How to win a war

When the war with Midian did not originally go as planned, the Torah told us (31:14) that Moshe — normally a humble person with a checked demeanor — was powerful, resolute and strong, declaring that is war there no place for softness and for giving in and forgiving.

War is meant to destroy enemy infrastructure (31:10), so they give up any desire to fight and kill and focus only on rebuilding and bettering their lives.

As General Patton said in his famous speech to the Third Army during World War II, prior to the Normandy invasion, “I don’t want [to hear] any messages saying ‘I’m holding my position.’ … We’re advancing constantly and we’re not interested in holding anything. … Our plan of operation is to advance and keep on advancing. We’re going to go through the enemy … to absolute victory.”

The beginning of Masei reminds us of another epic battle against an Israelite enemy when the Torah says, “And Egypt was burying those who had died when G-d struck the firstborns and destroyed their gods” (33:4). The only “proportional response” to Egyptian treachery was to hit them where they’d lose the will to keep their slaves any longer.

When Egypt chased the Children of Israel, her aim was to attack civilians whose backs were to the sea? Thank G-d, He carried the day and wiped out the Egyptian army so they would have no desire to fight the Israelites anymore — we don’t hear from them for over 500 years! There is even an alliance between Egypt and Israel during the time of King Solomon.

In an article in March 2012, during a different Gaza operation, Rabbi Philip Lefkowitz (Agudas Achim in Chicago) quoted a WWII veteran who explained how wars are won. Using Dresden, Hiroshima and Nagasaki as examples, the veteran said wars are won when the leadership no longer has the support of its devastated population.

Or, as we saw in ancient Egypt, when the enemy army is annihilated.

One wonders how things would go were there to be another election in Gaza. Silly me, thinking Hamas would ever allow an election.

There was an article in the Blaze about how among Hamas leaders there are over 1,000 millionaires. You know, the same leaders who send others out as suicide bombers but personally and cowardly hide in bunkers.