Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., February 03, 2008 Shvat 27, 5768 | | Israel Time: 12:40 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Ex-IDF General Udi Shani. (Eyal Toueg) Last update - 22:50 02/02/2008 Ex-IDF General Udi Shani: IDF failed in Second Lebanon War By The Associated Press Tags: Israel, Winograd, Udi Shani  The Israel Defense Forces failed in its 2006 war against Lebanon's Hezbollah guerrillas because the top commanders didn't operate and communicate properly, and were late in preparing for a ground offensive, an ex-general said Saturday, after conducting an internal investigation. The reserve general, Udi Shani, also said that the army chief of staff at the time, Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz, wasn't receptive enough to dissenting views among top commanders and should have spent more time near the front lines, rather than at military headquarters. "The military failed," Shani told Israel Radio. "It didn't operate properly." Advertisement "The military failed because it had an erroneus concept," he said, in an apparent reference to the heavy reliance on air strikes against Hezbollah. The unusually frank criticism of the army command came just days after a five-member investigative panel, headed by retired Justice Eliyahu Winograd, issued its final report on the 34-day war, criticizing both the government and the army for serious failings and flaws. Winograd said Israel did not win the war and the army did not provide an effective response to a sustained, deadly barrage of rocket fire from Hezbollah guerrillas. Despite a heavy IDF aerial campaign, the guerrilla group rained nearly 4,000 rockets on northern Israel. IDF reservists returning from the battlefield complained of poor training and a lack of ammunition and key supplies. In parallel, Shani conducted an internal army investigation of the performance of the top command. He said the reliance on air attacks was reasonable in the first few days of the war, but that commanders then should have prepared for a ground offensive. The military only embarked on the ground offensive at the last minute, just as a UN truce was about to take effect. Thirty-three IDF soldiers were killed in the final 60 hours of fighting. Winograd said the 11th-hour offensive failed in its mission, did not improve Israel's position and that the army was not prepared for it. However, he said the operation's goals were legitimate. Most of the army's wartime commanders, including Halutz, have resigned since the war. According to official figures from both sides, between 1,035 and 1,191 Lebanese civilians and combatants died in the conflict, in addition to 119IDF soldiers and 40 civilians. Related articles: Top IDF brass: Winograd report on Lebanon war an 'earthquake' Haaretz-Dialog poll: Third of public calls for Olmert to stay Amnesty Int'l: Winograd report fails to address Israel's war crimes PM: Winograd report 'lifts moral stigma' from me Bookmark to del.icio.us   'British Oskar Schindler' Nicholas Winton, who saved 669 Jewish children during the Holocaust, is up for the Nobel. Pride of Israel Tennis: Shahar Peer beats Russia's Dinara Safina to give Israel 1-0 lead in the Fed Cup.   1.   peretz was the GREAT COMMUNICATOR TO THE MILITARY-total flop 18:20  |  dav zee 02/02/08   2.   Because IDF focus on killing civilian... 18:33  |  rasta 02/02/08   3.   where the problem started 18:33  |  amihai 02/02/08   4.   Meaning of "Did not operate properly" 18:43  |  Igor 02/02/08   5.   Doesn`t matter it still starts at the top with Olmert 18:54  |  KIpperraes 02/02/08   6.   There is nothing new in this report 19:00  |  Kris 02/02/08   7.   Amihai,problem started with oaf Sharo`s dispositions 19:13  |  Absolute Sweden 02/02/08   8.   we won the war/battle but failed in our goal of destroying hazbol 19:15  |  ralph 02/02/08   9.   All Chiefs and no one paying attention 19:24  |  Mark Lincoln 02/02/08   10.   Lebanon War--an Israeli Victory 19:28  |  US CITIZEN 02/02/08   11.   War and the IDF 19:35  |  Joe 02/02/08   12.   fight to win. kill bugs dead. 20:10  |  frenz 02/02/08   13.   #10 US CITIZEN winning the war not so clear 20:23  |  Pablo B 02/02/08   14.   give Hezbollah some credit! 20:54  |  USA 02/02/08   15.   ZAHAL..For whom the bells toll...wake up. 22:06  |  Stephen. 02/02/08   16.   2 Hey Rasta, hundreds of Hezbollah were killed 22:09  |  S Judah 02/02/08   17.   Sounds Like BS - Army Generals More to Blame than Even Halutz 22:10  |  Tod Zuckerman 02/02/08   18.   Unique cocktail for failure 22:25  |  Hameed 02/02/08   19.   # 18. Hameed, never guess who also was a corporal. 23:06  |  Stephen. 02/02/08   20.   Israel`s failures 23:19  |  Natallie Durson 02/02/08   21.   Explanation: why Hezbolla says they won... 23:56  |  Avi 02/02/08   22.   Olmert decision to go to war made no sense 00:11  |  Avi 03/02/08   23.   #4 - to Igor 00:19  |  Fran 03/02/08   24.   #* Ralph 00:24  |  Fran 03/02/08   25.   Pablo could be correct, but I doubt it. 01:46  |  US CITIZEN 03/02/08   26.   IDF FAILS IN ALL BUT ONE THING! 01:49  |  KING K 03/02/08   27.   failed leadership and media! 02:22  |  Moshe 03/02/08   28.   Multi tasking 02:41  |  Baz Mann 03/02/08   29.   I love your opening sentence Natalie - LOL 02:49  |  Avi 03/02/08   30.   IDF LOST!!!!!!!! 12:16  |  the h 03/02/08

Today Online Egypt seals final gap in its breached Gaza Strip frontier Responses: 42 IDF commander gets 15 months in prison for W. Bank rampage Responses: 31 U.S. Methodist Church renews drive for divestment from Israel Responses: 20 Al-Qaida claims attack near Israeli Embassy in Mauritania Responses: 4 For all the excitement, very little has changed in the Gaza Strip Responses: 23 Rosner's Domain Obama, Clinton and Iran: The vote that made the difference Not despite Iraq - because of Iraq Super Tuesday: Counting the Jewish votes (WTR) Poll: Is there a "constant virulent campaign" against Obama? The campaign for Darfur has achieved all its goals - but one More Headlines 12:31 Barak: I'll stay in government despite 'harsh' war report 11:09 Egyptian troops seal final gap in breached frontier with Gaza 12:03 Al-Qaida claims responsibility for shooting attack near Israeli Embassy in Mauritania 11:16 U.S. Methodist Church renews drive for divestment from Israel 03:48 IDF commander gets 15 months in prison for W. Bank rampage 12:23 Mika: I want to work with Winehouse on her 'Jewish album' 12:38 Israeli tennis star Peer loses Fed Cup quarterfinals to Sharapova 04:58 Orthodox man improves amidst life support battle with doctors 10:49 Ministers to meet again on relaxing criteria for freeing Palestinian prisoners 03:33 Lebanon seeks arrest of 17 soldiers, civilians after deadly clashes 12:06 Palestinian tries to sneak lion, monkey into Gaza from Sinai 02:54 Blair: Middle East peace agreement is possible by end of 2008 Previous Editions Select Day 01 feb 31 jan 30 jan 29 jan 28 jan 27 jan 25 jan 24 jan 23 jan 22 jan 21 jan 20 jan

Special Offers Advertisement ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer Inbal Jerusalem Hotel Unbeatable rates at the Finest hotel in Jerusalem Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations SUPER-TUESDAY U.S. PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY U.S. citizen in Israel vote Democrats-Abroad Global Primary online, in-person. Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved