A year on, "Israeli" soldiers still exposed to capturing
Source: Al-Manar TV, 12-07-2007
One year after the "Israeli" defeat in the Second Lebanon War, "Israeli" reservists say nothing has changed along the northern border and that another capture, like the one that took place last summer, is merely a matter of time.
Soldiers from three reserve units that recently completed operational duty in the North said equipment malfunctions and shortages, as well as other signs of neglect, abound. If Hizdbullah wanted to, it would have no trouble capturing another soldier, they said.
"Israeli" occupation soldiers and officers said there are not enough troops to effectively patrol the sector. One sensitive outpost that used to be manned by a platoon, for instance, is now manned by half a platoon.
No systems for defense against antitank missiles, which proved lethal during the war, have been installed. While two such systems, both brand new, have been sitting in the outpost for months, they were never brought online. There are severe shortages of essential equipment.
Intelligence material on the sector is hidden in the outposts somewhere and often does not reach the reservists. It is therefore frequently not used.
The unit received direct access to satellite pictures only at the end of its service; until then, it relied on Google Earth, a commercial Web site that has maps and satellite photos of the entire world.
The "Israeli" officers also criticized one of the regular battalions that served alongside them. The battalion`s outposts were neglected, some of its officers were frequently absent, and the soldiers "were mostly busy watching television and playing with Playstation," charged one.
"If an experienced Hizdbullah force decided to carry out abduction or another attack here, it`s hard to see what would prevent it," he concluded, with his colleagues concurring.
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