-million, those in Tehran would rather have its supporters scurry around and attack Israelis in a piecemeal and random fashion.

Five hundred thousand strong, and yet they refuse to don those uniforms and march into plain sight, for the entire world to see. After all, they would then be confronted by the IDF.

The Israel Defense Forces.  During the Vietnam War, a reporter asked the American General William Westmoreland a question about the best fighting force in the world. He asked the general if the British Commandos, or perhaps the Soviet Spetsnaz troops, or our own Green Berets, were the best of the best.

Without any hesitation, General Westmoreland replied, “The Israeli Paratroopers.”

Out of the ashes of the Holocaust has emerged the new Jew, or perhaps those of the bloodline of Judas Maccabeus have come to the fore.

Israel will maintain control of the Golan Heights as a buffer, to assure peace, while opposing forces would surely use that high ground as a place from which to mount an attack. Sun Tzu knew that, you and I know that, and even the President of the United States knows that. And if the Iranian armed forces decide to come out of hiding and openly contest the IDF, a buffer will clearly be a very good thing for Israel to control.

As an American, I’m thrilled that our president supports Israel’s presence on the Golan Heights.

And I’m equally pleased to realize that if President Trump admonished Israel for occupying the high ground, the IDF would remain there, nonetheless.