Recriminations Must Wait Until After The WarMany people - including some bloggers - are already assigning blame for Israel's failure (at this point) to crush Hezbollah. Some argue that it's Ehud Olmert's fault for rejecting sound IDF plans, others argue that it's Chief of Staff Dan Halutz's fault for relying too much on air power, others say that Amir Peretz is unqualified to be defense minister, while others blame Major General Udi Adam of the IDF's Northern Command. Ehud Barak and Ariel Sharon have also taken their share of blame.
Most who are critical don't have access to real information. Instead, they're relying on what they read and hear. War is a good time to be skeptical about what one reads and hears.
Furthermore, war is a bad time to scapegoat people on the side of the good guys, particularly if the goal is still to win the war, as of course it is.
After Israel's war, there likely will be an independent commission of inquiry which will issue a report assessing the performance of the military and political leadership's readiness and preparation for war against Hezbollah. Rather than speculate about who deserves blame at a time when unity is a strategic necessity, everyone should wait for that commission to submit its findings.
posted on 8/09/2006
