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Source: http://www.israeldefense.com/?CategoryID=483&ArticleID=3132
Achieving Deterrence Is Not the Most Important Objective
(Israel Defense) David Ivry - Limited-scale, asymmetrical conflicts have become the norm. After the Second Lebanon War in 2006, the deterrence of the last eight years was not achieved because of the accomplishments of the Israeli military. It was the result of other interests that had evolved and over which we had no control or influence. Achieving deterrence is not the most important objective. The national defense interest transcends deterrence. For example, during the First Gulf War, the State of Israel, under the leadership of Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, avoided responding to the missiles launched into Israel from Iraq, thereby leading many people to claim that we lost our deterrence. However, the other national strategic interests we upheld were more important, which means that deterrence is not the dominant strategic goal. Additionally, it is important to understand that deterrence is not always achieved through a decisive military blow, but rather by creating interests that both parties would like to maintain or would be afraid of losing. Maj.-Gen. (ret.) David Ivry was Commander of the Israel Air Force, Chairman of the National Security Council, and Israel's Ambassador to the U.S.