以色列的钢铁马奇诺防线系统

ISRAELS IRON MAGINOT LINESYSTEMMARK STOUTAUGUST 4,2014COMMENTARYIs Israels Iron Dome a success or a failure?That depends on who you ask and on what level of war you look at.Its tacticalsuccess is unclear at this point,but the scale of Israels Operation Protective Edge suggests that it is a strategic failure.A more nuanced answer may also include the fact that it represents a squandered opportunity for political progress.To many people,the Iron Dome system appears to be a modern miracle.Israeli officials tout the system as having“very,very high”success rate in intercepting the numerous rockets launched from Gaza,allegedly something in the range of90%.TheWashington Postreports that“it has allowed residents across the south of Israel to carry on with a measureof normality,”and quotes an Israeli as saying,“I cant even explain with words how great it isNow I can go out.I stillget scared,but not like before.”There is even worry that Israeli citizens are too complacent now for their own physicalgood.Clearly,Iron Dome has had a major calming effect on the Israeli population.On the other hand,there have been claims that it does not actually perform as advertised.John Mecklin recently wrotei