Web Letters: Vertical Disintegration

An excellent article and book review, but the rules of the game are always changing.

From a military viewpoint, using troops, Sharon's tactics were excellent. In a combat situation, against a ground assault, it is a good defense. Hizbullah probably used similar tactics.

However, because of the walls, the Palestinians have switched from ground to air attacks using rockets manufactured from household and agricultural products. Boeing needs to hire these guys, because, with improvements, the effective range of these rockets is moving North. As with Hizbullah, in the North, it is harassing fire that doesn't produce many casualties, but disrupts social and economic life. It has reduced the population of Sderot from 25,000 to 10,000 people.

The days of tank battles in the desert are over. What Israel is looking at is rockets from the Palestinians or Hizbollah, and Missiles from Iran or Syria. If Israel invades these countries or territories, they are looking at Sharon's defense in depth turned on them.

Everybody needs a peace treaty.

Pervis J. Casey

Riverside, CA