Lecture Notes and Case Study for Confronting The Costs Of War

Question: Discuss about the Confronting The Costs Of War: Military Power, State, And Society In Egypt And Israel? Answer: Introduction This particular assignment is based on the backdrop of The Suez Crisis that created waves of imbalances among some of the major military power holders of the world, France, United Kingdom and Israel for capturing Egypt, specifically the Suez Canal (Smith, 2014). A brief summary of Risk Assessment will be provided along with highlighting the Ends- Ways-Means Matrices from National and Militarys point of view will be highlighted. Risk assessment of the Egyptian Strategy to eliminate the Suez Crisis will be reviewed by highlighting the Feasibility, Acceptability, Suitability and Imbalances of the consequences of the crisis. Summary of Risk Assessment After gathering detailed ideas about the Risk Assessment about Egyptian efforts (Defense) during the Suez Crisis, it can be stated that the risk assessment plan was suitable to provide an independent status of the canal and strengthening the economy through cultivation and gradual strengthening of the military forces. National E-W-M Matrix NATIONAL ENDS WAYS MEANS 1. Avoiding war or war like situations with the close alliances of Egypt 1. Egypt signed war agreements and treaties with alliance countries like Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia in order to neutralize the chances of Israeli attack on Egypt 1. With no further scope of investment in defense, Egypt strategically gained support of the neighbor states to put up a strong protest against Suez Threats 2. Creating effective combined military forces in order to create a strong strategic alliance to counter threats from Israel and countries like Britain and France 2. Providing a clear message to Israel to think seriously about Nassers Arab Alliance during the violence in case of border related raids and attacks between Jordan and Israel 2. Regulating the river Nile for transportation as well as creating revolutionary agricultural movements throughout Egypt 1. Construction of the Aswan High Dam along the coast of the river Nile and at the same time President Nasser took the leap forward to create a diplomatic Egyptian nation 1. Positioning Egypt as an independent nation and creating opportunities for Egyptians to possess better ways of earning through cultivation 2. Upholding Soviets Lucrative assistance regarding construction of the Dam, narrowing the scope of British assistance as well as strongly highlighting the strategic alliance of USSR to fight against any further British invasion 2. Forcing British prime Minister Anthony Eden to pay 100 % canal usage money to Egypt government after Americas diplomatic action forced Britain to nationalize the Suez Canal Table 1: National E-W-M Matrices (Source: Crosbie, 2015) Military E-W-M Matrix MILITARY ENDS WAYS MEANS 1. Egypt strengthened the Sinai Peninsula by taking military help from USSR and Poland to neutralize the Israeli, French and British conflict along the Sinai peninsula, over the claim of the Suez Canal. Formation of the Czech Arms Deal 1.Entering into an agreement with the Soviet Union and Poland to exchange weapons in return of basic commodities 1.Egypts low financial resources debarred any further investment in warfare, hence exchanged Rice and cotton to receive Armored personnel carriers, Fighter aircrafts, Assault guns, bombers, boats, submarines and destroyers 2. Modernization of the Egyptian army by providing training 2. The Egyptian soldiers were not properly educated regarding the usage of the exchanged weapons. Hence, the trainers and advisors from Britain and Germany appointed by the Soviet military forces provided long- term training to the Egyptian forces to make them capable to handle the new weapons 2. Immediate Defense planning to neutralize the chances of future Israeli attacks along the Egyptian Israeli Frontier 1. Strengthening the defense in the North- East portion of the Sinai Peninsula 1. Positioning the Egyptian battalions, with newly equipped weapons in the North East frontier to prevent further Israeli attacks along the Peninsula 2. Defending the Canal from extensive Israeli invasion in future 2. Though Egypt had no plans to attack Israel, but Egypt was well prepared to face any sort of Israeli strategic attacks by undertaking offensive planning strategy that clearly hinted about counter attacking the Israeli forces Table 2: Military E-W-M Matrices (Source: Stocker, 2014) Risk Assessment Feasibility The risk involved in the process was not convenient at all, and at the same time, Egypt had to sacrifice a subsequent portion of their Military forces in from of the combined attacks of Israel, France and Britain. Nasser, the Egyptian president created strategic alliances with Arabian countries and exchanged weapons to keep away the invasion along the Sinai Peninsula (Rubinstein, 2015). Acceptability The risk taken by Egyptian president Nasser was quite acceptable because the strategic decisions taken from the context of the Nation and the Military forces blocked the possibilities of further Israeli and British invasions. At the same time, Nassers strategy to gain nationalization of the Suez Canal by rejecting British and American sponsorship and accepting Soviets financial assistance paved way of a strong Egyptian economy (Smith, 2013). Suitability Nassers strategic decisions suited the Nations economic development plans effectively, but the decision to exchange Soviet war weapons without proper training and education opportunities for the soldiers proved costly. The Israeli airstrikes destroyed Egyptian war vehicles and most importantly with 30 qualified pilots, Egypt remained a failure in warfare until Arab Alliance was constructed (Crosbie, 2015). Imbalances The only imbalance in the risk assessment was the exchange of Soviet warfare weapons, without having prior knowledge to use them. Long-term training program was undertaken to make the Egyptian soldiers capable to operate the aircrafts and bombers. During this period, 150 Egyptian aircrafts were destroyed during the Musketeer attack (Barnett, 2012). References Barnett, M. N. (2012).Confronting The Costs Of War: Military Power, State, And Society In Egypt And Israel. Princeton University Press. Crosbie, S. K. (2015).A tacit alliance: France and Israel from Suez to the Six Day War(Vol. 7). Princeton University Press. Rubinstein, A. Z. (2015).Red Star on the Nile: The Soviet-Egyptian Influence Relationship since the June War. Princeton University Press. Smith, A. (2013). Resignation of a First Sea Lord: Mountbatten and the 1956 Suez Crisis.History,98(329), 105-134. Smith, S. C. (2014). Guy Laron. Origins of the Suez Crisis: Postwar Development Diplomacy and the Struggle over Third World Industrialization, 19451956.The American Historical Review,119(4), 1398-1399. Stocker, J. (2014). Origins of the Suez Crisis: Postwar Development Diplomacy and the Struggle over Third World Industrialization (19451956).Cold War History,14(2), 281-282.