Former "Israeli" military chief heaps scorn on Zionist state΄s failed 2006 war
Source: Daily Star, 19-9-2008
Former "Israeli" military Chief of Staff Moshe Yaalon issued a harsh criticism of the "Israeli" Air Force's operations during the summer 2006 war, saying it failed in its mission, "Israeli" daily Haaretz reported on Thursday. According to Haaretz, Yaalon made the remarks on Tuesday during a military and security conference at the Armored Corps Museum.
"There was an air agenda and a dictatorial way of thinking and after this way failed, there were those who placed the blame on others," he said.
"If they had determined the right objectives, the war could have been finished from the air within five days," the daily quoted Yaalon as claiming.
"An air agenda was part of the decision-making process," Yaalon added. "The air force leadership thought that this was their opportunity to put on a show. After the war, they pushed their responsibility onto their inferiors."
According to Haaretz, the former chief of staff compared the government decision-making process prior to the war with the process that lead to operation "Grapes of Wrath" in 1996, during which "Israeli" forces killed hundreds of people, including more than 100 civilians sheltering at a United Nations compound.
"Many discussions were held prior to the Grapes of Wrath operation, whereas before the Second Lebanon war, there was a two-and-a-half-hour talk which did not define any military goals," he said.
"It was decided to carry out a retaliatory mission that wasn't even called a war."
Haaretz pointed out that it was not the first time that Yaalon had attacked the military leadership over its performance during the summer 2006 war.
Yaalon's remarks come amid mounting speculation over a possible impending attack by Hizbullah to avenge the killing of top military commander Imad Moghnieh in a car bombing in Damascus in February. "Israeli" officials have threatened a brutal response to any new Hizbullah attack.
Haaretz had on Tuesday quoted a senior officer in the "Israeli" military as saying that the Lebanese resistance group has made downing an "Israeli" aircraft flying over Lebanon one of its top priorities.
Brigadier General Yossi Baidatz, a senior military intelligence officer, told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense (War) Committee that Hizbullah considers hitting an "Israeli" aircraft in Lebanese airspace advantageous because it would be viewed as politically acceptable by all the country's sectarian groups.
"On the one hand they are jihadists but on the other they fear an "Israeli" response," Baidatz said. "Their solution is to down an aircraft over Lebanon."
Former "Israeli" military Chief of Staff Moshe Yaalon issued a harsh criticism of the "Israeli" Air Force's operations during the summer 2006 war, saying it failed in its mission, "Israeli" daily Haaretz reported on Thursday. According to Haaretz, Yaalon made the remarks on Tuesday during a military and security conference at the Armored Corps Museum.
"There was an air agenda and a dictatorial way of thinking and after this way failed, there were those who placed the blame on others," he said.
"If they had determined the right objectives, the war could have been finished from the air within five days," the daily quoted Yaalon as claiming.
"An air agenda was part of the decision-making process," Yaalon added. "The air force leadership thought that this was their opportunity to put on a show. After the war, they pushed their responsibility onto their inferiors."
According to Haaretz, the former chief of staff compared the government decision-making process prior to the war with the process that lead to operation "Grapes of Wrath" in 1996, during which "Israeli" forces killed hundreds of people, including more than 100 civilians sheltering at a United Nations compound.
"Many discussions were held prior to the Grapes of Wrath operation, whereas before the Second Lebanon war, there was a two-and-a-half-hour talk which did not define any military goals," he said.
"It was decided to carry out a retaliatory mission that wasn't even called a war."
Haaretz pointed out that it was not the first time that Yaalon had attacked the military leadership over its performance during the summer 2006 war.
Yaalon's remarks come amid mounting speculation over a possible impending attack by Hizbullah to avenge the killing of top military commander Imad Moghnieh in a car bombing in Damascus in February. "Israeli" officials have threatened a brutal response to any new Hizbullah attack.
Haaretz had on Tuesday quoted a senior officer in the "Israeli" military as saying that the Lebanese resistance group has made downing an "Israeli" aircraft flying over Lebanon one of its top priorities.
Brigadier General Yossi Baidatz, a senior military intelligence officer, told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense (War) Committee that Hizbullah considers hitting an "Israeli" aircraft in Lebanese airspace advantageous because it would be viewed as politically acceptable by all the country's sectarian groups.
"On the one hand they are jihadists but on the other they fear an "Israeli" response," Baidatz said. "Their solution is to down an aircraft over Lebanon."
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