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MK Amir Peretz (Daniel Bar-On) Last update - 15:35 31/01/2008 Peretz: Lebanon War was missed opportunity, but was necessary By Haaretz Service Tags: Winograd report, IDF  The Second Lebanon War was a missed opportunity, but the decision to go into it was correct, former defense minister Amir Peretz said on Thursday, following publication of the Winograd Committee's final report. "I agree with Winograd that the war was a grave and large missed opportunity, but for a missed opportunity to be created, there needs to be a reality that is being missed," he told reporters. "There is no doubt that the decision to go to war was correct," he said. Advertisement "It is clear that the decision to open the war is the central issue," he added. "Politicians and military men praised the brave decision to go to war and now suddenly from every direction are voices saying the decision to go to war was hasty, undirected." Peretz, who served as defense minister during the war, was replaced by Ehud Barak in mid-2007 when the latter won the Labor Party leadership. The former defense minister on Thursday called on those criticising his role in the war to continue investigating. He said that during his tenure in the position, he had paid the price for years of failed policies. "A defense minister who is not a military man pays a price for policies and failures well in place for years. Despite all this, I felt whole with myself I was given the opportunity to expose the source of the strength and human quality of Israel," he said, adding: "The committee acquiteed me." Peretz also called on the Labor Party to remain in the coalition despite pledges by Barak to quit if Prime Minister Ehud Olmert refused to resign following publication of the report. Peretz said that Labor must remain in government "because there are important issues in Israel that need to be dealt with... [Barak] will certainly find the flik-flak needed to stay in government," he said. Regarding Hezbollah's claims that that it has increased its capabilities since the war, Peretz said this demonstrated the need to protect all of Israel from possible external attacks. "There is no doubt that Israel's war outlook must bring into the equation maximum preparation of the homefront. There is not one point in Israel that is not in an area of potential threat," he said. "I am sorry that I did not manage to beef up the military establishment during the months I served as defense minister," he added. "Maybe we did not really know how to conduct the wars, but we had to experience the pain and the grief in order to know how to manage an operation." "I am telling the people of Israel, we have someone to trust," he said. "Even if we are hit with an unexpected war." Related articles: PM: Winograd report 'lifts moral stigma' off of me IDF says was 'well aware' of flaws before Winograd Report ANALYSIS: Was Lebanon War necessary? Report doesn't say ANALYSIS: Mixed verdict in war report leaves protesters in a quandary Bookmark to del.icio.us   Painful lessons The IDF has already learnt lessons of the Second Lebanon War. Brothers in guilt 'We are all guilty; is an effective summary of the final Winograd report.   1.   FAILURE?...FOLLOW THE MONEY 12:02  |  WINO SAD 31/01/08   2.   "PAID THE PRICE FOR YEARS OF FAILED 12:30  |  Robert 31/01/08   3.   Peretz said! He said smth again! 13:26  |  Yon 31/01/08   4.   robert 13:58  |  leoncio 31/01/08   5.   "missed opportunites have to be done" - OK 14:24  |  redmike 31/01/08   6.   #4 - and don`t forget Barak who caused the problem with Hezbullah 14:26  |  redmike 31/01/08   7.   It`s impossible to beat people seeking freedom 15:20  |  Aounist 31/01/08   8.   Zionist leaders running out of steam! 15:35  |  Eric 31/01/08   9.   What else can you do but fight. 16:03  |  ottomatik 31/01/08   10.   Is he still here? Boy seeing him again spoiled my day... 16:27  |  bat yam 31/01/08   11.   Peretz (MORON) led Israel to unnecessary defeat...hollow hero. 16:51  |  dav zee 31/01/08   12.   Peretz, 3rd rate political career, taking Israel down 17:00  |  jewish doctor 31/01/08   13.   arabs love this guy-bad for Israel 17:04  |  superjew 31/01/08   14.   Peretz 17:49  |  Paul 31/01/08   15.   For # 7 Aounist 17:59  |  Paul 31/01/08   16.   Peretz was the victim, Olmert used him as a scapegoat 18:27  |  Ferragamo 31/01/08   17.   I think you should thank you him for showing you you real weaknes 18:56  |  Simon Mohammed 31/01/08   18.   Olmert was the problem from the start he unfit to lead 19:06  |  Shepherd 31/01/08   19.   Unexpected war? 20:04  |  Baz Mann 31/01/08   20.   the war 20:34  |  Joseph (Lebanese) 31/01/08   21.   Nassrallah WILL NEVER FORGET YOU!!! 21:14  |  Ali Zulfikar 31/01/08   22.   to 19 (Lebanese traitor) 21:22  |  Ali ( real Lebanese) 31/01/08   23.   The Man who led Israelis to GO ON STRIKE for years! 10:34  |  Dolly 01/02/08   24.   AQ Letter to Amir Peretz...... 10:49  |  Dagma 01/02/08   25.   To Shepherd # 18 - `Missed Opportinities` if they were..... 14:15  |  Dagma 01/02/08   26.   ali (22) 15:23  |  Joseph (Lebanese) 01/02/08   27.   folks! h. u noticed that sparta, rome, assyria, 18:24  |  bozhidar balkas 01/02/08

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