Benefit of Being Perfectly Clear

While surprise or sneak attacks serve a purpose as Pearl Harbor demonstrated, strategies, tactics and responses that are forthright, blunt and clear also help in attaining a goal.

In some instances, truthfulness may even subdue, pacify or deter the enemy to such a degree that he will sheath his sword and retreat to his sanctuary. Thus you achieve a victory over your enemy without firing a shot.

Sun Tzu taught that a smart commander should anticipate an enemy’s decisions before launching or directing a war and he should never act rashly. The Chinese military leader and theoretician also expressed the belief that “to subdue the enemy without fighting is the supreme excellence of a war. This is to say, we should use comprehensive means – including political, diplomatic, economic, and technical resources instead of purely military means—to subdue the enemy.”

Occasionally, if the commander is clever, upfront and credible enough he should or could scare the wits out of the enemy by mere words alone.

In Ukrainian history, it has been recorded that the Grand Prince Sviatoslav Khorobryi (Sviatoslav the Brave 942-972) of Kyiv-Rus, Ukraine’s ancient precursor, would warn his enemies with the simple phrase “I am advancing toward you” (Іду на Ви) before vanquishing them. He chose not to hide behind complicated strategies or tactics but rather engage his enemies forthrightly.

Replies to verbal threats should also be straightforward and unambiguous since they could convince your adversary of the commitment and strength behind your words and the determination to fulfill them.

Earlier this week I read on the website of the Israeli i24 news network how plainly, graphically yet firmly Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Iranian leaders of the fate that would await them if they threaten Israel with destruction.

The war of words between Israel and Iran intensified by several degrees this week as Israel responded to Iran’s latest threats of annihilation with its own expected and noble message of destruction.

Netanyahu warned Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that it was not wise to threaten the Jewish state in such a manner. In his response, the premier highlighted that threatening Israel with a “Final Solution, brought to mind the Nazi Final Solution plan to annihilate the Jewish people.”

Netanyahu’s reply was in response to a bombardment of tweets from Khamenei’s English-language Twitter page, in which he railed against Israel, including showing a poster that read, “Palestine will be free. The final solution. Resistance is referendum.[sic]” The poster depicted Palestinian, Hezbollah and Hamas flags flying above or around Al-Aqsa mosque and Dome of the Rock shrine, as well as a large portrait of slain Islamic Republican Guards Corps General Qassem Soleimani.

Middle East insiders observed that the Iranian leader was characteristically blunt in other parts of his Twitter attack. Calling the “Zionist regime the most evident example of state terrorism,” he added that “they have been acting like a cancerous tumor, furthering their goals by massacring children, women and men.”

Israel has historically never backed away from defending politically and militarily its nation and sovereign land. As a matter of fact, Israel claims as its moral and inherent right to defend its citizens from attacks and threats to their existence. Furthermore, no one should expect Israel (the country) or the Israeli people to negotiate with or capitulate to terrorist organizations whose cause is its destruction.

Israel has laid out its righteous policy of responding to real or veiled threats while Netanyahu tersely declared what will happen to the misguided country that seeks to fulfill its threat.

In his Twitter retort, Netanyahu declared: “Khamenei’s threats to carry out ‘The Final Solution’ against Israel bring to mind the Nazi ‘Final Solution’ plan to annihilate the Jewish people. He should know that any regime that threatens the destruction of the State of Israel faces a similar danger.”

Consequently, there’s no chance of a misunderstanding. No one is left wondering what will happen. Similarity will occur.

This policy sends a clear message to your nation and citizens. It sends a clear message to your allies who will know how far you are willing to tolerate threats. And it sends a clear message to the adversary or enemy about what will happen to them if they persist with their threats or, God forbid, carry them out.

No misunderstandings. No ambiguities. No apologies. The line in the sand is visible. Fulfill your threat and you will also face the same consequences.

Ukraine has faced the same amount of intense threats from its age-old arch-enemy Russia as Israel has faced from its Islamic neighbors. Ukraine and Israel have had to contend with invasions and killings, and have had to defend their nations and sovereign countries form attacks.

While in Ukraine, the Armed Forces, National Guard, volunteer units, and Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs understand their mission when faced with verbal or real attacks from Russia, President Zelenskyy does not seem to share their national courage and spirit enough to tell Russia and Putin how long will Ukraine endure Russian threats, assaults and killings, and what Russia will face if it doesn’t immediately cease and desist.

He should read Winston Churchill’s eloquent and powerful speech in the British House of Commons on June 4, 1940: “We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.”

Zelenskyy adaptation of these would be the line in the sand and a public warning to Moscow and the global community.