Former IDF chief Ya'alon blasts Halutz's 'culture of corruption'

Dan, What does it mean I am in the US and complain? 1) Just remember: Ya'alon (not I) started his complains while he lived in Washington... 2) I did not say that his criticism is incorrect. He criticism of Halutz is right (I already said so), but nevertheless unethical. 3) During Ya'alon's service (and even before his term) the IDF suffered terrible setbacks and cuts. Not only in budgets, but in its structure and ability to fight in real war. It became a policing and riot fighting force. For that, Ya'alon is even more responsible the Halutz. 4) Again, arrogant Halutz viewed the war as a limited, local military action. No need to involve massive ground forces. Hesbollah will scatter after a few high tech bombings... Once his vision proved wrong, he prompted to fight a ground force which was unready for this mission. At that time, it was unready for many years already

Even those who were under the illusions that Israel can make peace with the Palestinians are no more. Good morning Hamastan, good morning to the Muslim Brotherhood in Gaza and in the Arab world. Israel needs leaders that will always be prepared for the enemy, day and night, "Shomer Israel lo yanum velo yishan" The present leaders don't belong to the book of Israeli history, they belong to the Hollywood Hall of shame, and Olmert in the next surgery on your face, make sure to remove the L, yes that stands for looser.

What culture existed during Yaalons reign? Where was all the miitary equipment in the emergency stores ? Who did not train the Army to fight as an army rather than being on glorified Police work. The northern border was sleeping to such an extent that civillians were not allowed to drive on civillian roads due to HIZBOLLAS proximity ? The Armys behaviour was under the control of Yaalon and MOFAZ for years -Halutz "air war " was the culmination of years of mismanagemnent in the IDF. Apparently the IDF lacks vision lacks mobility lacks innovative methods it trundels along slowly -so slowly you can tunnel under them and pop up and surprise them in the bunkers !!!!!!!!!!! The IDF today is NOT the IDF of 30 years ago certainly not in motivation .I suspect Yaalon is attacking in order to fend off criticism during his tenure in office as IDF CHIEF.The Winograd report should rebuke Yaalon and Mofaz for direct responsibility over a period of years.The north was NOT defended.JACK

Just look at his face in the picture-- you can see it is the face of an honest man; something we are not used to in Israel politics.

Now what might be those "values" of an military organization involved in policing policing huge scale land grab in the West Bank, imprisonment of Palestinians in ghettoes and enclaves and gradual but relentless destruction of those enclaves? Surely "corruption" is the least of its ethical problems.

Ya, Ya'alon has it absolutely right, even if he sounds like a good boy telling the teacher about a bad boy in the class. Halutz brought an aura of "sophistication" into the IDF, as if he were doing the "natives" a good turn. Eg, one can deal with the bank manager and the financial adviser simultaneously with vexing matters such as the goings-on on the Northern borders. Just keep it cool...... This sort of thing is anathema to the good Ya'lon, and so it should be.

Mike, truer words were never written. Halutz did not know how to do his job, but Yaalon and the army general staff also contributed to the IDF's hollowing out.

Actually Mr. Brown who sits in NY and complains, it General Ya'alon shows courage and leadership. Unlike you and your arm chairs comments from the USA the former chief of staff knows what he is talking about and has the courage to stand up and be heard.

ya'alon was fired by sharon because he opposed the retreat from gaza. sharon picked halutz because he had no compuntion about expelling jews from their homes. evidently, halutz was really good at kicking jews out of their homes but not quite as good in fighting arabs. the $2 billion spent on expelling jews may have come in handy when paying for training and supplies for soldiers prior to the lebanon 2 war.

I did not like Halutz from the first moment and he was a bad appointment. However, Ya'alon criticism is unethical. He should not criticize his follower in such destructive manner: 1) Why didn't Ya'alon oppose Halutz's appointment as his depute in the first place? He did not say a word to the media at that time. 2) The IDF did not fail because of Halutz's personality, nor because he did not visit the west bank. It failed because the army was unprepared and followed a wrong doctrine.The army leadership did not estimate correctly the enemy and its capability. Since 2000 the IDF learned almost nothing about Hesbollah, while Hesbollah learned their opponent very well. All that happened while Ya'alon was in key positions. 3) Now he (Ya'alon) looks more as someone who wants to take personal revenge then a responsible leader. Shame on you!