Mediterranean War Debate

(A-I) vs (Walle) OPENING ROUNDThanks Walle for allowing me to engage in this debate/war with you as I am sure it will be quite fun. I am to be Israel on the defensive for this war. As I have never taken part in an AoW debate, I anticipate my performance being poor, however I'll try nonetheless! The following data all comes directly from the Global Firepower Website [1]. MANPOWERGoing beyond military equipment totals and perceived fighting strength is the actual manpower that drives a given military. Wars of attrition favor those with more. Total Population: 7,821,850 Available Manpower: 3,511,190 Fit for Service: 2,963,642 Reaching Military Age Annually: 121,722] Active Frontline Personnel: 160,000 Active Reserve Personnel: 630,000 LAND SYSTEMSTank value includes Main Battle Tanks, light tanks and tank destroyers, either wheeled or tracked. AFV value includes Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) and Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs). Tanks: 4,170 Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs): 10,185 Self-Propelled Guns (SPGs): 650 Towed-Artillery: 300 Multiple-Launch Rocket Systems (MLRSs): 48 AIR POWERIncludes both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft from all branches of service. Total Aircraft: 684 Fighters/Interceptors: 242 Fixed-Wing Attack Aircraft: 242 Transport Aircraft: 101 Trainer Aircraft: 247 Helicopters: 143 Attack Helicopters: 48 NAVAL POWERAircraft Carrier value includes dedicated "helicopter carrier" vessels. Total naval strength includes all known auxiliaries as well. Total Naval Strength: 66 Aircraft Carriers: 0 Frigates: 0 Destroyers: 0 Corvettes: 3 Submarines: 5 Coastal Defense Craft: 56 Mine Warfare: 0 RESOURCES (PETROLEUM)Despite the advances made in battlefield technology, oil remains the lifeblood of any fighting force as well as local economy. Oil Production: 3,800 bbl/day Oil Consumption: 240,000 bbl/day] Proven Oil Reserves: 11,500,000 bbl/day LOGISTICALWar is as much a battle of logistics - moving man and machine from points all over - as it is direct combat. Labor Force reflects possible wartime industry strength. Labor Force: 3,493,000 Merchant Marine Strength: 8] Major Ports and Terminals: 4 Roadway Coverage: 18,290 Railway Coverage: 975 Serviceable Airports: 47 FINANCIAL (in USD)Regardless of military strength in numbers, war is still driven by financing as much as any one leader or weapon. Defense Budget: $17,000,000,000 External Debt: $96,300,000,000 Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold: $80,740,000,000 Purchasing Power Parity: $273,200,000,000 GEOGRAPHY (in km)Geographical values primarily figure into a defensive-minded war (i.e. invasion). Square Land Area: 20,770 km Coastline: 273 km Shared Border: 1,068 km Waterways: 0 kmThe IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) has been deemed the strongest in the Middle East (including Turkey) [1]. Israel has been heavily supplied with American weaponry in the past and has engaged in four full out wars and several other encounters in less than a century. The IDF has the strongest Air Force in the Middle East with 680 modern aircraft. Chris Harmer, a senior naval analyst at the Institute for the Study of War, stated that ""Pilot to pilot, airframe to airframe, the Israeli air force is the best in the world," [2].As the defender, I am obliged to make the first move in the war, which I shall do now. Background: Israeli Turkish relations have been in steady decline since the Gaza Flotilla Raid in 2010 when a Turkish ship carrying humanitarian aid and construction materials was sunk by the Israeli Navy. In 2013 Turkey revealed Israeli special agents based in Iran, harming relations even further. By 2015, the tension had risen to a boiling point...AUGUST, 201516 August - Turkey protests Israel's new arms agreement with Cyprus, allowing for the future transport of 30 Merkava IV tanks and 2 Boeing F-15 Fighters to the Cypriot Army. Israel refuses to break off the trade agreement. 18 August - A Turkish Submarine sinks a Israeli convoy, suspected to be heading to Cyprus. Israel demands that Turkey makes an official apology. Turkey refuses. 22 August - Israel issues an embargo on Turkey. 23 August - Israeli fighters are caught flying far in to Turkish airspace near Ankara. 27 August - Turkey declares war on Israel. Israel mobilizes reserve units. 28 August - Israel deploys Northern Command to the two major naval bases in the north. Israel deploys Southern Command to the Naval base in Ashod, while the 80th "Edom" Division is deployed to the naval base in Eilat. The five divisions of Central Command are divided. 162nd Armored Division and 98th Paratrooper Division are deployed to Tell Aviv. West Bank Division and the Two Reserve Armored Divisions remain in reserve around Jerusalem. Israel begins production of 25 bombers and 100 Merkava Tanks. 29 August - Prime Minister A-I gives a televised speech regarding the "Unprovoked Turkish Invasion of Israel" and calls for absolute mobilization of the Israeli industry and spirit. Israel institutes a 2-year rotation military draft. 30 August - Israeli Air force sends out 60 bombers with 20 interceptor escorts to bomb Lefkosia and 30 bombers with 5 interceptor escorts to bomb Kyrenia. 31 August - UK demands that Israel ends all bombings in Cyprus. The request is ignored. SEPTEMBER, 20151 September - Israeli submarines begin convoy raiding in the Gulf of Alexandretta.3 September - 80 Israeli bombers and 20 interceptor escorts bomb the port of Adana, sinking one naval vessel and crippling several others. Your move, Turkey. Sources[1] http://www.globalfirepower.com...[2] http://www.i24news.tv...