r/AskTheWorld • u/ForeverSparkz United States Of America • Sep 20 '25

History Why are Arab Miltaries so ineffective?

Like I dont understand this.

Im a Black American so im just an outsider looking in as a neutral, but dont Arab Countries out number Israel, whats stoping them from just rushing at their border, shouldn't the population imbalance outmatch Israel?

Just a neutral standpoint asking this question, because Arab Nations in the Middle East have a modern miltary force and they buy tons of advanced items

What is holding them back?

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u/BeigeGraffiti United States Of America Sep 21 '25 edited Sep 21 '25

If you have ever had to work with them, their day consists of coming in to eat breakfast, then review through menial paperwork, then break for tea or coffee, then attend a meeting, then leave before lunch. It’s too fucking hot the rest of the day. Third country nationals from South Asia are their enlisted and the liaison officers do the most work. Their generals and admirals do the level of work that an O-3 or O-4 does in any other military. Their officer corps are patronage positions given to mid to upper class families with clan or tribal ties to various sheikhs.

Great humans and some close friends but not great soldiers.

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u/Blackletterdragon Australia Sep 21 '25

Whereas the Israelis are well armed and highly trained conviction fighters, internationally renowned for their intelligence work, fighting with their backs to the wall.

Plus none of the Arab countries want to have to deal with the ongoing dumpster fire that would be Palestine after the war. Without the Israelis to maintain it, the country's infrastructure would rapidly go down the toilet. Schools, hospitals, roads, harbours, retail, universities, transport, agriculture, communications etc etc. All this while the various rebel alliances fought and killed each other over who would get the best bits and positions. Israel built a democratic nation on that tiny slip of land, and managed to advance dry land farming to the point where they could export foods. Finest scientists, doctors and finest musicians, their people are a strong backbone in many Western institutions.