ash brings hi-tech firepower to the fore

ClIsrael, armed with precise intelligence and newly developed munitions, has carried out hundreds of surgical airstrikes in a campaign meant to hit militants hard while avoiding the civilian casualties that have marred previous offensives.

Hamas, meanwhile, has not been stopped from firing its new longer-range rockets that shocked Israelis by reaching the areas around Tel Aviv and Jerusalem for the first time, and has revealed a variety of new weapons.

This battle zone is the result of meticulous efforts by both sides to beef up their abilities since a three-week Israeli offensive in Gaza that ended in January 2009.

At that time, Israel inflicted heavy damage on Hamas. But the operation caused widespread damage to the civilian infrastructure and killed hundreds of civilians. The heavy toll drew heavy international criticism and war-crimes accusations.

This time, Israel has sought to hit clear militant targets - relying on painstaking intelligence gathered through a network of informers, aerial surveillance and other hi-tech measures.

Israeli military officials say greater co-ordination between military intelligence and the Shin Bet security service has allowed deeper infiltration into Hamas ranks and quick decision-making on airstrikes.

An arsenal of high-flying drones constantly hovering above Gaza provides a live picture of movements on the ground.

Other technological means used to avoid collateral damage include specially designed munitions with smaller blowback, a system of sending text messages and automated phone calls to warn residents to vacate areas ahead of strikes and stun explosives that are deployed to create large explosive sounds - to scare off civilians before the real payload is deployed against militants.

The Israelis have carried out hundreds of surgical airstrikes against weapon depots, launching pads and other targets. On Saturday, a massive airstrike flattened the headquarters of Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh but caused little damage to buildings directly adjacent to it. "Many of the targets . . . were in very densely populated areas, sometimes they were even near UN facilities or schools or recreation centres," said Lieutenant Colonel Avital Leibovich, a military spokeswoman. "This leads us to develop and use very precise ammunitions in order to minimise casualties . . . they know Israel has a soft spot for civilian casualties. We have improved significantly in the area."

Uzi Dayan, a former general and national security adviser, said Israeli intelligence had been tracking Hamas individuals and locations for years, waiting patiently for the opportune moment to attack.

"When you discover a place, you don't strike it immediately. You track it and wait," he said. "Over time, these targets add up."

Israel's inability to halt the rocket attacks, after days of intense aerial bombardments, reflects its limitations. Just as Israel has raced to improve its military tactics, Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza have built up their arsenals with large numbers of powerful weapons.

Once limited to crude projectiles manufactured in Gaza, Hamas has used smuggling tunnels along the border with Egypt to bring in sophisticated, longer-range rockets from Iran and Libya, which has been flush with weapons since Muammar Gaddafi was ousted last year.

“There are so many out there, you can have a thousand in a year,” Hatfield said. “A lot of folks have that many.”

Both veterans said the Marion County GeoTrail was great for beginners. Novices, or “muggles” as they are called in the online community, are expected to take about a day to find every hidden box.

Those that complete the adventure and sign 17 of the 23 logbooks hidden in caches will earn a limited edition coin as a prize. Watson said about 80 of the 300 coins have been awarded in about three weeks. Coins are commonly used as trophies for notching geocaching achievements.

“I think the biggest catalyst is people like to collect coins,” she said. “That’s the goal.”

Geocache players from Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee attended the opening ceremony last month, which Watson deemed a success.

“Our mission is to bring people to the community to have an economic impact,” she said. “The economic impact is what we’re trying to achieve with the trail.”

Shawn Woerlein, steering committee member with North Central Ohio Geocachers, said opening GeoTrails are a great way to draw people in.

“People will come in and drop $200 on a hotel and gas for a $5 coin,” he said. “It brings people, especially coming from neighboring counties, into your community.”

The trail appears to be working as a good money-maker for Marion County. A form given to players on the opening weekend asked how much money they spent on their trip. Creasap said most answers ranged between $50 and $100, providing the economic boost Watson was looking for.