So CarolC, from your post of 25 May 08 - 09:14 AM in reply to points posed to you in my post of 25 May 08 - 06:52 AM we can take it then that you were in error when you stated in response to the question

Do you then dispute ANY of the following facts???" - beardedbruce

"Yes, I dispute all of that, and they are not facts." – CarolC

Now as to your contention that in 1967 - "it's a fact that Egypt's military capabilities did not pose a threat to Israel. It's also a fact that the Israeli government and military knew that fact,"

Yes I'd agree with that, and I am sure that most of the IDF Senior Commanders of that time would agree with you. I am totally convinced that in the event of hostilities breaking out the Israeli military would be confident that they could beat Egypt.

Now here is the fly in the ointment CarolC, because it wasn't just Egypt was it? Egypt's rhetoric was extremely belligerent because Nasser had put together a coalition of Arab Armies and had got them drawn up and fully mobilised on Israel's borders. A combined enemy force of some 465,000 troops, over 2,880 tanks and 810 aircraft, positioned as it was on your borders poses an undeniable threat CarolC, irrespective of how confident you might be in the capability of your own troops.

In June 1967 the Israelis were faced with the same problem Napoleon had in 1815, he was confident that with his Army he could defeat those who opposed him - but only if he could face them one at a time. To orchestrate that you must ensure that you direct events, you must take and hold the initiative, hence Napoleon's surprise advance through Charleroi on June 14th 1815, and the Israeli Air strikes of June 5th 1967.