Should the IDF be the IOF?

By DONNY WEBER
The IDF or Israel Defense Forces are mistakenly named. Let me explain.
Many who oppose Israel, Jewish sovereignty in their homeland, and especially any Jewish pride and power would claim the Israel Defense Forces are brutal and brawny.
They would say so for different reasons than I. They would claim we are the “new Nazis”.
Yet, the Israel Defense Forces are anything but. The Israel Defense Forces are most ethical, moral, and and well-trained army in the world.
But they aren’t only defensive.
The modern history of Israel has been secured from countless operations outside its own borders:
~from the 1976 Operation Entebbe, a counter-terrorist mission of IDF commandos to free the hostages of a hijacked Air France flight;
~to the 1981 bombing of Saddam Hussein’s Osirak Nuclear Reactor dubbed Operation Opera;
~to the 2007 dual-named Operation Orchard/Operation Babylon destruction of the Syrian-Iranian-North Korean effort to build a nuclear facility in Syria;
~to classified years of presence and classified missions in Lebanon;
~to reported current strikes against Iranian expansion in Yemen;
~to untold number of missions around the world only a handful of people will ever know of;
It is time to regard the Israel Defense Forces as an offensive unit aiming to protect the Jewish State and Jews around the globe.
The IDF, Israel Defense Forces, should be renamed: the Israel Offensive Forces, the IOF.
We read in most mainstream media about Israel attacking and being attacked. About Israel’s gross negligence and horrific war crimes. We read about airstrikes and death tolls. But we don’t hear about secret missions meant to minimize body counts and bloodbaths. We occasionally hear about precision laser-guided airstrikes but not about coordinated precise teams of trained assassins that track and eliminate targets individually to minimize collateral damage.
We are offensive.
Sometimes we should be more so.
Sometimes, the passivity of the Iron Dome leaves millions of Israelis in fear; parents frightened for the welfare of their children, families, and homes.
Times such as these I wish Israel had poured resources in Iron Spear: better to attack than BE attacked even at the risk of forsaking world opinion. After all, can any nation or army maintain such a defensive position and put their civilian population at such constant risk and and thrive?
The Israel economy--let alone pride-- took a massive hit during the last war with Hamas, Operation Protective Edge. Many good boys and men were killed.
Israel sustained near complete shutdown years back when Hezbollah bombarded the entire North with missiles and Ehud Olmert was slow and negligent in responding militarily while services and shelters were inadequate for millions.
But, throughout Israel’s history the IDF has taken risk and taken the fight TO the enemy.
The name IDF is a misnomer.
But as someone who has always been a student of and lover of language we should institute a new offensive national mindset. We need clarity and open discourse--between leaders and the citizens who entrust them for security and safety and well being---on:
What are our priorities and purpose, as a nation?
What are our objectives, challenges, and limits as a fighting force?
What is the national goal as regards: Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, the PLO/PA, Iran and
other entities?
In Bibi’s closing statements in his speech to the Joint Session of Congress on March 3 2015 he said the following:
“But I can guarantee you this, the days when the Jewish people remained passive in the face of genocidal enemies, those days are over.
We are no longer scattered among the nations, powerless to defend ourselves. We restored our sovereignty in our ancient home. And the soldiers who defend our home have boundless courage. For the first time in 100 generations, we, the Jewish people, can defend ourselves.
This is why -- this is why, as a prime minister of Israel, I can promise you one more thing: Even if Israel has to stand alone, Israel will stand.”
I would like to see Bibi stand by these words!
In summary, Israel is offensive--to many such is its existence, synonymous with profane!--but Israel must be more so! With chutzpah, gumption, moxie, and more obvious public tactical and strategic maneuvers we can further stem the tide of Islamic--amongst others--genocidal intentions and bring about a day when such ideology is obliterated from our present and future.
Find that offensive?
Good.