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Israel-Palestine-Jordan
Netanyahu insists on state inquiry into war
2006-08-23
Opposition leader MK Benjamin Netanyahu called on the government to authorize a state commission to probe deficiencies in the army's and the government's conduct in the war with Hizbullah . Speaking on Channel 2 TV, Netanyahu said: "I say this unexcitedly, there must be a probe. The government itself said so. We have to prevent a hopeless situation the next time."
That's a fair statement of the obvious...
“Netanyahu said his Likud party stood behind the government throughout the war but now that the fighting ended, criticism is legitimate...”
Netanyahu said the scale of the failures in stemming rocket fire and in assisting northern residents during 34-days of fighting require an inquiry. Asked whether his calls are aimed at smearing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert 's government for political gain, Netanyahu said his Likud party stood behind the government throughout the war but now that the fighting ended, criticism is legitimate.
Olmert doesn't need smeared. He's done it all himself.
Netanyahu rejected claims that cuts to the defense budget over the last four years impaired the army's level of preparedness for war, arguing that under his tenure as finance minister between 2003 and 2005 the defense budget increased. "The problem is not to find the guilty but to draw lessons. The lessons are what we should do ahead of the next round. If we don't draw lessons, not only will we have a second round but it will end badly," Netanyahu said.
The second round should be considered a given. Hassan's on top of the world back in Hezbollahland. That's Olmert's fault. Israel should be preparing itself, and continue preparing itself.
Asked whether he trusts Olmert's leadership in securing a safer and stronger Israel, Netanyahu said he won't be dragged into finger pointing at political rival, choosing instead to outline what he believes are five pressing issues for Israel : ensuring Iran doesn't acquire nuclear arms, strengthening the Israel Defense Forces, rehabilitating the north, implementing economic reforms and abolishing endemic corruption and bureaucracy in state institutions. Netanyahu sounded pessimistic when asked if his Likud party would join Kadima as a coalition partner if the current coalition with Labor breaks up. Netanyahu charged that Kadima lacks a clear vision for Israel as evident in Olmert declaration that his realignment plan of withdrawing thousands of settlers from the West Bank is no longer on the government's agenda. He said the current government won't be in power till the end of its term, expressing his confidence in Likud's ability to "lead the public to a better and more secure future."
I'd guess he has more in mind Kadima joining Likud as a junior partner. If that.
Posted by:Fred

#5  Skip the bloody inquiry, just put Netanyahu in charge of Israel and drive on!
Posted by: Besoeker   2006-08-23 11:27  

#4  To assume a second round (at least in public)is to give the Leb Army and the UN force an out to do nothing.

Gotta know your supplier LH. Smocking sh*t you've bought of an unknown street dealer can be dangerous.
Posted by: gromgoru   2006-08-23 11:04  

#3  "The problem is not to find the guilty but to draw lessons. The lessons are what we should do ahead of the next round. If we don't draw lessons, not only will we have a second round but it will end badly," Netanyahu said. "

"The second round should be considered a given. Hassan's on top of the world back in Hezbollahland. That's Olmert's fault. Israel should be preparing itself, and continue preparing itself. "

To assume a second round (at least in public)is to give the Leb Army and the UN force an out to do nothing. Nasrallah is hard to take down NOW, with a still weak Leb Army, and plenty of legitimacy from surviving the war, and Leb resentement of Israel. Its quite possible that will change over time, and a properly trained and equipped Leb Army will change the political balance of Lebanon. If and when that happens, Nasrallah MAY try to avert being forced to become a "normal" political force by trying to provoke another war - or his masters in Teheran may give orders he cant refuse for another war well before then. But neither eventuality is 100%, and i think even Bibi knows that, as reflected in his statement above.

None of which means that Israel shouldnt prepare immediately for the next war. Learn the lessons, solve the problems wrt tactics, logistics, as well as strategy. My sense is that theres wall to wall support for that, just disagreement about who should do it, and about the large political strategy (esp the question of talks with Baby Assad - the division between "cant talk with him as long as be backs terrorists" vs "maybe hell pull a Qaddafi" all of which is constrained by what Washington wants - if the US wants Israel to talk with Syria they will, and if not, not)
Posted by: liberalhawk   2006-08-23 09:47  

#2  It's the first step to replace Olmert The Meek.
Posted by: wxjames   2006-08-23 09:28  

#1  Go Bibi.
Posted by: mcsegeek1   2006-08-23 08:44  

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