Often, when a reasonable person decides to lie, he blushes, mumbles and sweats. When a professional liar lies, he’s at his best — confident, fluent and successful in creating, to anyone who doesn’t know him, a believable impression. “The IDF spokesman’s deception” Sept. 1 was, no doubt, the first instance. He told a bald lie, then mumbled, then denied, and within a short time had to admit to the failure of a maneuver to outwit Hezbollah. But the episode doesn't start and end with the IDF spokesman’s unit; it has very problematic ramifications for Israel’s conduct when it comes to its integrity. This isn’t someone’s youthful folly but certain damage.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah announced his intention to seek revenge for the IDF’s actions in Lebanon and its killing of his militiamen. Nasrallah, like many mafia dons worldwide, has the reputation of someone who stands by his word. After the recent escalation on the northern border, Nasrallah made clear what the nature of his revenge would be, and the IDF prepared as the IDF knows to prepare. But this time someone in the IDF got the idea to “deceive” the enemy.
