Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., November 14, 2007 Kislev 4, 5768 | | Israel Time: 00:25 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Print Edition Diplomacy Defense Arts & Leisure Real Estate Jewish World National Advertising Easy Start Magazine Business Opinion Rosner's Domain Anglo File Week's End Books

Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi. (Eli Tesma/BauBau) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 23:02 13/11/2007 IDF Chief: Lebanon war could have made gains with less loss of life By Yuval Azoulay and Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondents tags: Israel, Second Lebanon War  Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi said Tuesday that "looking back, I am convinced that the war in Lebanon achieved a few important accomplishments for the security of Israel and strengthened Israel's deterrence [capability]. At the same time, I am now just as convinced, that these accomplishments, and possibly even greater ones, could have been achieved more quickly and at a lower cost," Ashkenazi, addressing chiefs of staff of NATO states in Brussels, referred to the process of drawing conclusions from the failures identified in the handling of the war, which Israel waged against the militant group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon in the summer of 2006. He described the process as an "extensive and often tormenting" one. "We wanted to know where we went wrong, what needs fixing and what would be the best way to do it," he said. "As a result of this process, in every aspect of military action and thinking, the IDF today is a stronger, smarter and fresher army." Advertisement Ashkenazi also said that "we all agree that we must be ready for the complex threats that face us ? from suicide bombers to rocket strikes and guerilla warfare, from homemade explosives to sophisticated weaponry and even from conventional threats to weapons of mass destruction." According to Ashkenazi, "these threats require complex thinking and an appropriate response. We can't neglect any one of them, and that is why the IDF is always ready and waiting." Ashkenazi spoke two days after Brigadier General Gal Hirsch, who commanded the IDF's Galilee Division during the Second Lebanon War, scathingly criticized the army's top brass, including then chief of staff Dan Halutz, over their conduct during the war. Hirsch maintained that the top echelon of the IDF hid behind the field warriors and later abandoned them, and then took no responsibility for the failures of the war Israel waged with the militant group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon in the summer of 2006. He warned that, because the IDF's failures were not investigated properly, they were likely to reoccur should war break out again. The Brussels conference marked Ashkenazi's first trip abroad since he was appointed chief of staff in February. Following his address before the NATO chiefs of staff, Ashkenazi was expected to meet with the organization's secretary general and his counterparts who lead other armies in the world. He was also to meet with the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff. Related articles: Ex-IDF commander blasts top brass for Lebanon war conduct Olmert, Peretz agree on choice of Ashkenazi as next IDF chief IDF inquiry: Army could have prevented soldiers' capture NATO wants to upgrade ties with Israel, other Mideast nations Bookmark to del.icio.us New Kids in the Strip Hamas' new police band lifts spirits by crooning about Islamic holy war. Less than equal A poll shows 70% of youth don't think Bedouin deserve the same rights as Jews   1.   IDF was not aiming to win a war! 00:27  |  Dutch Dirk 14/11/07   2.   no question about that 01:07  |  Mark Lincoln 14/11/07   3.   idf 04:31  |  sal 14/11/07   4.   Response to SAL 09:42  |  Nadir 14/11/07   5.   #1,2 and 4...funny stuff!!! 23:59  |  DR 14/11/07

Today Online Israel to declare freeze on W. Bank settlement construction Responses: 350 Seth Anziska: Is the two-state solution still a viable option? Responses: 103 Amira Hass: For some Gazans, Hamas is now object of hatred Responses: 61 Editorial: For equality's sake, Arabs should be 'Israelized' Responses: 73 Iran charges five Argentines over 1994 Jewish center attack Responses: 52 Rosner's Domain Rosner's Guest: Vanessa Ochs on keeping Judaism real and relevant GA 2007: Oy vey, no catastrophe to talk about Reasons to like John McCain (WTR) Ahead of summit, N.Y. Congressman fears for Mideast stability More Headlines 23:46 Hamas widens crackdown on journalists in Gaza 00:05 Top U.S. diplomat: PA security forces have improved order in Nablus 20:18 Germany says willing to discuss Holocaust survivor pensions 18:15 Residents of unrecognized Wadi Ara village repave razed road 21:44 Ukrainian president condemns anti-Semitism in Knesset speech 22:50 Poll: 70% of youth don't think Bedouin deserve same rights as Jews 21:07 Prosecution to probe affair implicating prosecutor-designate Lador 17:25 U.S. asks Israel to extradite ultra-Orthodox Jew accused of child abuse 19:16 Solana: Israeli-Palestinian peace deal possible by the end of 2008 15:02 Knesset give preliminary okay to bill requiring 80 MKs to divide J'lem Previous Editions Select Day 14 nov 13 nov 12 nov 11 nov 09 nov 08 nov 07 nov 06 nov 05 nov 04 nov 02 nov 01 nov

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