• Published 00:00 10.08.06
  • Latest update 00:00 10.08.06

The scapegoat

By Israel Harel

Before and after he was fired, Udi Adam was said to be unfit for his position. Maybe. And what about the prime minister? The defense minister? The chief of staff? After all, it has now been 30 days, and their achievements are ghost towns in the north and hundreds of Katyusha rockets raining daily on Israel. There is also an expected Security Council resolution that will grant a moral victory, with strategic implications, to Hezbollah, Hamas and other terror groups and their patrons, Syria and Iran. And Adam alone is to be called to account?

What about the prime minister, who laid down the strategy for the warfare and decided on the political moves that led to this result? Even if, as he says, it was the army that set the strategy, he still bears responsibility. And what of the defense minister, whose main contribution can be summed up in a few arrogant slogans? He failed to rise to the requirements of his position, and is therefore respected neither by the public nor by the military leadership.

What about the chief of staff? Is he not supposed to know better than his militarily inept civilian bosses about strategy and the management of forces? Did his deputy, now parachuted in to save the day, not have anything to say before about how the war has been going? He is the most senior infantry officer on the General Staff and is supposed to know Lebanon well.

The Israel Defense Forces' leadership closely follows the most minute movements in enemy territory and intervenes when necessary in junior officers' considerations. It should be doing so all the more in a total war like this one.

Hassan Nasrallah's challenge in the north, and the abduction of Gilad Shalit and the incessant Qassam rocket fire in the south, have caused severe damage to Ehud Olmert's future plans and to the IDF's reputation. The commanders who planned the battle, which was supposed to restore Olmert's political maneuvering room and the IDF's deterrence - both strategic goals - were from the General Staff. GOC Northern Command Adam and commander of the Galilee Division Gal Hirsch ran operations, they did not initiate them. If they are to be held responsible for blunders such as the soldiers' abduction or throwing infantry troops into frontal battles, this should have been done immediately. Now, when the chief of staff is piling onto their their narrow shoulders cumulative failures for which he and his General Staff officers are responsible, is not the time.

The war's operative goals were laid down by the chief of staff; his deputy, General Major Moshe Kaplinsky; and the head of the Operations Directorate, Major General Gadi Eisenkot. The Northern Command was the contractor. And despite his ugly, transparent attempts to shirk responsibility and shift it onto the army, Ehud Olmert was the one who decided on the extent of this war. Behind him faltered Amir Peretz, and with them, giving them full support, came all the cabinet members.

They adopted the doctrine of relying on aerial force, which could not stop the rockets or break open the bunkers from which Hezbollah guerrillas are still fighting. Nor is Adam responsible for the fatal delay in mobilizing the reserves and sending them to the battlefield. This decision was made by Olmert and Peretz, together with the General Staff, where the main decision makers were Chief of Staff Dan Halutz and Kaplinsky.

Both the civilian and the military leadership bear responsibility for the unsatisfactory - to say the least - results of this war. And formally, the leadership may include Adam somewhere in the middle. But those at the top chose to cast him out, perhaps because of his humility and lack of charisma, like the scapegoat that used to be thrown off the cliff in ancient times. Thus, they think, the public will see him, not them, as the one responsible for the mess. But they are wrong. When the day of reckoning comes, as it will, the public will call them to account not only for their incompetence in running the war, but for their injustice to Adam.

  • Print Page
  • Send to a friend
  • Share
  • Text Size +|-
 
 
TalkBacks

Why Facebook Connect?

Comment on Haaretz.com articles with your Facebook login, and share your thoughts on your own wall.

Add a comment

Add your reply

  • 51. 0 0
    50: Not even a good try Dutch
    • David Teich
    • 18.08.06
    • 12:35

    Sorry for the delay, this one slipped through the cracks. No, "most" haven't. It's interesting to note that Egypt and Jordan made peace by negotiating in good faith. When Israel saw that, it was easy. You, however, can't address that, can you? More importantly, you can't address why ending a war that began in '48 should be dependent on claims for something that happened in '67. Rather than call for an end to an unjust war, you rationalize why it should continue. Wow, a signed Armistic Agreement you brush off by claiming your ignorance is an excuse, and two "missions" that didn't have the force of law as he Armitice, one which didn't get out of the US Congress, are held up as real? No, you continue to lie. Israel said ports would be controlled short term, until the Palestinians show they're real about peace. How is that unreasaonable? As you admit, they haven't even changed their Charter. Your bigotry is clear.

  • 50. 0 0
    #49 David, getting back to your questions
    • Dutch
    • 13.08.06
    • 17:53

    Dear David, Yes, the Arabs declared war on Israel in 1948 but most have tried to make peace with it since and as I mentioned before. There are no angels in this conflict and plenty of holes. Still, life is a trade off and I wished Israel made that kind of trade off with the Arabs' offer in 2002 to return to the Green Line of 1967 in return for peace with 22 Arab states. I imagine, If Olmert agreed to this today people would be dancing in the streets all over the Middle East, I would join in too! Still, I am glad Israel has made peace with Egypt and Jordan and those relationships have been good and bring on more! Your question on the PLO: "PLO`s charter says it doesn't want Gaza and the West Bank, only Israel" maybe correct, I am not going to dipute it. I agree the PLO charter hasn't been updated . I am not terribly familiar with the "49 Lebanese-Israel armistice" and therefore I prefer not to comment on it. The Rogers Plan & Scranton Mission were peace attempts --not my fantasies. Arafat most likely walked off with the money as you said as no one can locate it. However, I believe his rejection of Israel generous offer was based on the fact Israel would control all entry ports. Now how viable would that make a Palestinian state? People must be alloewed to have their dignity. Thanks, Dutch P.S.The only thing I am anti is war, not semitism. I realize the Arabs are crooked too. So what new about the nature of man?

  • 49. 0 0
    34: Dutch, you`re still in denial or just lying, p3
    • David Teich
    • 13.08.06
    • 10:17

    6) Oslo failed when Arafat and his cronies stole $1.5b from his people, when the PA refused to change their constitution to recognize Israel, when Arafat walked away from an offer that included 95% (by Palestinian estimates) of the disputed territories for another judenrein Arab State and resumed terrorism. 7) Syrians, again, demanded full Israeli withdrawal as a precondition to potential peace. It is clear that Israel made peace with Egypt and Jordan when those nations chose to negotiate in good faith. You can't deny that. You can, however, ignore it and call Arab offers lacking faith as "proof" that Israel won't make peace -- in direct contradiction of reality. As long as you keep ignoring clear Arab violations of international laws, and complaining that Israel won't risk its existence for Arab maybes, you'll continue to spout lies. As long as you clearly put Israelin a separate category from all other countries, you show your anti-semitism. Dutch, I pity you.

  • 48. 0 0
    to ziggurat: marsian landscape
    • wahbi
    • 11.08.06
    • 17:57

    if you see how became south lebanon you'll think dresden was more"luky". south lebanon becomes a marsian landscape !

  • 47. 0 0
    34: Dutch, you`re still in denial or just lying, p2
    • David Teich
    • 11.08.06
    • 12:44

    1) Rogers Plan: You refuse to acknowlegge Israel's compliance and Arab violations of UNSCR242, yet post about something that did not pass either house of the US Congress so was never asked of anyone. 2) When I searched '"scranton mission" nixon 1970', nothing came up on it other than people cloning the exact same text Dutch quotes. No background, text or history. 3) Sadat, '70. He demanded Israel's withdrawal and said he might make peace after. That's not an offer. 4) All the Sauid and Arab demands include the "Green Line" as a border, Israel's immediate withdrawal, and then possible peace. First, you never respond to the facts showing the Green Line isn't a border. Second, that's "land, then maybe peace", not "land for peace". Sadat finally learned that lesson. Why won't you? 5) When Sadat made a real offer, Israel accepted it. Or hadn't you noticed?

  • 46. 0 0
    34: Dutch, you're still in denial or just lying, p1
    • David TEich
    • 11.08.06
    • 12:33

    Notice how I listed the violent things they've done. Notice how you add a "may" to the first and ignore the rest. The Arab League declared war in '48 and is still in that State of War. The fact that you invent things after that to justify continuing the war shows either your bias or ignorance. Stop spouting the opinions of people who agree with you and address the specific facts. 1) Arabs declared and maintain war 2) Only two ARab states have made peace 3) PLO's charter says it doesn't want Gaza and the West Bank, only Israel 4) '65 was before '67 5) The Arabs categorically denied ever following UNSCR242 by issuing the Khartoum declaration 6) The PLO agreed to change its charter in 93. It still hasn't 7) Int'l law says the Green Line is not a border 8) The Lebanese are violating the '49 Lebanese-Israel armistice Those are laws and provable violations. Give me a simple "yes" or "no" as to whether you accept those fact as being part of your fantasy world.

  • 45. 0 0
    IDF and Israeli Gvmt. Ridicule
    • Viracocha
    • 11.08.06
    • 02:45

    A ridicule of biblical proportions the IDF and the present Israeli Government. Should be included in the Old Testament or whatever you call it back there. If it were not for the terrible inhuman tragedy you are causing right now the whole world would be laughing out loud! You can lie yourselves to death. You are winning nothing. Costa Rica abolished her army 50 years ago and has no conflitcts. Is it now the time to take a look?

  • 44. 0 0
    Fire Olmert
    • Chrisona
    • 11.08.06
    • 01:18

    The first thing Israel needs to do once the cease-fire is in place is fire Ehud Olmert for demonstrated gross incompetence.

  • 43. 0 0
    public reaction to wars
    • tom
    • 10.08.06
    • 23:35

    The U.S. wars in Vietnam and Iraq and Israel's wars with its lightly-armed neighbors have shown that the world hates bullies--heavily-armed, high-tech bullies that conduct reigns of terror against those whom they have little need to fear. The U.S. lost in Vietnam, will lose in Iraq, and Israel will eventually leave Lebanon with the whole of that nation vowing revenge against them. And, of course, it is still attacking the Palestinians. All of these wars were conducted by the "bullies" under fraudulent pretenses. The key to resolving the Middle East: admit that the Occupation and the settlements were a mistake and send your "huddled masses" back to the U,S., where they should have stayed to begin with. And get on with the business of supporting the formation of a Palestinian in all of the Occupied Territories. And maybe you will have better relations with Syria once the Golan Heights are returned.

  • 42. 0 0
    khutzpe,hypocrisy&the stubborn "settler"
    • scared to divulge
    • 10.08.06
    • 23:19

    this is a great creation.it proves the genius of orwell.idf/adam are to blame-they don't punch hard enough-their bombs are soft-their shells vote meretz.but we all know better-the governments are to blame-they deployed idf in supercop capacity-to supervise populace of post 1967 territories-trying to achieve who knows what,fantacizing the "problem" will,in good time solve itself-the wogs will vanish uva lezion goel. naturaly the colonists need mega protection,resources,infrastructure.idf is as good as the general populace conscripted.it has been mainly occupied with possession of territories.harel is prime settler,chief "peace for land"opponent.he played a major role in the saga of israel/idf decline,a minute one in actual combat duty in uniform.

  • 41. 0 0
    to#29, Teich
    • Moshe
    • 10.08.06
    • 23:08

    Teich! Are you NUTS? What's with this talmudic crap about "resolution#XXX", "charter#yyy". What do you think this is, TRAFFIC COURT? Who needs to look at charters & resolutions! They live for ONE thing, to kill us. Let's kill them ALL, first, and, forget charters & resolutions: they won't need them.

  • 40. 0 0
    to #28. Imad
    • Jose
    • 10.08.06
    • 22:25

    Hey, Imad! Get some solid food into you. Sucking on that hash pipe all day isn't working for you.

  • 39. 0 0
    #32. Raul
    • Sergio
    • 10.08.06
    • 22:22

    Raul. Do you even know what zionism IS? Would it surprise you to hear tha Jesus was a zionist? Do the priest/child molesters represent authoritative church opinion? Ditto, a few renegade whacko rabbis. Just in case you DON'T know what zionism is: it is the movement for Jews to support their historical homeland, Raul. As for your renegade rabbi buddies, Raul. I'm sure they are pure, godly, souls, but, Raul, would it hurt to follow the money? What is their source of cashflow, Raul? How do they account for it, Raul? How do they contribute to the gross domestic economy, Raul? Be practical, Raul; they've got YOU "sold", RIGHT?

  • 38. 0 0
    Gene
    • Aron
    • 10.08.06
    • 22:22

    Natanjahu

  • 37. 0 0
    Raul from Chicago
    • Aron
    • 10.08.06
    • 22:18

    Pardon my Question, Raul from Chicago, what do you know about Zionism?

  • 36. 0 0
    Incompetent leaders
    • Gene
    • 10.08.06
    • 22:13

    Olmert, Peretz and Co. incompetent not because they don't know how to do their job but because they don't realize that they are incompetent. Eshkol, if I remember, gave his post of defense minister to Dayan, Stalin - to his generals, Peretz - to nobody. I am not comparing moral values of mentioned individuals but their intellectual abilities.

  • 35. 0 0
    Answer to third man
    • Gene
    • 10.08.06
    • 22:08

    I know it is too early to ask this question, but who else can lead Israel after Olmert, Peretz and Halutz go? Avigdor Liberman

  • 34. 0 0
    # 29 David, Don't Fight the Truth for Peace Sake
    • Dutch
    • 10.08.06
    • 22:05

    David, I am not avoiding anything or anyone Israel is. Perhaps the Arabs declared war on Israel in 1948 but I know they have done much over the years to make peace with Israel. They have sent many callers too. (see list below). Israel is no angel and it has done its share to avoid peace as the historian Motti Golani & others note; "It was convenient for Israel's leadership to take the route of war and it was the way of peace that caused it great difficulties...In many sense, it was easier to go to war than the alternative of restraint and concessions of various kind." (Motti Golani ) "We have not been seeking peace for twenty-five years -- all declarations to that effect have been no more than coloured statements or deliberate lies. There is of course no assurance that we could have made peace with the Arabs if we had wanted to. However, it has to be heavily emphasized that we have not only made no attempts to seek peace, but have deliberately and with premeditation, sabotaged every possibility of doing so." (Yeshayahu Leibowitz, 30 November 1973) "We enthusiastically chose to become a colonial society, ignoring international treaties, expropriating lands, transferring settlers from Israel to the occupied territories, engaging in theft and finding justifi- cation for all these activities. Passionately desiring to keep the occupied territories, we developed two judicial systems: one -- progressive, liberal - in Israel; and the other - cruel, injurious - in the occupied territories. In effect, we established an apartheid regime in the occupied territories immediately following their capture. That oppressive regime exists to this day."(Michael Ben-Yair, Israel Attorney General 1993-1996, 3 March 2002) Dutch P.S.I believe the following proposals were victims of Israel's avoidance: The Rogers Plan (1969) , The Scranton Mission on behalf of President Nixon (1970) ;Sadat's land for peace, mutual recognition proposal (1971); Carter's call for a Geneva International Conference (1971); Saudi King Fahd's peace offer (1981); The Reagan Plan (1982); The Shulzt Plan (1988); The Baker Plan (1989); A continuation of the Taba negotiations (2001); The Saudi Peace proposal on behalf of the Arab League (2001); The unofficial Geneva peace initiative of November/ December 2003. In 1993 Arafat signed the Oslo Accord which unraveled after Yitzhak Rabin's assassination (Nov.1995) and Likud's return to power: 22 Arab states comprehensive peace initiative, based on the 2001 Syrian Initiative (2002); Syrian peace initiative (2003); Syrian initiative to start negotiations of Nov. 2004. ( Sharon rejected the last 3 peace initiatives.) Dutch

  • 33. 0 0
    Rabbi Against Israel
    • Raul
    • 10.08.06
    • 21:42

    Rabbi Against Israel on Fox News: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RjnvQHWyLE

  • 32. 0 0
    Zionism !!!
    • Raul
    • 10.08.06
    • 21:38

    Judaism is a wonderful religion, but Zionism is robbing the Jews of their religion. Zionism is doing what Al Qaeda is doing to Muslims. Just Listen to what the Rabbis of "Jews United against Zionism" have to say!

  • 31. 0 0
    the big lie
    • chelemer
    • 10.08.06
    • 21:35

    The rulers of Israel assert that Israel does not exchange prisoners. This is a big lie because Israel has been exchanging prisoners from way-back-when.

  • 30. 0 0
    dwarfs
    • Zvi
    • 10.08.06
    • 21:26

    We voted dwarfs into office. Timid dwarfs. They hide amidst endless, and, fruitless discussion. Their strategy: Hesitate, go, stop. They manipulate Adam like a marionette. Our boys are killed as sitting ducks. The brilliantly evil Nasrallah mocks the dwarfs, slaughters more Jews. Dwarfs don't take personal responsibility, they discuss & pull the strings, and point the finger for THEIR bloody malfeasance at Adam.

  • 29. 0 0
    25: No, Dutch, they stop with you
    • David Teich
    • 10.08.06
    • 21:22

    Here's Dutch again, after running away from other talkbacks where she's asked to address facts. Dutch, again: - UNR181. Israel accepted it and Arabs declared war in '48 - The PLO declared war on Israel in '65 Both are before '67. Address that. The PLO's Charter, Article 24, says they only want to destroy Israel, and explicitly says they don't want Gaza or the West Bank. Israel's accepted UNSCR242, and the facts about "all" have been posted before but you won't address it. The fact that the res also calls for the Arabs to end the war also isn't addressed by you. You ignore the 58 year war against Israel's, and complain that Israel still exists. Your attitude helps terror and the buck is yours.

  • 28. 0 0
    Imad
    • Aron
    • 10.08.06
    • 21:22

    Dear Imad, Come back from Spain, and help your Hezba Boz

  • 27. 0 0
    This is not a traditional war
    • Baruch
    • 10.08.06
    • 21:03

    This war is clearly not a common or a traditional war. This war is not a war against another country (Lebannon) but against a group of fanatic men, acting like rats in the underground who wanted drink our jewish blood. We must change our weapons and methods of fighting as fast as possible. Some possibilities are: We must use dogs, trained dogs to help us find where are these hiding men. Where are katiusha's bases. Destroying the infra structure is necessary but for buildings we must use some kind of gas in order to bring to outside these rats. We must bring these men from his hiding places to the middle of the street and then shoot them all. Simulate. Use simulation. Leave in the street some bottles of water for example as baits and wait. Shoot them when they go to catch these things. Please forgive my errors, english is?nt my language. Please change tatics, use new kind of weapons. Use the brain against terror.

  • 26. 0 0
    Better to look for corrections than for scapegoats for now
    • TonyL
    • 10.08.06
    • 20:55

    This criticism is very much warranted. But overkill criticism, after the fact, with no proposals in sight does not help either. It is true the politicians` & layers` war severely damaging military tactics and this war so far. Unfortunately, it now will always be the part of any democratic campaign. It is the degree of political influence on the campaign that separates the more successful campaigns from less successful ones. As we know, Israel`s degree of political influence demands to be the highest in the world. But it is also very critical right now for the Israeli leadership to learn from their mistakes and immediately coordinate everything in the right direction. The main goal is to get Hezbollah away from the boarder forever. The methods used and the time frame may be important but secondary.

  • 25. 0 0
    Right On! The Buck Stops with Israel
    • Dutch
    • 10.08.06
    • 20:02

    Israel Harel, You are so right people will want to hold Israeli officials and I feel that will come from this of the Atlantic too not just for the death and destruction in Israel but in Lebanon too. I wrote about this to a writer in another forum this morning and i have posted my reply below. Dutch P.S. My Letter to Antony who felt the UN were at fault. No Antony, you can't shift the blame tot he UN for Israel's vicious and unjust assault on Lebanon and for the death and destruction it has caused in both places. I feel the Lebanese government were on the right track including Hezbollah in the political process. That's the best to disarm any group--give them a solid reason not to bear arms. This has been the way throughout our human history too. So Bravo for the Lebanese! The problem was Israel's unnecessary aggression and assault against Lebanon. Olmert should have agreed to a prisoner exchange and solved things in a peaceful manner. It would have been a win/win situation. But it seems Israel was hungry for war and called this war--a war of choice against Hezbollah. So the buck stops with Israel. But who are the Israelis to point a finger at any government for failing to comply with a UN resolution? Israel has over 180 UN Resolutions against its name it has failed to comply with including UNSC 242 which called for a withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from the territories following the 1967 war and it has still fails to comply. So shame on Israel's double standards. Thank you, Dutch

  • 24. 0 0
    TALKING ABOUT MORALS
    • MIKE
    • 10.08.06
    • 18:16

    ziggurat i think your high what possibly horrendous things can Israel do it hasn't already done ,the problem is they thought they can do this by bombing everything but it hasn't worked and their is nothing left to bomb, and the ground war we can see how well thats going, they won't say it but they don't wanna go in because they don't wanna be embarrased by hezbollah with their mighty american military machine, , hence this morning they don't wanna expand the offensive until the weekend which means were tired and were losing this war in every facet UN please bail us out but make us look good doing it , when i say UN that means America my friend!!!

  • 23. 0 0
    IRONIC - ISN'T IT?
    • leo
    • 10.08.06
    • 18:08

    It is now exactly 1 year since the expulsion of the Jews from Gush Katif and whether it is fate or an act of divine retribution,we are all paying for it. The same governmental "spin meisters of peace" responsible for the "immoral" expulsion are now "confounded" and "afraid to act" on the consequences that they set in motion. And those Jews who supported or stood idly by while their "brothers," loyal and legal citizens, were bereft of their homes are now themselves "refugees." But the heaviest price is being paid by those precious youth, the "chayalim," forced to carry out those "shameful" orders by the same corrupt incompetents who repeatedly ignored during the last 6 years, the same military threats we currently face.

  • 22. 0 0
    RE: to Jonathan by Thibault
    • ZombiesRUs
    • 10.08.06
    • 17:46

    .In 1980s, french troops suffer a dramatic .suicide attack from Hezbollah (almost 100 .killed). French journalists were taken .hostages several years by Hezbollah militants. .So France have never collaborate with .Hezbollah or others terrorist groups in the .region. What you said is definitively not the .truth. This is called biting the hand that feeds you. "My brother and I would fight my cousin, my cousin and I would fight a stranger". A friend who stops giving them "tribute" (exactly what they want) becomes their enemy until they start giving tribute again.

  • 21. 0 0
    Israel is too moral
    • ziggurat
    • 10.08.06
    • 17:32

    Israel could have fought this war like any other country and flatten Lebanon completely, Dresden style, without any moral considerations whatsoever. Israel would have won the war in 48 hours without casualties in its ranks. After all, war is war and it's ugly in any event. Now it'll take a few weeks and tens of Israeli lifes to defeat hezbollah.In either case, Israel will always be regarded as the "guilty" one in the international arena so its current self-restraint serves no purpose, but to limit the number of dead children on the Lebanese side. Children, who in 10 or 15 years time will in any event feed the ranks of hezbollah. In the end, Israel is paying a heavy price for being moral, but after all, isn't that Israel's strength ??

  • 20. 0 0
    to Jonoathan #17 IN GERMANY
    • A Jew
    • 10.08.06
    • 17:29

    you are forgetting one important thing you unappreciative Jonathan, WITHOUT FRANCE, ISRAEL WOULDN'T HAVE NUCLEAR BOMBS!!!! I think it's people like you who shouldn't be trusted and not the French ,

  • 19. 0 0
    To Thibault
    • Jonathan S
    • 10.08.06
    • 17:03

    Since 1967 France became the most anti-Israeli country in Europe. President (Ch)irac even went so far as giving to his friend Saddam Hussein access to nuclear technology. Former Prime Minister Roccard called the creation of Israel a “mistake”. The romance between France and Ghaddafi, Arafat and Chomeini is well known. But all this is no wonder: 40 years ago, after one of the many humiliating defeats, it was decided to conquer Europe through France. So France has today maybe 8 million Muslims transforming very rapidly the French society. Recent events have shown that they conquered the French suburbs already. France has not only a long history of collaboration, it is very clear what can be expected of French foreign policy in the future.

  • 18. 0 0
    Political leadership ALWAYS responsible in a Democracy.
    • Earl
    • 10.08.06
    • 16:38

    Civilian authority over the military is a fine concept. But with it comes the responsibility. As in the United States, the military often falls on its own sword when blame needs to be assigned. Reading about the internal politics in Israel over the last few weeks, it seems clear that the political leadership there has wished for, and attempted half measures, which of course falls right into the "international diplomacy trap" Diplomacy as it pertains to Israel's difficult situation seems to be all about restraining Israel, preventing her from SOLVING the real problem. I wonder if the military there is ever allowed {these days} to act based on their best judgement? Micro managing the war from a distance by non-combatants doesn't work very well.

  • 17. 0 0
    one on one
    • ziad khouweir
    • 10.08.06
    • 16:37

    let 's say the truce the idf soldiers are loosing in one on one battles against the hezbollah fighters so they are trying to make more cicilian casualities in order to put presure on hezbollah nb:in shiah there is no hezbollah launchers so why did iaf hit buildings and killed civilians there.In this war the idf incompetence was shown to the world the israeli soldiers think they are playing nintendo with their news weapon and technologies but they are wrong:15 killed yesterday and we will hear the number killed today in the news.

  • 16. 0 0
    i agree 'How much incompetence before you give up?'
    • Ali
    • 10.08.06
    • 16:29

    i agree we/usa killed rafique hariri, kicked syria out to disarm hezbollah. our attempt with our lebaneese allies to create conflict and break the lebanese unity has failed. we had hoped for civil war in lebanon similar to the seventies but this ... how much disgraceful this war has been none of our objectives is fulfilled; our two soldiers are still captive we are leading our young soldiers to death hezbollah is still fighting feircely hezbollah is more popular we have made more enemies worldwide only the weak changes horses and takes revenge as a solution and this is unfortunately what we prooved; adam is out of command destroying the entire lebanese infrastructur killing more than 1200 civilians, 4000 injured 1000,000 lebaneese are refugees bombing homes bombing hospitals massacres on roads no ground gained in south lebanon israeli picture is obsecured worldwide s america is turning on us our leaders are to be held accountable for this disgrace,incompetency

  • 15. 0 0
    Responsibility...
    • Observer
    • 10.08.06
    • 16:18

    What about that fellow,what is name?Mofaz,who has been running the Defense Establishment for years and his major achievement was improved working conditions for the Army officer corp...If he had a sword it should be broken in a public ceremony....A grieving observer

  • 14. 0 0
    Time is not a luxury IDF has
    • Tom
    • 10.08.06
    • 15:36

    The IDF always won the wars it fought with blinding speed using all of its power at once on air, sea and land. Time has never been on Israel's side because as time passes by the situation rottens and it becomes politically isolated and under intense international pressure to stop. Ben Gurion, Dayan, Eytan and Sharon understood this principle well and always fought blitzkrieg wars allowing them to maximize their gains in the very first days of the offensive. Not so for Olmert et al who have become entangled in a quagmire of search and destroy operations typical of the Vietnam war where the Hizballah, using the Nasrallah trail, lead a war of attrition by making use of their tunnels and ammunition caches, hitting and running and still having some territorial depth to maneuver. Unless Israel realizes this quickly and act fast, defeat is certainly looming

  • 13. 0 0
    to Jonathan
    • Thibault
    • 10.08.06
    • 15:14

    In 1980s, french troops suffer a dramatic suicide attack from Hezbollah (almost 100 killed). French journalists were taken hostages several years by Hezbollah militants. So France have never collaborate with Hezbollah or others terrorist groups in the region. What you said is definitively not the truth.

  • 12. 0 0
    The end of Qadima
    • the third man
    • 10.08.06
    • 14:24

    Whe the day of reckoning comes, the whole political movement represented by Qadima will go. They have proved their political incompetence with their unilateral "convergence" plans, and now we see their military incompetence in Gaza and Lebanon. I know it is too early to ask this question, but who else can lead Israel after Olmert, Peretz and Halutz go? Sharon is dead and Netenyaho is visionless opportunist! Perhaps a Rabai can volunteer to lead by the law of the Torah!

  • 11. 0 0
    How much incompetence before you give up?
    • Maral
    • 10.08.06
    • 14:03

    The images of war are horrible, the destruction beyond comprehension or justification. The stated "targets" are murky, to say the least, and even so, the IDF manages to consistently fall flat on its butt. The amount of hatred in these posts is simply unbelievable. Pull out, pack it in, and call it a day. You will not win fighting a guerilla war. No matter what your tactics, your cause is poorly defined and unfair. Shouts across the world pointing this out are branded as anti-semitic. Lebanese are Semitic too, you know. The human race is so primitive, we still replay the old story of Abel and Cain. Not only that, we revel in it like blood-sucking leaches. Stop this war. You'll all sleep better at night once your conscience catches up with you. And, if it never does, then I pity you.

  • 10. 0 0
    Idf DEFEATED (6)
    • Imad
    • 10.08.06
    • 14:02

    Yes Lebanon without water and Elect. and without 1000 civilians mostly children. IDF delibrately atacked houses and Building and later says they r Hezbollah fighter. Hezbollah gos for IDF only (see statistics) and using tactics that IDf r unable to cope with. They are too weak to confront them. 15.000 IDF against several hundred of Hezbollah brave fighters(see news on yahoo.com 9-8-06). Accept it.

  • 9. 0 0
    Incompetence
    • Jonathan S
    • 10.08.06
    • 13:57

    This analysis is absolutely right. Peretz is the man responsible for the military catastrophe by refusing at the very beginning of the war to mobilize in necessary strength, Olmert bears the burden of the political and diplomatic defeat that will come very quickly. That an international force will disarm Hizbullah is wishful thinking and cheating the Israeli people. French troops will collaborate with the terrorists like in the past, smuggle weapons for them and help to get Hizbullah even stronger in the future. An incompetent leadership has lost the opening round in Iran’s war for the destruction of Israel. The consequences are very grim indeed.

  • 8. 0 0
    Imad,it's you who declared war on children,also in Spain,it's you
    • Absolute Sweden
    • 10.08.06
    • 13:47

    who's lost. It has come as a surprise to you Israel hasn't buckled under your mad suiciders onslaught. Your hero Nasrallah also hasn't expected Israeli response. It's him who'd be forced to retreat from the border,despite the fact Israel hasn't really conducted a war. If it was really a war,Lebanon would be without power plants,i.e. without water and el.

  • 7. 0 0
    IDF Defeat
    • Imad
    • 10.08.06
    • 13:31

    Finally, the IDF has been defeated by Hezbollah and if the Israelly regime (Olmert y Peretz) does not stop the war against the children of Lebanon, the people of Israel will be defeated too. Think about it

  • 6. 0 0
    unfit frauds on the war-path
    • chelemer
    • 10.08.06
    • 13:20

    Anticipating peace for the return of Gaza to the Palestinians while continuing to occupy parts of the West Bank, created an illusion that produced false expectations; It is nothing but a fraud perpetrated on the Palestinians and on the Israelis alike, not mentioning the rest of the world.

  • 5. 0 0
    Crazy Solution
    • Dalia
    • 10.08.06
    • 12:58

    Hi, This might sound crazy, but i think we should do away completely with our present leaders and replace them with Sheik Hassan Nasrallah. It seems incredulous to believe that we have reached this point of thinking - yet the reality and facts on the ground speak for themselves. If one man can so obviously and effectivly stand up to the so called 'might' of Israel, getting stronger and more powerful by every missle we throw at him, just imagine what he can do if he was on our side??? Now I know it sounds crazy, but at least we'd be safe when the next war starts if Sheik Hassi was on our side. What do you guys think?

  • 4. 0 0
    The three megalomaniac donkishots
    • Adam
    • 10.08.06
    • 12:56

    The three megalomaniac donkishots (Olmert, Peretz, and Halutz) are bringing evil and hatred to Israel. Here, I recall the words of the Prophet Jeremiah "Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing upon Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the disaster that I have pronounced against them, because I have spoken to them and they have not listened, I have called to them and they have not answered." (Jer. 35: 17)

  • 3. 0 0
    Kaplinsky is an author of "conceptualisation"-a surrogate for fi
    • Absolute Sweden
    • 10.08.06
    • 12:33

    -ghting. I recall an article on Kaplinsky preaching a year or so ago on "replacing the use of force by conceptualisation of the IDF's power to the palestinians". Hence inaction on Qassams. Harel's right,Adam was made a scapegoat for political commisars and lawyers ruining Israel.

  • 2. 0 0
    This isn't a war movie where you choose the outcome it's REAL
    • Ben
    • 10.08.06
    • 12:22

    We live in a generation that expects everything to happen some way or another according to the way it does on TV. This is real life with real decisions. It doesn't always go the way you want or expect. Only a fool thinks he can controll the results of of every decision.

  • 1. 0 0
    The Scapegoat
    • Ric
    • 10.08.06
    • 11:49

    Very well written article by Mr. Harel. Halutz, Peretz, and Olmert should all be given the medal of complete imcompetence for their failures and dishonest linching of Adam.