Arabian horses ... and the aftermath
in ancient times, arabs employed specific tactics when choosing horses for war. male horses were preferred during prolonged battles for their endurance and patience, while female horses were avoided due to concerns about them being in heat, which might distract them by responding to male calls.
conversely, during raids, female horses were chosen for their quieter nature, as they do not neigh, providing an element of surprise. additionally, females could urinate while running, whereas males would not, making them more efficient during fast-paced attacks. these strategies formed part of their ‘warcraft’.
to maintain the purity of their horse breeds, some arabs would go to extremes, such as sewing a mare’s vagina to prevent mating with other horses during campaigns.
while this practice seems harsh by modern standards, it underscored the arabs’ pride in their horses, seen as a reflection of their own dignity and honor.
this intense pride extended beyond horses; their jealousy over personal and communal honor was deeply ingrained. enemies often exploited this by spreading rumors before invasions, claiming they intended to dishonor arab women, prompting the saying, “the land, but not the honor.” it emphasized the importance of preserving dignity and self-respect, even at the cost of temporary loss of land.
however, the long-term consequences of losing land often resulted in the erosion of honor itself.
in modern contexts, the dynamics of war have shifted dramatically. israel, in its conflicts with hamas and other groups, historically sought to limit civilian harm during military operations.
however, this approach changed significantly after the october 7 attacks. investigations, such as one by the new york times, revealed that israel relaxed its rules of engagement, allowing for strikes that risked greater civilian casualties.
this included targeting hamas members in residential areas, even when surrounded by their families and neighbors. on rare occasions, strikes were authorized that put over 100 civilians at risk to eliminate high-value targets.
a similar approach was observed during israel’s brief conflict with hezbollah, where entire buildings were destroyed to target individual leaders.
while warnings were sometimes given to evacuate, the intensity of these actions marked a shift in military strategy, reflecting the complexities and moral challenges of modern warfare.
