Lebanon war probe accuses Olmert of 'serious failure,' blasts Halutz, Peretz
'The partial report by a government-appointed committee probing the Second Lebanon War on Monday accused Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of "severe failure" in exercising judgment, responsibility and caution during the outset of the war.
The report, officially released at a 5 P.M. press conference in Jerusalem on Monday, says Olmert acted hastily in leading the country to war last July 12, without having a comprehensive plan.
The prime minister, the report said, "bears supreme and comprehensive responsibility for the decisions of 'his' government and the operations of the army."'
Read it all at haaretz.com.
Israel has put too much "faith" in their military technology. Like us, they have prepared for a "major war," which they can win outright no question asked, but failed to prepare for guerrilla warfare, which was inevitable.
ReplyDeleteTheir prime minister only made the same mistake our president did, and did it as poorly as he and his advisers did.
But how does one "force" Enlightenment? That is the question that faces both governments, and the governments of the Western world. The answer is as uncomfortable as it is inevitable.
Excellent observation, M. Squid, & I agree. In addition, I find it incredible that the Israeli forces so badly miscalculated their ground logistics (hence the tank logjam which lasted for days). I find this rather disturbing in a country whose very existence depends upon swift military action.
ReplyDeleteI also agree, Clyde, that one can't force Enlightenment, but I'll watch to see if the secular Turks can.
After surveying the property damage Union troops had done during their short occupation of Fredericksburg, an aide asked Stonewall Jackson how they could put an end to this sort of thing. "Kill 'em. Kill 'em all." (We know how that worked out.) Of course we can't, and don't really want to, do that sort of thing, which may well be our Achilles' heel. Damned by our own Enlightenment.
ReplyDeleteIsolation of the infection, at great expense to ourselves, may be the only solution. Military action is unproductive, and trading with them only fuels the flames.
ReplyDeletePerhaps it's time for a new Apollo project, one that guarantees that the secular West never has to deal with these assholes again, except through a naval blockade.
If they want to live in the 7th century, we should let them. If they despise modernity so much, let them truly live without it.