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IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi speaking at a citation-granting ceremony for IDF troops in Tel Aviv on Sunday. (Channel 10)
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Defense Min.: If there is another war the IDF will deliver victory
By Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent

In a ceremony awarding medals to Second Lebanon War heroes, Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Sunday lauded the war honor recipients for their valor in combat, saying they were Israel's answer to any possible conflicts in the future.

"If they [Israel's enemies] make a mistake and start a war against us, as they have done in the past, the group sitting here tonight is the answer and it will bring the victory," Barak said.

At the Tel Aviv ceremony that was broadcast live on national television, 38 IDF regulars and reserve troops were awarded with citations, including six for valor and 12 for exemplary conduct.

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Israel's highest honor, however, the citation for bravery, was not given to any soldier who participated in last summer's 34-day conflict with Hezbollah.

Two Israel Air Force squadrons, the "Desert Birds" and the "Rolling Sword," received the chief of staff's citation, as did the Central Command's mobility unit for its evacuation of wounded troops.

Barak said: "No war in Israel's history was run according to the textbook, there also were failures in the more successful wars - but the waves of victory muted them."

"There were more than a few failures in this war, and you overcame them," the defense minister told the decorated soldiers. "There aren't and there never will be any easy wars. Every conflict hurts in the end, also those that endowed us with victory."

IDF Chief Of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi spoke shortly before Barak.

"I salute you and we all salute you [serving] from the Kasbah of Nablus to the rocky ground of the Golan; from the narrow alleys of Gaza to the height of 40,000 feet in the air," he said.

Ashkenazi also referred to the phenomenon of draft-dodging, which has recently been at the center of public discourse.

"For everyone who thinks the current generation diminishing in stature, please turn your eyes tonight to this hall. You [soldiers] and your heroism tells the draft-dodgers: "look down in shame," the chief of staff said.

All serving IDF generals came to the ceremony, as did former chief of staff Dan Halutz - who headed the army during the war, and resigned in January following harsh criticism of his handing of it.

Former GOC Northern Command, Major General Udi Adam (res.) attended the event, as did as his deputy, Major General Eyal Ben Reuven (res.) and Brigadier General Gal Hirsch (res.) the former commander of Division 91 all came to the ceremony. These high ranking officers all held key roles in the war and resigned amid criticism in the months following its end.

In the near future a further 104 citations will be granted to soldiers by the various heads of IDF corps and commands, divisions and brigades.
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  1.   why waiting the others to say the same 21:36  |  observer 02/09/07
  2.   "Fatso" Barak on steroids. 21:48  |  Andreas 02/09/07
  3.   NOBODY WINS IN MODERN WARS 21:49  |  Neutered Observer 02/09/07
  4.   TO win a war, Israel must overcome its love for "soft" targets 21:51  |  Natallie Durson 02/09/07
  5.   Adonay oz le amo yiten , yevarekh et amo beshalom , 21:58  |  Joseph E . 02/09/07
  6.   Yeah; right. 21:59  |  Hannah 02/09/07
  7.   What a delusional clown Ashkenazi is 22:50  |  spyguy 02/09/07
  8.   #4 M ORE MILITARY EXPERTISE FROM NATALLIE 22:56  |  PAUL HARRIS 02/09/07
  9.   Defense Min.: If there is another war the IDF will deliver victor 23:03  |  simon rabinovoch 02/09/07
  10.   does that means that? 23:07  |  observer 02/09/07
  11.   BE FEARFUL OF A WAR WHEN AMERICA AND EUROPE ARE NOT BACKING YOU 23:08  |  JACKAL 02/09/07
  12.   bad news for Hannah and other haters ... Israel is here to stay 23:11  |  Theodor 02/09/07
  13.   Tzeva 23:18  |  alex 02/09/07
  14.   #11 Jackal 23:22  |  Lynn 02/09/07
  15.   # 7 spyguy 23:26  |  Lynn 02/09/07
  16.   #6..Hannah 23:27  |  Nemesis 02/09/07
  17.   ONE MORE TIME 23:39  |  Roman K 02/09/07
  18.   Jackal 23:41  |  ChanahS 02/09/07
  19.   Pride goes before a fall 23:42  |  Kris 02/09/07
  20.   Hannah 23:43  |  ChanahS 02/09/07
  21.   spyguy # 7 23:47  |  ChanahS 02/09/07
  22.   British soldiers 00:01  |  les 03/09/07
  23.   Kris in Austria #19 00:05  |  wolfgang 03/09/07
  24.   Greetings Hannah,and Spyguy you have said it! 00:53  |  lakshmi 03/09/07
  25.   # 4 to win a war 00:55  |  Twogunz 03/09/07
  26.   HAnnah # 6 01:00  |  Twogunz 03/09/07
  27.   #2 Andreas - Switzerland 01:05  |  * BEN JABO 03/09/07
  28.   #4 NUTallie Durson 01:08  |  * BEN JABO 03/09/07
  29.   #11 Jackass 01:13  |  * BEN JABO 03/09/07
  30.   Love of destruction-to Hanna,spyguy,jackal 01:18  |  Dan Chazan 03/09/07
  31.   Who got the citation for leveling the UN building? 01:24  |  Tupac 03/09/07
  32.   ChanashS: Israel has always fought its own wars...with American $ 01:28  |  Tupac 03/09/07
  33.   ANDREAS IN BASEL: Food for thought 01:31  |  Brant 03/09/07
  34.   What he was really thinking... 02:17  |  Dov 03/09/07
  35.   to those wishing for the next holocaust 03:01  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 03/09/07
  36.   Let Barak Ride Merkava 4 and Cross 03:07  |  Samir Salameh 03/09/07
  37.   To Lynn If you Love so much 03:18  |  Samir Salameh 03/09/07
  38.   "We will keep starting wars until we win!!!" 03:18  |  Johnboy 03/09/07
  39.   There is NO shame in being a `draft dodger!` 03:20  |  Maureen Ann 03/09/07
  40.   Winning a war 03:25  |  TonyL 03/09/07
  41.   TO : All who wish to harm Israel 03:43  |  John Klekota 03/09/07
  42.   #39 Maureen Ann 04:00  |  * BEN JABO 03/09/07
  43.   #36 Samir Salami 04:02  |  * BEN JABO 03/09/07
  44.   #37 Samir Salami 04:04  |  * BEN JABO 03/09/07
  45.   But Wars Run By Politicians Deliver Defeat? 04:35  |  Yoram 03/09/07
  46.   PRETTY BRAVE from 40000 feet 04:35  |  Wally 03/09/07
  47.   #39 04:36  |  Moshe 03/09/07
  48.   Jewish Heros 05:24  |  Brandeis 03/09/07
  49.   To Cipora Julianna Kohn # 35 05:37  |  Mireya Siquieros 03/09/07
  50.   #39, Maureen Ann 06:00  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 03/09/07
  51.   #45, Yoram 06:05  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 03/09/07
  52.   #46, Wally 06:08  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 03/09/07
  53.   #39 - Think Again 06:24  |  Frank 03/09/07
  54.   #38 videogameboy and arab logic 06:25  |  peter 03/09/07
  55.   #46 poor Wally doesn`t get it 06:34  |  peter 03/09/07
  56.   Israel has a large army and air force, but 06:49  |  Omran 03/09/07
  57.   Maureen Ann is right no shame in being a Shirker 06:54  |  James McNamara 03/09/07
  58.   Those who ran out fastest got the medals 07:07  |  True Israeli 03/09/07
  59.   #46 Wally - Haven`t you heard 07:24  |  * BEN JABO 03/09/07
  60.   To Mr. Barak 07:25  |  Noam Prieto 03/09/07
  61.   #50 Omran - Very interesting 07:28  |  * BEN JABO 03/09/07
  62.   #42*Ben Jabo. Soften your heart and listen... 07:31  |  Maureen Ann 03/09/07
  63.   #57James McNamara. Being an ignoramus... 07:46  |  Maureen Ann 03/09/07
  64.   Oh Ben # 59 Ya still talking rubbish... 07:52  |  Wally 03/09/07
  65.   to win a war 08:25  |  kugelmazal 03/09/07
  66.   #12, Theodore 08:32  |  Hannah 03/09/07
  67.   America and Europe will help Israel if it is in their national... 08:34  |  Carlos Murphy 03/09/07
  68.   #49, Mireya Siquieros 08:43  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 03/09/07
  69.   #65, how right you are!!! 08:56  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 03/09/07
  70.   The most noble attribute of man is to serve and defend his countr 08:58  |  James McNamara 03/09/07
  71.   #8, Paul Harris, Natalie has a point... 09:18  |  Silvienne 03/09/07
  72.   #27, Ben Jabo... 09:20  |  Silvienne 03/09/07
  73.   This is ce