Thread by @StevenWagner85

Ch12 received leaked emails fom 8200! Even more details on the intelligence failure. Keep in mind this is but one piece of a big, seemingly dysfunctional, machine.

mobile.mako.co.il/news-military/…

A female NCO, who has been behind some other leaks to journalists (with certain other comrades) has sent new details including internal correspondence. She is from the professional corps and specialist in hamas tactics.

Her first report in July was titled "death in the kibbutz at any price". It detailed lengthy Hamas exercises in late May. The drills showed mounted and motor forces simulating the capture of a kibbutz. They practiced attacks on aircraft and a sikorsky ch-53 (one was hit on 7/10).

The practice kibbutz received a notional name. They raised a flag over it's office and synagogue. The drills also targeted an IDF training base. Hamas's instructions: kill the entire staff. She concluded "The woman is always right."

She signed the email citing Rumi (although the article credits an American philosopher): "The art of reason is knowing what to ignore - and what not to."
Hell of an email signoff! It will go down in history and is sure to win over practitioners and scholars alike.

She captured the attention of colleagues: "wow that's wild". "Amazing product". An officer replied: "Golden intel... Finally we're inside Hamas's tactical preparations."

After observing further drills she added a chaser reporting a verbatim hamas conversation:
"How are you and what is your state of readiness, waiting for instructions from you so that we can enter them at the gate. We are fully prepared, waiting for instructions from you.''

12 July a senior officer shows up. Praised her work but argued that it's notional. Need to discern the purpose of this "wasah" (military posing): is it for show or realistic? He concluded the latter.

She argued back (this is Israel after all): "I strongly reject that the scenario is notional. It's hard to imagine that this drill is meant to be imaginary scenario and to raise morale. Imo this scenario is very likely - especially because Hamas has the execution capabilities."

A colleague supported the conclusion: "I emphasize that we completely and emphatically disagree with the assumption that this is an imaginary scenario". The nco added this could be, "an op plan without a timetable for implementation... we will not be able to give timely warning."

She even emphasised strategic implications: "This is a plan designed to start a war." She also quoted senior Hamas organisers, and terrorist battle cries such as "Prepare to kill the Jewish pigs" or "Prepare to go in and decapitate."

She emphasised "They are training, with large forces, for a big event. This is not a display of purpose, this is preparation for the real thing."

The AMAN chief Aharon Hilva denies knowledge of these details and his name doesn't appear, remarks the article.

We know this doesn't absolve him of course.
The article concludes that these
emails but part the intel failure picture, and policy failure (naming the PM for not heeding other warnings about readiness).
The idf says it will investigate after the war and publish.

Imo this isn't good enough. They need a thorough external audit for the sake of accountability, which is the crux of the matter.

I'll have other comments soon.