You can’t make this stuff up, pt. 11,555

Posted By Thomas E. Ricks Wednesday, March 3, 2010 - 3:18 PM Share

The Israeli military had to cancel a planned operation after a soldier posted the details of the upcoming mission on Facebook. "The soldier also disclosed the name of the combat unit, the place of the operation and the time it will take place," Haaretz reports. The soldier actually wrote, "On Wednesday we clean up Qatanah [a village near Ramallah], and on Thursday, god willing, we come home."

Can you imagine being this guy's platoon leader?

MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/Getty Images

EXPLORE:MIDDLE EAST, ISRAEL/PALESTINE

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JPWREL

4:04 PM ET

March 3, 2010

The attached photo shows the

The attached photo shows the Israeli troops doing a standard structure clearance either in a real action or more likely in training exercise. In either case I notice the troops wear neither protective headgear or eyepro. Either Israelis are immune to head wounds or there is nothing between their ears worth protecting. No thanks; I wouldn’t want them in my unit.

TYRTAIOS

4:43 PM ET

March 3, 2010

OpsSec

Ah yes, the platoon leader - one wonders why his lashup wasn't in isolation prior. I guess a lesson has been learned - maybe?

An anecdotal American example was back in 1980, when American units were training independently (gasp) for Operation Eagle Claw. Counter-intelligence found that Marine helo crews had been talking imprudently to the local bar girls around Yuma, AZ. The authorities had a chat with the ladies, who were able to understand about operational security and keeping their mouths shut, unlike those in uniform - and now we have the internet!

Sadly, this pronouncement on Facebook sounds like the over-zealousness and glee of a Zionist rather than a soldier of Israel.

BILL KELLER

5:02 PM ET

March 3, 2010

We have political candidates...

..who would release this to show they are real American...patriotic Americans..conservatives....going rogue, so to speak.

THIRDWATCH

8:39 PM ET

March 3, 2010

meh

1. Can you 'clear out' an objective area in some way by falsely announcing a clearing out?

2. Isn't publicly scrubbing a mission a good enough cover for actually doing what is planned?

3. Does it matter? Doesn't "everyone" in Ramallah live already with the expectation that you never expect the Spanish Inquisition, Facebook declared or no?