In recent days, the terrorist group Hamas invaded Israel, killing and kidnapping hundreds of civilians caught by surprise. Many Israeli citizens were attacked during a show, while others appear to have been assassinated in their own homes.
The aim of this text is not to provide a geopolitical analysis of the age-old conflict but to take advantage of this tragic moment to learn by analyzing the behavior of both sides to enhance your own combat capabilities and situational awareness.
Therefore, I have prepared a list of 7 items that have been observed in recent days. Please review them and comment if you agree with them or if there is anything else you would like to add.
- The state is absolutely incapable of defending you or your family. It is your responsibility to be prepared to face your enemies. Do not outsource this obligation.
2. The same state that cannot protect your family will create bureaucracies that hinder your self-defense. This has never worked for the benefit of the population anywhere in the world, at any time in history. Unarmed people are not citizens; they are merely targets in the eyes of ill-intentioned individuals, including assassins, terrorists, and politicians.
3. Never let your guard down. The conflict-ridden region has historically been violent. Nevertheless, citizens were completely unprepared for an attack that was inevitably going to happen.
4. Courage can surpass ability. The technical standard of Hamas is extremely low. Under a critical analysis by a serious military command, the invaders would not even come close to being technically qualified to operate. However, they still proceeded with the plan and inflicted heavy casualties on their enemies. Train courage to the same extent that you train your skills.
5. There are various ways to end a conflict, but only two are definitive: unconditional surrender or the obliteration of the enemy. Any armistice other than that can reignite the conflict in the future.
6. Propaganda is more important than the bomb. While battles are fought with weapons and explosives, something much more relevant happens at the higher strategic level: propaganda. In war (or armed response), the truth does not matter. What matters is perception.
7. Considering the generally low technical level of the average civilians and military personnel worldwide, with some dedication to focused courses and training, it is possible to gain a significant tactical advantage in an extreme scenario. Always keep learning.
“A stupid never learns, the intelligent one learns from their own experience, and the wise one learns from the experience of others.” – Chinese Proverb
